Book excerpt: Anyone going to sea needs an understanding of maritime flags, and this handy book is the perfect pocket-sized reference. Concise but comprehensive, it includes: - National maritime flags - Special ensigns, jacks, burgees, official and defence flags, and code flags - Yacht club burgees - Signal flags (including naval codes, distress signals and racing codes) - Flag etiquette and usage (from positions to salutes to timing and more) Expanded and updated for its third edition, the book now includes masthead burgees, as well as new advice on changing rules in European waters and beyond, and more information on the use of and etiquette surrounding local, regional and other unofficial flags. If you have ever put to sea wondering about the different types of flag, how they are made up, and the dos and don'ts as well as traditions and myths of flying flags then this will be both a fascinating read and a useful on-board guide.