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AGWE

The Colors

18°14′N 72°32′W

Hoist your colors.

Every letter in the International Code of Signals is a flag, and nearly every flag says something. Ours start with Alfa, the first letter of Agwe. Yours start with you.

Spell your name. Read what it says.

A to Z, twelve places at most. A space flies as a gap; anything else stays ashore.

Fly it as

On the halyard, read top to bottom

Fig. 1 · Hoist04 flags

Take it ashore

PNG, drawn here

The reading

Flag by flag · read top to bottom

  1. 01

    AAlfa

    I have a diver down; pass at slow speed.

  2. 02

    GGolf

    I require a pilot.

  3. 03

    WWhiskey

    I require medical assistance.

  4. 04

    EEcho

    I am altering my course to starboard.

† In a real hoist, a repeated letter flies as a substitute pennant.

Plate II · The Code

Twenty-six flags. Each one says something.

The International Code of Signals gives every letter a flag, and most flags a meaning of their own, so one flag can speak for a whole ship. Choose any to bend it on to your hoist.

Plate IIAlphabetical flags Fly →

  • The five inks

    • Red
    • Yellow
    • Blue
    • Black
    • White

    Chosen to read at a distance, in any weather.

  • To read a hoist

    Top to bottom, hoist to fly. A gap flies as a tackline. A repeated letter flies as a substitute pennant.

    Close up means fully hoisted.

Drawn in code · Agwe
View ↑

The sticker sheet

Seventeen to fly. One sheet in every order.

The Colors, the bell, a sloop, nine stations stitched as patches and the stripes from Ensign to Captain. Die-cut, for a laptop lid, a kit bag or the inside of a locker door.

  1. 01The ColorsFlag Alfa and the year: est. 2026.
  2. 02Eight BellsThe ship’s bell, and all’s well.
  3. 03The sloopSun low on the water.
  4. 04–12The nine stationsBridge, Lookout, Rigging, Crow's Nest, Deep Water, Provisions, Lamp Room, Sea Chest, Pilot.
  5. 13–17Sleeve stripesEnsign, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain.

2400 × 3000 PNG · sailcloth · one sheet in every order

AGWETHE COLORS · SHEET Nº 01One sheet in every order.PEEL · STICK · HOIST YOUR COLORSEST. 2026FLAG ALFA · DIVER DOWNEIGHT BELLSAND ALL’S WELLAGWEWELL KEPT · WELL TRAVELEDTHE BRIDGEFACETHE LOOKOUTEYESTHE RIGGINGBEARD & SHAVETHE CROW’S NESTHAIR & SCALPDEEP WATERBODY & BATHPROVISIONSTREATMENTS, BALMS & BARSTHE LAMP ROOMCANDLES & HOMESEA CHESTSETS & GIFTSPILOTSAMPLESENSIGNLIEUTENANTLT. COMMANDERCOMMANDERCAPTAIN
Sheet Nº 01 · as packedKiss-cut on sailcloth stock