Racing flags should be easily seen and easily raised and lowered without risk of entanglement.  Many flags are often flown simultaneously.  A set of related flags should be flown in a column.

A suggested layout of flags was made by ISAF Race Officer Tony Lockett, and a modification of this layout was used as the basis of the structure on the Richmond Yacht Club race committee boat Pelican.  The flags are displayed in tandem rather than athwartships.  The starting line is usually abeam of the committee boat, and the configuration used on the Pelican prevents one flag from obscuring other flags.  The horizontal pole is twenty feet above the water, so the backdrop behind the flags is usually uncluttered sky.

The flags are attached to sliders that ride up and down on tubes in order to avoid any entanglement that can occur with wildly flying, free floating flags during raising and lowering.  The flags are attached to the sliders with jib hanks, which do not snag onto flags as hooks can do. 
 

• Recall flags on the forward flag pole
• Postponement and abandonment flags on the aft flag pole
• Attention, warning, preparatory, compass heading, and course number flags on the three stainless steel tubes
• RC flag on a staff above the forward flag pole
• Starting and finishing line orange flag on a slider on the horizontal flag pole.  The flag can be placed on the line between the line sighter, seated in the chair on the bridge, and the far end of the line.