I confess I'm quite ignorant of some of these issues. In the past I only chartered boats with friends and wasn't to concerned about flag etiquette, though I did make sure the ensign was out.
But now I'm in my second year of boat ownership, a member of the owners association, and considering applying to join a sailing club that friends are a member of. I want to make more of an effort to have the right flags in the right places.
There's been talk of Burgees and House flags. But what is a Burgee and house flag, other than being the name of a flag. Why are they different, what do they represent: i.e. why is a burgee called a burgee and not a house flag or vica versa, and why is it important to have different names and not simply call them all burgees or house flags.
My best guess is that the burgee is the name of where the flag is flown (or worn if you prefer). i.e. the burgee is the point at the top of the mast. And flags traditionally flown from here have adopted the name burgee. Is that correct? Or is the flag itself called a burgee, and if so who decided whether a flag is a burgee or a houseflag and if I'm given a flag to fly how do I know if its a burgee or a house flag.
It's all very confusing at first. 
Thanks,
Mark.
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