Say it with flags

Type a message, press SEND, and the duty signaller will spell it across the water, one crisp position at a time. Then swap places and read the signal yourself.

A sailor on a signal deck holding two red and yellow flags SIGNALLER'S RIGHT SIGNALLER'S LEFT NOW SENDING – STANDING BY
Shown as seen by the observer — the signaller's right hand is on your leftSTANDING BY

NAVAL MESSAGE

Form S.1320 (Flags)
Pad of 100 · write in block capitals

AS SIGNALLED5 SIGNS
About 13 words a minute
OR HOIST A READY-MADE SIGNAL

THE WHOLE ALPHABET

As seen by the observer
Hover, tap or press a key

Each flag points to one of eight places, like the hours on a small clock: down, low, out, high, up, and round the other side. Two flags make twenty-eight pairs, and the alphabet simply walks round that clock in seven shrinking circles.

  1. 1A TO GOne flag stays down. The other steps round the clock, low on the signaller's right to low on the left.
  2. 2H TO N, LESS JOne flag parks at low; the other steps on from out, all the way round.
  3. 3O TO SOne flag parks straight out; the other climbs from high and over.
  4. 4T, U, Y & CANCELOne flag parks at high. Y sits out of order; learn it as an exception.
  5. 5NUMERALS, J, VOne flag straight up. J doubles as “letters follow”.
  6. 6W, X & THEN ZWhatever pairs are left: two in the sixth circle, one lonely Z in the seventh.
  7. #FIGURESAfter the numerals sign, A to I read as 1 to 9 and K as 0, until J returns you to letters.
  8. –REST & ATTENTIONBoth flags down in front is the space between words. Both flags waved overhead calls for attention.

Play the signaller like an instrument. Click away from the message box and press any letter key: A–Z snaps to that letter, Space drops to rest, Esc stands down.