On the wide sea, a fleet of ships sails toward an unknown destination as a crowd of proud standing wooden frames. A crowd of ships moves in the distance as one armada, skimming across the water with grace and finesse. The many masts of the fleet look like a forest of tall wooden posts. Among the flood of white sails sits the distinctive flag at the very top. The flag is crucial in identifying the make of the vessel and the origins of the ship itself. Those who traverse the seas are well versed in the many variations of flags in the world.
The originality of nautical flags in both color and design help them to remain unique amongst their peers. Each type of design and color has a different meaning behind it. A commonly known nautical color is that of white – if a white flag is flown, it means surrender. Orange is a color that indicated the ship is having difficulties when it is flown on a flag in solid hues. The most renowned of nautical flags is that of the pirate flag- the skull and crossbones jolly roger. The jolly roger was often black with a white image of the skull and crossbones. Black is a color flown on ships only when a funeral is in session, and as such the jolly roger flag instilled more fear than average nautical flags.