Snip:" I always prompted some amazed looks from passing boats who saw my pennants and flags crrectly worn, including one from above my sailboat mast top. They simply could not figure out how I got a flag to be hoisted above the top of my mast. The answer came from an old copy of Chapman's which showed how to construct a short flag pole that was cantilevered from the hoisting halyard." Arild That's interesting I thought that is how they were always flown from the masthead! As I remember the actual staff is called a "pigstick". I have always done that on sailboats over the years. Ron Barr Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC Newport RI