In With The Old: Flotsam & Jetsam

Chart your next collection with vintage sailing and yachting finds.

- SARAH ZLOTNICK

train your eye

Burgees still attached to their original bow poles have higher values.

Mixed Signals

Introduced in the 1800s as a way to call vessels back to shore, burgees are now used to identify a ship's yacht club or affiliated sailing organization. Typically, but not always, triangular or swallow-tailed in shape, these pennants are flown from the top mast or the front of the bow and are often exchanged as souvenirs when a boat visits another club. Vintage versions can be picked up today for between $30 and $300 apiece, with older wool and cotton flags bringing more than their nylon counterparts.

train your eye To identify a Star Yachts vessel, look for the five-pointed star on the main sail.

Setting Sail