Good wind Pietro Palloni, yachtsman of yesteryear

Many sea enthusiasts, embarking on more than 20 sailing and motor boats, set sail from Rimini harbor to pay their last respects to Pietro Palloni, who passed away last Sept. 16 at the age of 82. With the scattering of his ashes off the dock of the Romagna city, his Rimini wanted to pay tribute to a well-known and beloved figure in the sailing world.

Good wind Peter Palloni

A passionate sailor (born in 1943), he had sailed the length and breadth of the Mediterranean with theAnita G., a magnificent 16.70-meter iron ketch designed by Carlo Sciarrelli in 1991. He was the founder of the Adria Yacht company, active in the construction and sale of boats, where he managed to turn his personal passion into a successful business. A lifelong yachtsman, he was president of the Rimini Nautical Club for 24 years and the author of esteemed books, such as “Flags & Etiquette” published in 2011 by the Nautical Club of Rimini (reprinted 2018 by Panozzo Editore). He was one of Italy’s leading experts on etiquette at sea. In addition to the aforementioned volume, Pietro Palloni has also published two books of sea stories ‘Conchiglie di memoria’ published by Mare di Carta in 2016 and the recent ‘Pezzi di Sale’ published by Panozzo editore in 2023.

We remember him with this fine interview on etiquette at sea, a subject about which Palloni was a veritable well of science.

Good wind, Peter!

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What rules are least observed by the yachtsman when it comes to flags and etiquette?

The actual naval etiquette is well codified in the case of naval vessels; in recreation, etiquette is a simple thing, corresponding to formulas of courtesy and seafaring tradition.

The most frequent errors are found in the flags, either misplaced or left halfway up the halyard. Flags are to be hoisted up to the cocked block on the cross, or at the head of the flagpole. Another mistake is hoisting multiple social guidons on the same halyard, which should never be placed on top of each other. In port, if the crew is on board, it is proper to leave the flag hoisted; otherwise, when the boat is dismasted, the pennants and flag should be lowered.

Tender to trailer and hanging fenders, yes or no?

Arriving at the berth with the tender in tow is a British tradition. Instead, it is an error in etiquette to tow the tender under sail. The fenders left hanging along the side are an eyesore, but this is more a matter of aesthetics than seamanship: the sailboat is designed to sail with loose broadside.

How do you greet another unit at sea, flags or bows?

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The military ship should always be saluted by all other units. The pleasure craft to salute must lower its flag to half-mast and wait for transit at the crossing, the naval vessel in turn responds by lowering its flag to half-mast, and past the crossing hoists it first. Sail bowing is an alternative maneuver. You lower the halyard of the jib, wait for the transit of the larger ship, and afterwards hoist the jib again to proceed to navigation.

The flag with the glass and mooring lines on the neighbor’s boat?

The blue flag with the white glass is used to cordially invite guests aboard: it is an English tradition from which we inherit almost all naval etiquette, such as courtesy to other crews. In this sense, before placing mooring lines on the broadside of someone else’s boat one must, ask permission.

Always remember that tradition is also substance, so etiquette, boat care and following seafaring rules go hand in hand: as the saying goes, “a good boat makes a good sailor.”

Who better represents tradition and etiquette on board?

The Italian Yacht Club takes great care to pass on traditions. Other clubs, such as YC Adriaco in Trieste and Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia in Naples, are the most attentive clubs. I, too, when I was president of the Rimini Sailing Club tried to enforce etiquette…

Are the culture of etiquette and seamanship being somewhat neglected today?

The tradition of etiquette is often left to its own devices; courses at many sailing schools, as well as courses for the “boat license,” often no longer teach the tradition of flag-raising. When I learned as a boy on the Dragoons and the Stars, the culture of the flag and the rules of seamanship were a fundamental part of the training.

Who was Peter Palloni

Pietro Palloni, entrepreneur, lifelong sailor,