BVI or British Ensign ?

[Soft Air]

My boat is registered and documented in the BVI, I read somewhere in the past that I can fly the British Flag or the British/BVI flag at my choice? Can somebody clarify this to me please?

Thanks in advance,

[s/v Jedi]

Yes, the plain red ensign is allowed and much cheaper. We also have a nice BVI one with the virgin etc. which we use sometimes when we feel the boat looks clean enough for it ;-)

ciao!
Nick.

[Soft Air]

Thanks for your reply, I wanted to make sure before going to the marina chandlery as the one with the virgin is already on the boat but kind of worn out and I noticed too that the plain red ensign is 40% less expensive so I go for that.

[GordMay]

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica “The undefaced Red Ensign is proper for locally registered vessels and as a courtesy flag, although in practice a version defaced with the BVI coat of arms is used.”

flag of British Virgin Islands (British overseas territorial flag) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

[Soft Air]

Thanks Gord, I am surprised 99% of the flags I see here have a red blackground contrary to what I read on the link submitted by you (blue blackground) I have not even seen the bluebackground ones at the local marine stores.

In short Gord the most proper way to go would be to fly the one described at the Encycolopedia Britannica right? But I could also wear a red background one without the BVI coat of arms and still be correct? I know that the local authorities here are very helpful but one can also get surprised with a citation if not doing the proper things.

[Reality Check]

Locally in the BVI the BLUE back ground flags are for LAND use and denote the Land Based Government. On the Water the RED back Ground is proper.

Although the formal British Flag is considered acceptable, you may find that locally it is often considered an affront to the semi independent British Virgin Islands government. Those with the "virgin" are more acceptable.

In the recent past, several measures to totally change the BVI flag from the near British Flag have been considered but were defeated.

I fly the BVI flag as my courtesy flag. I have know some cruisers to be verbally reprimanded but no citation given by some "officials" for flying the British Flag in place of the BVI flag.

When I originally started coming to the BVI I asked many people about the blue and red flags. 90% had no idea what the differences were but those with an opinion (including customs and immigrations officials) were generally in agreement that the red was for the seas and blue used by government officials only... this is NOT true. Many of the locals don't know anything about the blue background flag, and think it is for another country.

Bottom line is it does not appear to actually matter to most people... but a few do get their dander up about what is considered by them to be an affront. This appears to be avoided by those few by using the BVI flag with red background

[s/v Jedi]

On a boat, I know/think the blue background is for skippers/owners that are ex Royal Navy.

cheers,
Nick.

[Soft Air]

Thanks for the info, very valuable Reality Check and Nick.

[Otia]

from Flag Advisor
"Courtesy flags are usually Civil Ensigns—not the national flag of the country. Not every country has a civil ensign. However, most former British colonies do; it is usually the red variant of the flag. It’s considered a horrible breach of etiquette to fly the blue national flag. So, if the flag that we catalog doesn’t look exactly like the national flag that you remember, it’s probably a civil ensign. "