Flag Etiquette Question

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Most Turkish boats seen in Greece fly a US ensign.

r:

Why are they flying a US ensign? are they registered in the US? Can't be because of the charterer - His flag goes onthe port spreader. The stern is reserved for the country of registration or the the country of the owner

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Why are they flying a US ensign? are they registered in the US? Can't be because of the charterer - His flag goes onthe port spreader. The stern is reserved for the country of registration or the the country of the owner

They are US registered. I presume they have formed a US company to avoid paying Turkish VAT (currently 18%).

It is not only charter boats like this that do it. Even standard small-med Turkish yachts seen here are usually US flagged.

Given the US flag on the port halyard, they probably had US guests in board this boat as well. They must just raise guest flags routinely, so a US one goes up even though the boat is US registered .

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

As far as I am aware there are no legal requirements for courtesy or house or honour/guest flags anyway. They are simply protocol.

My point was that USPS doesn't speak for the US any more than RYA speaks for the UK.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

My point was that USPS doesn't speak for the US any more than RYA speaks for the UK.

I agree. I understand that. Do you have a better source though for US flag etiquette that covers US protocol for courtesy and guest flags etc?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I agree. I understand that. Do you have a better source though for US flag etiquette that covers US protocol for courtesy and guest flags etc?

if one reads the various texts from RYA, USPS, Australian, etc ( even the Danish) one can see that by and large a common etiquette runs through them all. Differences are actually so minor as to be insignificant.

Since flag etiquette is a purely voluntary activity ( beyond what is specifically required by law) , then really its up to you to decide what if any of these "rules" you apply.

If you want to fly bath towels from the starboard halyard, so be it. its your boat.

Dave

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I agree. I understand that. Do you have a better source though for US flag etiquette that covers US protocol for courtesy and guest flags etc?

This thread is doing a pretty good job. *grin*

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Since flag etiquette is a purely voluntary activity ( beyond what is specifically required by law) , then really its up to you to decide what if any of these "rules" you apply.

If you want to fly bath towels from the starboard halyard, so be it. its your boat.

Dave

In that case, here's to a 'free for all' like this example :

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Since flag etiquette is a purely voluntary activity ( beyond what is specifically required by law) , then really its up to you to decide what if any of these "rules" you apply.

If you want to fly bath towels from the starboard halyard, so be it. its your boat. Dave

There is one flag that you must fly however:




http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...p;d=1310168039

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Pete7

There is one flag that you must fly however:




http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...7&d=1310168039

I was waiting for that one.

Having only gleamed 1/10 of this thread I only have one question.

Starboard spreader for the CF Burgee???

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Starboard spreader for the CF Burgee???

Yes, starboard can be used if no other flags are being flown.
As a 'House Flag', it has the lowest pecking order, so if any other flags are up it needs to be moved to the port side.

It is not recommended to fly it on the starboard side while underway though, as it could cause confusion if you aren't already thoroughly confused (signal flags are flown there).

[Seaworthy Lass]

We have a longstanding sticky on flag etiquette that was written by Alan Wheeler:

Flag Etiquette - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Lots of additional information on flag etiquette has come out in this long thread, so I have modified the sticky (in blue) to incorporate this.

Could anyone with an interest in flags please take a look and see if anything I have written is incorrect, or if anything additional should be added?

SWL
(The OP's original question has been answered in the edit, so we are back on topic )

[europaflyer]

From RYA Yacht Registration, Flag Etiquette and Visual Signals, Part II:

"If it is impractical to wear the ensign on the taff rail as specified in part 1, then the following diagrams show the alternate positions from which it may be worn dependant on the rig. The ensign should never be worn at a greater height than the burgee and should be transferred to the taff rail when moored or at anchor."

For a sloop, the primary position is shown as 2/3 of the way up the backstay, with the burgee then being flown at the masthead. I won't reproduce the picture as it the presumably the RYAs copyright. For a ketch or yawl, it is at the peak of the mizzen, and for a gaffer it is at the peak of the gaff.

[europaflyer]

Oh dear, I just realised that was all in the link above. Sorry.

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Wottie, one thing yet another thing that is puzzling me is why LtCol Starrett kept referring to it as a pendant, not a pennant. Have you heard this term before in relation to bunting? .

Is pendant another word for pennant?

S'OK. No, it's not. A pendant is a short piece of line, like the rope that attaches your boat to a mooring ball. It's pronounced pen' ant with a silent d. It has no relation to a pennant, which is a type of flag. Let it go and forget about it. The LtCol made a small typo. We can handle typos, can't we? (My poats are free of typos... )

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

No I wouldn't, much as I like flags and correct usage I think it the honoured guest thing is a bit of a megawonk and nothing less than the royal standard at the peak would do it for me ( and she would have to bring her own).

Hear! Hear! Same here.