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18-10-2018, 14:07
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#1
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2012
Location: At sea somewhere in the Pacific
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3
Posts: 6,346
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Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
We've been full-time cruising for 2 1/2 years now and we are about 1/2 through our RTW, currently on the Marquesas.
Question: why don't cruising boats fly their national flag? I'm guessing, but I suspect it is over 1/2 that do not show their flag.
We fly our Danish flag with pride. I can understand not flying it while on an extended passage perhaps >(wear and tear) but once near other boats/anchorages etc, a boat really should
The international maritime rules mandate it.
Are people ashamed of their flags/country? Or are they just lazy? Or trying to save money (flags don't cost that much)
It has gotten worse since we have transited the panama canal.
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Our books have gotten 5 star reviews on Amazon. Several readers have written "I never thought I would go on a circumnavigation, but when I read these books, I was right there in the cockpit with Vinni and Carsten"
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18-10-2018, 14:12
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: 2023 - Colombia
Boat: Amazon 49 cutter, custom steel boat built in Surrey, Canada
Posts: 841
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
We fly ours. I will take it down during periods of high winds just to minimize wear and tear on the flag.. Otherwise the Stars and Stripes are flying from the transom.
Cheers!
Steve
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18-10-2018, 15:32
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#3
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
I don’t know why. Next time you are having sundowners with one ask them and let us know.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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18-10-2018, 17:09
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Crete , Greece
Boat: Beneteau first 26
Posts: 670
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
In my case , it's hard to find a replacement for the Greek flag , so for a while I was sailing without it .
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18-10-2018, 17:19
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
Quote:
Originally Posted by carstenb
.....
Question: why don't cruising boats fly their national flag? I'm guessing, but I suspect it is over 1/2 that do not show their flag.
.....
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That's just not our experience. My estimate is more like 80 or 90% do fly their country flag when cruising internationally.
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18-10-2018, 17:29
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Now based on Florida's West coast
Boat: Pearson 34-II
Posts: 2,523
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
We have always flown the American flag for the last 30 years as well as the national flag of countries we have visited. It is partly protocol and partly a sense of American nationalism we embrace. Today it is fashionable among some cruisers, I believe, to deny their American roots and embrace some philosophical form of universalism. However, in a crisis, they would, undoubtedly, be the first to call the American embassy/Coast Guard for help. Good luck and safe sailing . . . Rognvald
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"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathrustra
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18-10-2018, 17:39
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Annapolis MD
Boat: Building a Max Cruise 44 hybrid electric cat
Posts: 3,194
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
In ten months I've gone through two Taylor Made US flags and one other 'high end' flag I bought in St Martin. I think it is worse to fly a frayed and tattered country flag than none, so, I haven't bothered in the past two months since I can't get a replacement that isn't 4' x 6'. I do have the least frayed wrapped around the flag staff and can deploy at anytime.
I miss having the Stars and Stripes waving, so I have more coming in a care package from home
Our first time out cruising, we had 4 flags aboard, and none returned with us after 3 years. Honestly, we typically just put them on and leave them up until it becomes too bad.... you'd think we'd learn.
Matt
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18-10-2018, 17:55
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
Dutch cruisers in the US are lucky. If they wear out their flag they can get cheap, generally serviceable replacements almost anywhere:
Martin do you read these boards?
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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18-10-2018, 19:00
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suijin
Dutch cruisers in the US are lucky. If they wear out their flag they can get cheap, generally serviceable replacements almost anywhere:
Attachment 179213
Martin do you read these boards?
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The Dutch flags dont wear out. They just keep trimming tbe frayed ends off. Thats why their flag is so superior to tbe French flag.
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18-10-2018, 19:32
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#10
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Now on the Dark Side: Stink Potter.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Boat: Sea Hunt 234 Ultra
Posts: 3,962
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
My nationality and my boat’s nationality is different, hence I fly the Captain’s national flag in the Port spreader and the vessel’s national flag on the stern. Visiting country’s flag in the Starboard spreader.
Get it all wrong and nobody cares, especially the US Coast Guard or the Marine Police when some bozo sails into Port Everglades in Florida with the Bahamaian flag proudly displayed on the spreader.
Nobody ever paid attention to my yellow flag either.
Why bother?
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Life is sexually transmitted
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18-10-2018, 19:33
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Everywhere
Boat: Colegate 26
Posts: 1,153
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
There was a picture posted on Reddit years ago of a row of houses on July 4th, each with their American flag proudly displayed. People were commenting that "in their country that would be considered inappropriate nationalism". I was STUNNED. As I recall, when probed all they would say is they were in northern Europe.
Most of my life I've had a 1.5 to 2 meter American flag on the front of my house. My boat has a 1m flag on a staff that we only take down when the weather is really nasty. And after hurricane Florence I raised a 2 meter flag to the top of the mast.
I'd like to get small (0.5m?) state flags for where I was born, where my wife was born, and where we grew up and were married (Texas, Missouri, Arkansas) to fly from the port spreader. I'd also like to have state flags to fly for whatever state we are in for courtesy flags, but I think that might be considered weird.
I just really like flags
https://i.imgur.com/hSNy3Zs.jpg
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18-10-2018, 19:44
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Annapolis/Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 55
Posts: 304
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
Slightly off topic: Where do you get good quality 12" x 18" courtesy flags for the Pacific countries such as French Polynesia, Tonga, and Fiji? I can find large flags (3'x5') and tiny toothpick flags, but what about good quality 12x18 flags?
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18-10-2018, 19:47
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Aboard
Boat: Seaton 60' Ketch
Posts: 1,338
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
I always flew our ensign (and the SSCA Burgee) whenever we anchored and flew the ensign at sea at all times. I once carried 5 good ones (as they do last about 6mos to a year. Proper flag etiquette was (and is) important to me. Our current 60' ketch flies a large ensign and we just ordered 5 for a planned cruise. It's part of our cost of cruising. Free shout out to Alamo Flags in Falls Church, VA, the best supplier we've found.
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Scott Berg
WAØLSS
SV CHARDONNAY
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18-10-2018, 19:48
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Aboard
Boat: Seaton 60' Ketch
Posts: 1,338
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Sea
Slightly off topic: Where do you get good quality 12" x 18" courtesy flags for the Pacific countries such as French Polynesia, Tonga, and Fiji? I can find large flags (3'x5') and tiny toothpick flags, but what about good quality 12x18 flags?
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Alamo Flags is great!
USA, State & International Flags For Sale | Alamo Flag Company
__________________
Scott Berg
WAØLSS
SV CHARDONNAY
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18-10-2018, 20:44
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Re: Why don't Cruisers Fly their National Flags?
I had a US flag that came with the boat, but never flew it. It seems to be a level of pride which I don’t have.
I don’t like labels nor do I care much for the separation of people which flags represent. And specifically the history... when I think about all the events and actions which took place in the name of the American flag I become quite saddened.
I much rather like people to approach me first as a human being on a boat, rather than an American... I image flying a flag would have the opposite effect.
austin
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