Courtesy Flags

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by sck5

You dont actually need all those flags. A red ensign for all of the former Brit posessions will work fine for almost all of them. A French flag will work for all of the French possessions. And a Netherlands antilles flag will work for many of the rest. That should reduce the number you actually need by about half.

Part of the above is certainly not correct. The red British ensign is incorrect for an American boat to fly at all, it is supposed to be the national flag color, not that of the ensign for their yachts, and that is blue, not red. Furthermore, in the Pacific, the flags for Cook Is., Niue, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia are all quite different. A Union Jack is not the correct flag for any of those countries.


What he says about the French overseas territories is correct as far as I know.

I do not know whether what was written about the Netherlands Antilles flag is right or not, but given the inaccuracy above, I doubt it.

And people do care in those countries, they like to see our courtesy flags. They like to think we visitors respect them. It is a disrespect to not fly the correct flag...especially from laziness or a false sense of expedience.

Ann

[markpierce]

This cruise line flies both national and state/provincial courtesy flags:

[Fitsthebill]

I had thought that this sailboat in Richardson bay off Sausalito was a scoff-law who refused to fly the flags required but now I see it's taken some serious turns. Sausalito sailor charged in bizarre 'act of war' Coast Guard encounter - Marin Independent Journal

[Fitsthebill]

It seems odd that in this earlier version there is no mention of an assault or the false distress call. The fact he had no flag they recognized was the reason given then. I see him as an old cantankerous fool but here we go with who said what and when. I take it the radio message was recorded and they are sure it was him but the case is otherwise weak. People burn our flag these days and that's protected. Maybe they should take away the boat but what good will it serve taxpayers to pay $100s of thousands -possibly millions for a trial and then incarcerate the old codger? Its a bit overkill in my opinion. Especially at a time when they are turning loose violent criminals for lack of space. People do get testy after a night or two with no sleep and egos can get flare but... The boat should have had it's sails put away by now. It seems a shame to take it out on the boat. It's not about teaching the boat a lesson...

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Part of the above is certainly not correct. The red British ensign is incorrect for an American boat to fly at all, it is supposed to be the national flag color, not that of the ensign for their yachts, and that is blue, not red. Furthermore, in the Pacific, the flags for Cook Is., Niue, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia are all quite different. A Union Jack is not the correct flag for any of those countries.

What he says about the French overseas territories is correct as far as I know.

I do not know whether what was written about the Netherlands Antilles flag is right or not, but given the inaccuracy above, I doubt it.

And people do care in those countries, they like to see our courtesy flags. They like to think we visitors respect them. It is a disrespect to not fly the correct flag...especially from laziness or a false sense of expedience.

Ann

Where the Red UK maritime ensign is valid , it is flown as a courtesy flag. The UK union flag should NEVER be flown as a courtesy flag , its use is reserved for UK government or military ships. The blue ensign ( and the white ensign ) is reserved for specific vessels / members and is not the general ensign.

The UK national flag is known as the " union" flag as its represents the 1801 union of England Scotland , Wales and Ireland. . A Union Jack is a Union flag flown on the jack staff of a government vessel.


For all other countries , with some exceptions , the maritime ensign s the correct courtesy flag.
Dave

[Fitsthebill]

The English don't take lightly to impostors either. The USA is kinda loose but the British... We in the US put a crown on anything as an advertisement. An English crown on anything non royal is a possible serious infringement. Nothing makes some Brits more uptight than the use of their monarchy / flags. I would be careful.
I was passing a US warship in Astoria when an armed escort came out to greet me as a possible suspect. I was out on deck and promptly gave salute. They immediately fell off. It's about respect. I was in the Navy for a short time. If you know the proper way to show that and truly do. They may well recognize it.
Thats why I fly the flag of the country I am in or somewhere close to them. Traveling was not always so easy. People used to get up in arms about strangers. Some travelers wore the clothes of the last town they were in to appear local to the next. Let's face it humans are after all, territorial.
Notice that if I change the color in this text, it denotes a difference between us and you'll wonder "just who the heck is this fella?"

[JPA Cate]

Hello, everyone,

I just did a little research, and found that one source says exactly what Goboatingnow said, not to fly the red ensign, but the other source said to fly the national flag. Both are magazine articles.

I can say that in Australia, we have been expected to fly the blue flag of the nation, not their red ensign.

Hope this helps. I'm wondering what "should be" the definitive source for information on this?

Ann

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

........
I can say that in Australia, we have been expected to fly the blue flag of the nation, not their red ensign.

Hope this helps. I'm wondering what "should be" the definitive source for information on this?

Ann

I would concur with Ann's experience; visitors to Oz would fly the blue national flag as a courtesy which Aussie registered vessels are free to choose between the blue national flag and the Australian red ensign.

[Vagabondman]

Sailed for thirty years and never used them. Hate flag etiquette. Used to put jolly roger at mast head so visitors (when used to have them) could find boat.

[Tingum]

Flag etiquette is like table manners, some people have them, others do not!

[MBLittle]

Originally Posted by Tingum

Flag etiquette is like table manners, some people have them, others do not!

And it's painfully obvious and uncomfortable for everyone else

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by MBLittle

And it's painfully obvious and uncomfortable for everyone else

I don't sail currently under the red ensign , so I don't follow the rules for dousing the ensign at night. I treat it like an occupancy flag ( or the regents flag ) it flies when I'm on board

Dave

[dianaofburlingt]

Mark, do you ever encounter a problem with not having the courtesy flag on-hand when it's time to strike the Q flag?

[dianaofburlingt]

I would NOT fly the Jolly Roger anywhere in a post-9/11 universe. Technically it marks you as an unflagged vessel and legally subject to any vessel seeking to board and confiscate you. Even fishermen out for the day have encountered problems coming in from fishing grounds more than 12 miles offshore.

One has only to read of Sea Shepherd's exploits to know the *value* of flying a Jolly Roger as an act of defiance (or able to be taken as such) in the Southern Ocean. Leave the 'pirate flag' for day trippers on small motorboats on inland lakes and rivers.

[Sailing Cowboy]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

You should then replace the "Q" Flag with the Host Country's Flag either on the Starboard Flag Halyard of the vessel's Mast or in the case of power boat, optionally on the Bow Pulpit Staff.

I do believe the bow pulpit staff is lowered once lines are cast or underway. At least in the Navy it was.