Courtesy Flags

[nolagal]

Does everyone fly the courtesy flag of the country they are visiting? We've cruised the Bahamas, and now are in the Western Carribean. We've always flown courtesy flag, seemed the courteous thing to do. But next cruising season we'll be heading to the Eastern side of the Carribean and before Wahoo is back home we will need 17 flags. That's nearly $350 worth of flags from Landfall Navigation.

I was just wondering what's the norm. And how do those folks who cruise on $500 a month do it. Do they sew their own?

[boatman61]

I have some 19 hand sewn islands flags... gifted to me in the Azores

[model 10]

Yes sir, I raise their flag. I don't want any trouble from anybody.
What is a day of your time worth? I've just repaired a bunch of flags and made a few new flags and it takes sometimes a day or more to make a flag from scratch, And thats with a fabric store and a nice machine on hand. Some are to hard to make, liike Belize so you buy those. Some are super easy.

[JPA Cate]

We always fly courtesy flags. I make mine from spinnaker cloth off-cuts, often free from sailmakers, as the scraps I use are too small for them to do anything useful with.

Ann

[conachair]

I find flag bandanas from the nearest market usually last long enough as courtesy flags.

[Custom30]

Find a cruiser going the other way.

Trading of charts, courtesy flags, and items useful in the other direction is a cruising tradition.



'

[Bash]

Originally Posted by nolagal

I was just wondering what's the norm. And how do those folks who cruise on $500 a month do it. Do they sew their own?

Yes. Or paint their own.

[denverd0n]

I know for sure that in the BVI the officials really don't care at all if you are flying a courtesy flag or not. On the other hand, I've heard that in the French islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc.) they will harass you mercilessly if you don't have one.

In the end, it is a very easy and inexpensive way to show a little bit of respect. I can't think of any good reason not to fly a courtesy flag.

[Tingum]

If you can afford to travel you can afford to be polite and properly display the appropriate curtesy flag. It is simply good manners for a guest!

[MarkJ]

When I arrive in a country I go to a newspaper shop, toy shop or the like and buy one of the kids flags on a stick. Normally about $2 and the money goes to the local community instead of an overseas businiess.

[AiniA]

Get 18" flags (come with a stick!) from someone like the US Flagstore. They are not much more than $2 and will last at least a month in the Trades. They don't have obscure ones like the Cook Islands and Niue so it is good to have some spare spinnaker cloth. Hint: buy a few extra British red ensigns. You can use them to customize other flags. Also get a good French flag (or several cheap ones) since you will be in several French places.

[sestina]

I always fly a courtesy flag. It is disrespectful to your hosts either not to fly one or if it's tatty.

Makes for a great collection the next time you dress overall in your home port.

[David M]

Flying a courtesy flag shows respect for the country that you are visiting. Some countries or localities within a country expect it to be flown. Never fly a tattered courtesy flag...have a new spare ready to hoist.

[nolagal]

Wish I was as handy as some. My sewing has to be done with iron on tape. But we will shake the pig and get the pennies necessary as we all seem to agree its only common courtesy to fly the flag of the country you are visiting.
Plus when we finally bring Wahoo home to New Orleans We want to come into Lake Ponchartrain flying all the flags of the countries we've visited!
(Hope that ain't too soon)

[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.