Is it Safe Cruising Under US Flag ?

[Poozer]

We have a choice of flags when documenting our vessel, either US or Australia. Most of our cruising will be far from US waters in the South Pacific, and given the sentiment towards the USA these days, are we taking on additional risk by flying a US flag or are we better off going with Australian?

[delmarrey]

The ones that don't like US don't like the Aussies either. But you can go to Cuba legally.

[GordMay]

Powerful nations sometimes provoke powerful emotions, for better or worse.
Australia is a powerful nation, within the South Pacific. How is Australia (are Australians) generally viewed in their own So-Pac neighbourhood?

[Springbok]

Probably saver under a Somali flag
Clyde

[David_Old_Jersey]

BBC News - US issues travel alert for Americans in Europe

Avoid anywhere popular

Also the chance of Alien abduction

[hoppy]

With and Australian flagged vessel you will probably feel most unwelcome if you go into the Australian economic zone. I would expect that you will be hit with a big tax bill.

[Poozer]

Originally Posted by hoppy

With and Australian flagged vessel you will probably feel most unwelcome if you go into the Australian economic zone. I would expect that you will be hit with a big tax bill.

That's definitely a factor I'll have to consider, if not in the short term certainly down the road if I decide to spend time in AUS.

[Poozer]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

The ones that don't like US don't like the Aussies either. But you can go to Cuba legally.

Good point. How about you folks cruising under US flag in So. Pacific? Any issues?

[conachair]

Whichever flag you end up sailing under one thing to bear in mind as well is the size of your ensign. Best to keep it small IMHO, people don't like to see a boat come in with a bedsheet hanging off the stern. Rubs people up the wrong way.

[beowulfborealis]

I have done a lot of world travel in the past 5 years or so. When in doubt, I tell people I'm Canadian even though I carry a US passport.

[Unicorn Dreams]

The Somalian flag idea is not bad, NO Navy or country will bother you...

But ti get back to the post. We've never had a problem being USA flagged.. It's YOU that the people will like or dislike. Don't be an A$$ and you'll get along fine...

[Adelie]

Another thing to consider is that I have heard that American flagged vessels can attract more attention from customs looking to see if the boat is trying to sneak guns in without declaring them.

[daddle]

Out here now. Fly a US flag. No problem so far. Nothing but peace, tolerance and curiosity. Like other's said, probably a toss-up on which imperial power you choose. The US and Australia both have fabulous goodwill throughout the Pacific from their efforts in WWII. But what looks like a hidden imperial agenda and a culture of intolerance is working against that.

It would be a big help if you folks got your friends and neighbors to back off on all the prejudice - the book burning, banning veils, confusing religions with terror, bombing nations you've never heard of before....ya know...chill.

[rebel heart]

Fly your true colors. Unless you're 300 tons and out of Panama, show your proper ensign. It matters more than whatever the current geo-political climate might favor.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by daddle

Out here now. Fly a US flag. No problem so far. Nothing but peace, tolerance and curiosity. Like other's said, probably a toss-up on which imperial power you choose. The US and Australia both have fabulous goodwill throughout the Pacific from their efforts in WWII. But what looks like a hidden imperial agenda and a culture of intolerance is working against that.

It would be a big help if you folks got your friends and neighbors to back off on all the prejudice - the book burning, banning veils, confusing religions with terror, bombing nations you've never heard of before....ya know...chill.

Also worth noting is that people will spot you as an American pretty quickly, or at minimum a white person from an affluent country (nations of which are generally speaking in agreement with each other politically anyway).

I've never encountered any anti-Americanism except for cultural missteps, but that's not necessarily because I am American. When I was in Europe in the peak of the second Bush administration (who was very unpopular in Europe) after a few minutes of polite conversation people would quickly probe you to determine which side of the war you were on.

Compared to the broad brush strokes that I've seen Americans use when looking at the rest of the world, I'm always blown away at how much other nations give us the benefit of the doubt and ask our beliefs before simply assuming them.