Flag Etiquette While Cruising

[jim lee]

When we did Mexico & The Marquesas, about 1/2 way through Mexico we just canned flags altogather. No one ever mentioned it or seemed to notice. Maybe we were just lucky?

-jim lee

[Vasco]

They're not called courtesy flags for nothing. Fly it. It's a matter of courtesy and respect. You might get away without it but one day you'll meet an official or citizen of the country you're visiting that might take exception to you not flying it. I always ensure that my courtesy flags are in a decent state of repair, no ragged ends etc.

[BC Mike]

Just a little poke at my American cousins. When you hoist the flag, try and get it the right way up. BC Mike C

[Sonosailor]

All the courtesy flags have been purchased. It came to quite a tidy sum, for a little bag of cloth.

[sv_makai]

We found some areas in the caribbean are lax at enforcement of flags, except Venezuela. Here boats will be fined if you ar enot flying the flag when entering the territorial waters (along with the Q). We are docked at Bahia Redonda Marina in PLC and the Guardia National walks the docks checking. We have heard of a couple of fines.

We found the best place to get flags is Budge Marine about 10 US apiece or magic marker....

[Harriet]

I thought proper procedure required you to fly a Q flag only upon entering port. Once you have cleared in, you lower the Q and raise the appropriate courtesy flag. Does anyone out there have any info on this?

[sv_makai]

Venezuela requires you to fly thier flag in thier territorial waters. You still need to fly the Q. They will write you a fine if you boat is docked in a marina without one. Usaually you are not required when docked, here it is different. The Guardia Nactional checks the docks regularly.

The Venezuelains are great people but this is a third world country and corruption is a way of life.

Most places we have been barely care if you fly a flag. We always do. It is respect and a courtesy.

[Sonosailor]

We had always understood that the Q flag should be flown whenever you are in territorial waters without clearing with Customs and Immigration. After clearing, the Q flag is replaced with the appropriate courtesy flag.

However, we noticed that the Q flag is often flown above the courtesy flag, prior to clearing. This seemed quite respectful and appropriate to us, so we began doing the same. After clearing, the Q flag is removed, leaving only the courtesy flag.

Many boats in the Caribbean did not fly the flags at all, or seemed to ignore protocol. We found many French who never bothered to change the flags after arriving at a new island. As well, we found many American boats who flew only the Stars & Stripes, or flew them inappropriately higher than the courtesy flag.

We saw no "enforcement" of proper etiquette by any officials from Canada through to Trinidad, save in Bermuda; where the officials strongly insisted that the Q flags be taken down as soon as clearing was completed.

Although I had considered not having all my courtesy flags, I would have felt quite self-conscious without flying the appropriate flags. I also enjoyed entering port with our club burgee, the Seven Seas Cruising Association flag, and the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron flag. Although I am sure few noticed, it made us feel festive.

The most economical Canadian flags are quite large, so our little boat always had a honking big stern flag. The first flag finally ripped down to the maple leaf, causing someone to ask us if we were "separatists"; while the second one stayed together but faded to a pretty pink colour, causing another cruiser to ask if that was to signify if we were gay. Oh well, at least people were friendly.

[sv_makai]

Well we are back in PLC Venezuela afer 6 months in the windwards and some out islands. A cruiser just got fined $100 US (not in the local currency) and was required by the guardia to visit the port captain.

They were flying the Q flag as they had just entered and tied up, went up to the agent to clear in and returned to their boat just in to get fined. They were not flying the Venezulian flag.

There are rules and ettiquet that are internationally known and understood. But you have to be sure the host country doesn't have its own rules. It can be expensive and a hassle.

Flexible and ever changing rules in some countries are designed to get mney for the local police force. So what is a rule today changes tomorrow.

In Venezuela never ever fly another flag Q or ships flag higher than the Ven Flag. They take offense and that means fines!

Moral-Be prepared, talk with people that have been there before, and listen.

Buying flags. If you look carefully flags can be bought here in the Caribe for 2-3 dollars. Also look at the countries that you will be visiting. ie the Dutch West Indies. You can buy a flag for each country, there are 5 or buy 1 dutch flag which is acceptable. Since many of the islands are part of a commonwealth flying the commonwealth's flag is acceptable and saves you money.

[Sonosailor]

So you mean the Venezuelans want the courtesy flag up before you clear, along with the Q flag, but higher than the Q flag (presently)?

Can you get fined for leaving the Q flag up after clearing?

[sv_makai]

That is correct. The rules they follow here are a bit different. They want thier flag flying whether or not you have cleared in. You stand to get a fine if you are not flying it. The Guardia here doesn't care about the Q flag if you fly it or not, so no fines.

The boat I reffered to earlier was in the process of having the agent clear Immagratin and customs. The were boarded in the marina and fined because the Ven flag was not up.

A boat is required to fly even on the hard. Fines can be had if they feel the flag is to worn or dirty and on and on. If you are transiting with no intention of clearing into the country you must fly the Ven flag.

Sorry to be redundent, but if you are flying the Ven flag you are ok, if not fines, fines, fines.

This is also one of the few countries where you must clear out where you clear in internationally (youare also supposed to clear out natinally from port to port). Makes it very hard to clear in and out while going from one side of the country to the other and then continuing on your way east or west. One of the good things is they are very relaxed on entry or transiting.
As long as you do not move into one of the outislands they will ignore you. (rum and cigaretes go far)