Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass
He had no idea .
OK Carsten. One for you. Who is responsible for flying the correct flag of registration? The owner or the skipper?
(The owner was not on board, the boat was on charter)
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Well - I'm a nerd for these kinds of things but I think I'll have to go look in my
books to be absolutely sure. However, here goes:
The owner is responsible for the boat being in seaworthy condition when the skipper takes over. (the skipper has the responsibility for surveying the boat and noting any flaws, missing items, poor
maintenance etc etc etc)
Once at sea, the skipper is responsible for maintaining the boat and obeying all the laws of the sea.
So the owner should have ensured that the correct flags, denoting nationality were on board, but the skipper is responsible for flying the correct flags and flying them correctly.
Here the skipper is at fault (a couple of dozen at the grate will enlighten him as to his duties and responsibilities). If the correct flags were not on board, the skipper should have so noted and asked for the correct ones.
I'm not sure what british law says, but Danish law requires you to fly your national flag unless you are
racing - so if this were in
Denmark, the skipper would be in violation of the law (add another couple of dozen lashes).
Furthermore, flying two national flags at the stern where confuses the issue, because no one can tell if he is french or some degenerated brit. (add a couple of dozen more).
So our skipper should get 6 dozen at the grate for the
mistakes noted, plus I guess another dozen or two for flying a defunct flag.
Make it a round 8 dozen.
Good thing I'm feeling merciful today.