Offshore With No Flag Flying

[four winds]

Is this technically or specifically unlawful? US recreational vessels are the context.

A search gives lots of etiquette response but can't find the "law" requiring display unequivocally. Is there such a law?

Also what do the members think would be common ramifications of sailing US waters offshore with no flag displayed?

[Prairie Chicken]

I'll be interested to hear an answer too. I noticed it first when we did a Transatlantic aboard the Queen Mary II & they struck their colours once out of the harbour. I guess it had never occurred to me but I can see some logic in it.

[Off Tempo]

In our trip around the Pacific we saw few flags. Offshore they only get in the way and no one to see them anyway.

[belizesailor]

There is a legal basis:

See http://www.hg.org/ship-registration.html

But, in practice it depends on venue. Some places are sticklers for flag etiquette and some could care less, especially for recreational vessels. In places that don't care, like here in the San Blas, I furl my country of registry flag to save wear and tear on it. Its been furled and covered all season. I do fly the host country flag (Panama in this case) just to make it less likely than an official gets curious about the boat's status in the country...and a San Blas (Guna Yala) flag just for fun and I think the Kuna like to see that.

Truly offshore (not in any countries territorial waters) who is going to care? Unless law enforcement/military comes by to check you out.

These laws, like most maritime law, were originally written for ships. As recreational vessels became popular they just defaulted to being covered by these sometimes cumbersome laws (see Jones Act and MRAD waiver as an example).

[Seaworthy Lass]

I don't know about regulations for US vessels, but for Aussie recreational vessels the only times at which a flag is required to be flown are: "entering, leaving, and underway within a foreign port in daylight".

As I understand it, a flag is not required to be flown offshore.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I don't know about regulations for US vessels, but for Aussie recreational vessels the only times at which a flag is required to be flown are: "entering, leaving, and underway within a foreign port in daylight".

As I understand it, a flag is not required to be flown offshore.

This sounds about right for Canada, too. It's pointless and hard on the ensign to fly it on passage.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by four winds

Is this technically or specifically unlawful? US recreational vessels are the context.

A search gives lots of etiquette response but can't find the "law" requiring display unequivocally. Is there such a law?

Also what do the members think would be common ramifications of sailing US waters offshore with no flag displayed?

None!

[Grateful]

I like to have it handy and will unfurl on the rare occasion I am close enough to another vessel in daylight for them to see it, but otherwise, why would anyone fly any ensign when off shore?

[Canibul]

Really, what purpose is it, anyway? Do I care where that white Beneteau is registered in a harbor full of white Bennies? Nope. Do I feel some need to wave a flag and say Look where I'm From!! Nope.

Useless bits of cloth from a bygone era. Funny, though, to see people who despise paper charts all gung ho about hanging colored bits of cloth from their spreaders.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Canibul

...

Useless bits of cloth from a bygone era. ...

Most signal flags I agree are obsolete, but country of registry, Q flag, and host country flags are still in wide use. None really matter offshore, but entering/leaving port can matter (especially a Q flag).

Ive never had an official get bent out of shape if I was being a little casual about flag etiquette, but I have had them remind me a few times.

[coastalexplorer]

A few decades ago commercial fishermen were tied up in Steveston harbour, located in British Columbia Canada. protesting Canada Fisheries regulations by flying skull and crossed bones pirate flags. The first two vessels to clear the harbour entrance were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted police and taken to court.

Due to the reprocessed History of pirate lore is seems some vessel owners think that it is romantic fun to fly these flags, and even dress up in ridiculous regaleira
with plastic cutlasses tied around their waist at tall ship events and boat shows. with no thought about how the legal system will react IF they do not take the flag down before leaving port. So when off shore this is one you should not fly.

[zeehag]

i have flag
i do not sail under any flag
i respect nations i enter and leave.
at present i do not feel respect for my homeland due to the governmental disrespect of the citizenry of my homeland

[Cadence]

How did this get to pirate and signal flags?

[four winds]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

To be more specific, I'm curious about the US flag being flown near shore while coastal cruising. Or crossing from Apalachacola to Tarpon Springs and around the Keys.

If not flying the flag, is that an open invitation to a USCG boarding experience?

[four winds]

And for what it's worth, I recently did my first roll and tip repaint of my stern. So currently have no name and home port displayed.