country flags do you need them?

[argonauta1]

Courtesy flags are an essential requirement of any vessel outside of home waters. Why? the very name says it all. Upon completion of our circumnavigation in 2006, we displayed them all with the our host nation Courtesy Flag (Venezuela) from the starboard spreader.

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

SkipperDan,

It is not worth giving the host country the offense of not flying their flag at the stbd spreader, once you have cleared in. It really IS an insult.

Obviously, you can hand sew flags on passages, too. Before we left the States, we visited our local sailmaker and he let us raid his spinnaker offcuts bin. We made all our flags, because often they are not for sale locally, and it is a pleasant project. Spinnaker cloth flags only last about 3 months, keep better if you take them down at night. You don't have to sew like a seamstress, for something that will be seen from 20 ft. down! so a simple basting stitch will do the job or a lock stitch. You can get pictures to copy for the complicated flags. We actually bought a flag book, which also gives the ratio of hoist to length, for the various flags.

Ann

I could probably pull off the tri color flags, but how would you make Mexico, or USA. That would be a lot of complicated sewing.

[Cynara]

You can buy flag material and fabric paint. Works well unless the flag is hard to paint

[goboatingnow]

And keep your courtesy flags in good order also. No tatties

As I have a warranted ensign it always gives me a dilemma as to where to fly the burgee for it , hence these days I fly that from the port flag halyard.

[Med Red]

Whatever you choose to do about the flags just remember to hoist then on the starboard side.

[edsailing]

The courtesy flag should be flown higher than any other flag on the vessel, typically immediately below the spreaders.

[nofacey]

Several countries along your path care that you respect them, and see the courtesy flag as a sign of that…..it’s a pretty easy thing to do.

Downside is pissing off the health/customs/immigration officials that are doing the paperwork to let you into their country…..

[Alita49DS]

Apart from being courteous, it has always seemed to me to be rather fun to fly a courtesy flag. Putting one up is a sense of occasion. Even achievement at having crossed between countries.

However, as one message has already cautioned, getting it wrong can be the cause of distress. That is especially so in Gibraltar. If you really, really want to be treated like something you would not want on the bottom of your own sailing shoe then fly a Spanish flag from the starboard cross tree there.

Conversely, I have never been quite sure whether a UK registered boat should fly any courtesy flag at all in Gib. It is, after all, a British Overseas Territory. My boat is based there and I never ever have put up that form of bunting. As against dressing overall in Gibraltar Flags and wearing red and white clothes for National Day. More fun.

Oh, and when sailing North I cross the end of the runway and come into line with the aerial in la Linea I put up a Spanish courtesy flag. Which I did replace as mine was so tattered.

[parkstone bay]

As far as I can see, no one has explained the reason why courtesy flags are required or desirable.
I was taught it's because, traditionally, flying your national colours in foreign waters without anything else could be construed as an act of war, so you display your host country's flag show that you come in peace, and indeed as a "courtesy".
Incidentally, the correct courtesy flag is the mercantile ensign of the host country; even from a warship. Thus, if in UK waters, the correct courtesy flag is the Red Ensign, NOT the Union flag, the White Ensign, the Red Ensign, the flag of St George, or the Cornish flag.
In France, though, the local regions, especially Normandy and Brittany, take it very kindly if you fly their provincial flag as well as the tricolour. Many Frenchmen think of themselves as Breton or Norman, or whatever, first, and as Frenchmen second.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by edsailing

The courtesy flag should be flown higher than any other flag on the vessel, typically immediately below the spreaders.

But below your masthead burgee

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/reg...flag-etiquette

[GarryD]

In Dover, I've seen visiting Cruise ships flying the Union flag (wrong!), upside down (even more wrong!!) and visiting yachts flying the French tricolour. Lost maybe?

[GypsyOwner]

I quite like the whole ceremony of hoisting a courtesy flag; it’s a sign you are halfway there on a long passage. Only bagged one so far but want to collect more.

There are of course lots of valid reasons why you might NOT fly a courtesy flag. In increasing order of likelihood:

1) The main one is you are not intending to accept the laws of the country you are visiting, because you are conquering/annexing/invading/raiding/pillaging etc ( bit rare this )

2) You got a bit lost and didn’t realise you had entered foreign waters (you’ll be the one squinting at the upside-down road atlas as you approach the harbour)

3) You just bought a boat and never heard of it before

4) You know all about it but you couldn’t find the darn thing. It was in the locker a minute ago. Yeah I suppose I should put on that life jacket. Must fix that VHF radio some day as well. You’re are a slacker / free spirit and you’ll charm your way past any questions ;-)


A good smuggler will wear a courtesy flag and a cheerful smile to keep the brandy and baccy safe. Those customs officials will be picking on boats 2, 3 & 4

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by GypsyOwner

I quite like the whole ceremony of hoisting a courtesy flag; it’s a sign you are halfway there on a long passage. Only bagged one so far but want to collect more.



There are of course lots of valid reasons why you might NOT fly a courtesy flag. In increasing order of likelihood:



1) The main one is you are not intending to accept the laws of the country you are visiting, because you are conquering/annexing/invading/raiding/pillaging etc ( bit rare this )



2) You got a bit lost and didn’t realise you had entered foreign waters (you’ll be the one squinting at the upside-down road atlas as you approach the harbour)



3) You just bought a boat and never heard of it before



4) You know all about it but you couldn’t find the darn thing. It was in the locker a minute ago. Yeah I suppose I should put on that life jacket. Must fix that VHF radio some day as well. You’re are a slacker / free spirit and you’ll charm your way past any questions ;-)





A good smuggler will wear a courtesy flag and a cheerful smile to keep the brandy and baccy safe. Those customs officials will be picking on boats 2, 3 & 4

...a good smuggler already has an arrangement with the Customs officers so that they will be eager to complete his paper work and collect their cut!

They may remind him to fly a proper courtesy flag so as not to attract attention.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

...a good smuggler already has an arrangement with the Customs officers so that they will be eager to complete his paper work and collect their cut!

They may remind him to fly a proper courtesy flag so as not to attract attention.

Sadly round here , the port police with a frown and a desire to look over the paperwork is being replaced by a women with an iPad and a Bluetooth receipt printer whose task is to relieve you of the dock fee. She couldn’t care if you wore your knickers as a courtesy flag quite frankly.

[Cynara]

Where is around here