UK courtesy flag

[Benz]

Just ordered a "UK courtesy flag", and am surprised to see not a Union Jack, but a red cross on a white background. Is this the courtesy flag I'm supposed to fly in the UK? Would it be in bad taste for a US boat to fly a Union Jack as a courtesy?
Thanks in advance

[Seaworthy Lass]

A red cross on a white background is the Flag of England, as opposed to the UK.
Did you order an "English" flag instead of the Union Jack?

[Jeannius]

It should be the Red Ensign. Looks like this...

[Astrid]

In theory neither are correct, although there is much debate. The proper courtesy flag would probably be the red ensign as the Union Jack is generally reserved for HM ships and the flag of St. George (red cross on white) when flown at sea is a RN Admiral's flag.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Oops, getting my names confused LOL. We are flying a Red Ensign, not a Union Jack! Sorry to mislead you Benz.

[s/v Jedi]

You can also get a European flag, rip it to shreds and hoist that

[Seren y Mor]

Have you noticed how "Red Dusters" with the Union Flag replaced by the Saint Andrews Cross are becoming fashionable? They aren't even Independent yet!

[Tradewind 35]

We are nutty about flags over here. Its no wonder we lost the colonies.
A brief precis.....The Union flag goes on the pointy end of British Warships. They have the white ensign on the blunt end. Everyone else makes do with a red ensign, or a defaced red ensign, or a blue ensign, or a defaced blue ensign. But the Royal Yacht Squadron - our poshest yachties can fly the white ensign. Simple!
Unless of course you are a Scot that likes the saltire - white cross on blue, or Cornish - white cross on black, or a Devonian - green one. The Queen and other members of the royal family find this all too confusing so have their own own Royal Standards -so if Mam is on a ship she flies her standard from the top most flagpost but the skipper is a bit precious about that so the ship also flies it's normal flag on the stern. In practice therefore no matter what you fly you may be right or wrong depending.......but in practice most folk won't care what you fly if you are being courteous by flying something. Unless of course you go to Ireland where people are seriously into flag waving -some of em are still fighting over flags.....there you may get stoned if you fly the wrong one in the wrong place - if in doubt fly nothing and hopefully no -one willl throw things at you.

[nagrom snoyl]

Originally Posted by Tradewind 35

We are nutty about flags over here. Its no wonder we lost the colonies.
A brief precis.....The Union flag goes on the pointy end of British Warships. They have the white ensign on the blunt end. Everyone else makes do with a red ensign, or a defaced red ensign, or a blue ensign, or a defaced blue ensign. But the Royal Yacht Squadron - our poshest yachties can fly the white ensign. Simple!
Unless of course you are a Scot that likes the saltire - white cross on blue, or Cornish - white cross on black, or a Devonian - green one. The Queen and other members of the royal family find this all too confusing so have their own own Royal Standards -so if Mam is on a ship she flies her standard from the top most flagpost but the skipper is a bit precious about that so the ship also flies it's normal flag on the stern. In practice therefore no matter what you fly you may be right or wrong depending.......but in practice most folk won't care what you fly if you are being courteous by flying something. Unless of course you go to Ireland where people are seriously into flag waving -some of em are still fighting over flags.....there you may get stoned if you fly the wrong one in the wrong place - if in doubt fly nothing and hopefully no -one willl throw things at you.

yes here in ireland it would,nt be a good idea to be flying the union jack so make sure you have the right charts out before you make land fall

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by nagrom snoyl

yes here in ireland it would,nt be a good idea to be flying the union jack so make sure you have the right charts out before you make land fall

Of course in Ireland all the yacht clubs have their own warranted ensigns anyway. And of course no self respecting UK yacht visiting Ireland would fly the union flag ( its only a Union Jack on a jack staff). A visiting UK yacht would be " wearing" the red ensign and very welcome she would be too.

Dave

[Benz]

Thanks all...though now I know less than I did before. The St.George's cross flag I was sent was what our local big box chandlery calls a "UK courtesy flag". For our Irish landfall, I plan to acquire a proper Irish flag (the bigger the better) at the upcoming St Patty's hoopla that overrruns Newport next week or so. Perhaps for the rest of my cruise I'll just fly the Rhode Island state flag, a fouled anchor on a white background bearing the simple legend "Hope", and hope that will, er, fly.

[Tradewind 35]

Well reasoned Benz, we welcome all visiting vessels actually. All is not lost with the "English" flag because some of us here are also nutty about a game played by men with large round balls - we call it football but "soccer" to you I believe. Should your vessel linger in these waters long enough for England to be playing at home you can wrap yourself in the English flag and colapse drunk in the gutter after England get beaten as they most often do - that way you will then at least have the right coutesy flag!
Fair winds and tides.

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Of course in Ireland all the yacht clubs have their own warranted ensigns anyway. And of course no self respecting UK yacht visiting Ireland would fly the union flag ( its only a Union Jack on a jack staff). A visiting UK yacht would be " wearing" the red ensign and very welcome she would be too.

Dave

Well it could be a Union Jack flying in the USA, or maybe Canada.

IN the USA it would only be stars on the blue field, but only on holidays, unless the Admiral is aboard.

In O'Canada it would be what? I'm not Canadian, but I fly the Maple Leaf year round.

My wife is 2nd gen German/Ameican, and I'm 1st gen American/German circ 1557.

Lloyd

[Astrid]

In Canada, the naval ensign is the national Maple Leaf flag. Our jack is a white flag with the red and blue maple leaf flag design in the upper staff canton and fouled anchor and eagle surmounted by a crown, all worked in blue on the fly:

Naval Jack (Canada)

The naval auxiliary jack is the same design but with the field blue and the anchor, eagle and crown worked in white.

A smaller version of the national flag would be appropriate for a courtesy flag.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Astrid

In Canada, the naval ensign is the national Maple Leaf flag. Our jack is a white flag with the red and blue maple leaf flag design in the upper staff canton and fouled anchor and eagle surmounted by a crown, all worked in blue on the fly:

Naval Jack (Canada)


A smaller version of the national flag would be appropriate for a courtesy flag.

Where a country has an official maritime ensign , that's is always flown as a courtesy flag by visiting boats.