Correct courtesy flags for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

[VexedIllologist]

Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are Territories of the United States of America. I hope to be passing through in a few months and have a question for anyone who has been there before.

At face value the correct courtesy flag for a British yacht to fly when in these waters would be that of the United States of America.

Apparently, however, foreign yachts visiting these islands generally fly the local flag.

Can any fellow forumites shed light, from their own experience, on what is more normally used by visiting foreign yachts (i.e. the American flag or the Puerto Rico / US Virgin Islands flag)?

Thank you.

 

[BrianH]

I entered St Johns, USVI this time last year and cleared from San Juan Puerto Rico two days later and flew 'Ol' Glory' stars and stripes for the duration - nobody complained. This was on a German-flagged yacht.

Be aware of two things.
1. Don't rely on registering on the Visa Waiver Program for your visa clearance - it is only valid for arriving on an "official carrier", which a private yacht is not. Don't ask how I know that.
2. Allow time for entering or clearing from San Juan, the procedure is laborious and time-consuming. It is best to moor up in the Marina because the only way to contact the relevant Border Control and Homeland Security officials is (or was) by telephone with an 800 number that European mobiles couldn't access. The marina receptionist was unbelievably kind to us and did most of the telephoning. You have to wait for them to come to you and it can take a loooong time.

 

[Salty John]

Star and Stripes is the correct flag.
As Barnac1e says, you need to get your US visas before arriving in PR or USVI.
We arrived in PR first, with valid visas, and then got a cruising permit which was valid for USVI also. This meant we didn't have to clear in and out at each port we visited in PR.

 

[BrianH]

We arrived in PR first, with valid visas, and then got a cruising permit which was valid for USVI also. This meant we didn't have to clear in and out at each port we visited in PR.

Oh yes, I forgot that important point - make sure you get a cruising permit ($25, I think). The officials in St John didn't mention this when we entered (after difficulties because of the ESTA visa problem) and it incurred further problems trying to clear without it in San Juan. There's a posting about it here.

 

[KellysEye]

We flew the USVI flag and the Puerto Rico flag. The locals prefer you to use it rather than the US flag, both isalnds have a strong independent streak. You must have an American visa as you are not arriving on a scheduled carrier. If you do arrive in PR without a visa you get a very unpleasant and aggressive grilling by Home Security and a six hundred dollar fine.

By the way a number of other islands prefer you to fly the local flag - Dutch St Martin, Bonaire and Curacao are examples in the Caribbean. Elsewhere in Corsica the local flag is a must or the locals will take against you.

Local flags are often much prettier than national flags so they are a pleasure to keep.

 

[VexedIllologist]

Thanks

...for these responses.

Perhaps I'll fly both the American and the local flags, which should keep everyone happy.

I am already familiar with visa and 'Cruising License' issues, but it was a kind thought to comment on these important aspects and it may help others.

 

[KellysEye]

>Perhaps I'll fly both the American and the local flags, which should keep everyone happy.



I can assure you an American flag won't keep everyone happy.The USVI and Puerto Rico (more surprisingly) do not have represenatives in the Senate thus they have little loyalty to the US. PR is more alignred to Spain. The USVI residents have a strong Hippie streak and are thus anti-authority.

 

[alan_d]

I can assure you an American flag won't keep everyone happy. [SNIP] The USVI residents have a strong Hippie streak and are thus anti-authority.

If the people in the US Virgins are indeed as you describe, surely they wouldn't give a damn about courtesy flags.

 

[Dockhead]

>I can assure you an American flag won't keep everyone happy.The USVI and Puerto Rico (more surprisingly) do not have represenatives in the Senate thus they have little loyalty to the US. PR is more alignred to Spain.

It is true that you really want to fly the PR flag in PR waters. The locals are vey patriotic and display their flag everywhere. The last statement, however, is not true. PR is culturally, economically and politically very close to the U.S., not the least because of the very large Puerto Rican community living in the US (more Puerto Ricans live in mainland US than on the island). Around half of the population favours statehood and full integration into the US despite consistent snubs from the Yanks.

Don't miss PR if you are cruising in the Carib -- it's a lovely place. San Juan is beautiful and interesting and surprisingly ancient.