Courtesy flag etiquette

[snowleopard]

When visiting countries whose national flag is a defaced red or blue ensign, should one wear a courtesy flag in addition to the boat's normal ensign?

I guess the answer may be different for British colonies like Anguilla and independent countries like NZ.

 

[Cornishman]

The courtesy flag should be a miniature of the country's mercantile ensign, whatever it might be. It is wrong to wear the national flag where it differs from the mercantile ensign.

 

[islander4]

I asked the RYA a similar question some time ago - from memory it depends on whether the country is a UK dependency or protectorate (as defined in Merchant Shipping Act 1995) in which case normal red ensign is carried and there is no requirement for a courtesy flag.

 

[AndrewB]

Yes, that's right. But in practice most British yachts do fly a courtesy ensign in such places as the BVI ... after all, its an expression of courtesy. Only a few countries actually require you fly one, and one or two of these also demand that it is taken down at night.

 

[ccscott49]

Courtesy flags should be taken down at night, just like your own ensign.

 

[AndrewB]

Is that customary? I've long noticed that British yachtsmen who take down their ensign at night still leave the courtesy ensign up.

Incidentally as I'm sure you know, quite a few countries require that the ensign is left permanently up while in their waters.

 

[FAITIRA]

Incidently, I was there when friends were fined in Portugal, Cullatra, for having a tatty courtesy flag.

 

[snowleopard]

I think that's more to do with corrupt local officials than any form of law or custom.

I heard of one yottie who was told off by a French official because he had hoisted the Q and courtesy flag on the same halliard and pulled them down to remove the Q after clearing in. The official considered the action an insult! (What's the French for 'get a life'?)

 

[AndrewB]

Like the Barbados customs officer who said that the central panel of our courtesy ensign was the wrong shade of yellow. We would have to buy a correct one from him for $15 to be admitted to Barbados.

It was a plastic cheapie costing under $1 in local toy shops - I would have been ashamed to fly it.