Courtesy Flag Etiquette

[ReneJK]

I hope I misunderstand you.

Your boat is Dutch. So you will fly (it will 'wear') the Dutch ensign from the stern. Period. Don't confuse this immutable and mandatory badge of your own (boat's) nationality with any other flags you may fly on your boat.

When in another country, you may/should fly its national (martime) flag from a higher point on your boat (harder to say where on a mobo than on a yacht) as a mark of courtesy to your host nation. But don't confuse this with your own ensign. You don't just fly your own national flag 'below' a courtesy flag; you fly it from the stern. It means a totally different thing.

Perhaps the French have something after all, by policing the wearing of national ensigns whilst the British authorities are lax about it. At least if people get fined for misdeclaring their nationality they don't get so confused about it.

I'm sure I have misunderstood what you mean!

Maye this is where some of my confusion comes from , in The Netherlands flags are NOT mandatory (at least , not for the Dutch) as far as I am aware we can do whatever we want , we can fly our national tri colour... or not ...wherever we want.. or not .. on bluewater or inland water .. or not
and I have never come across any laws or rules regarding flagging on any of the RYA equiv. Dutch courses

Only when passing borders I am expected to wear flags .. hence my question what our surrounding countries (England and the UK in this case) expects me have and flags to fly

 

[st599]

Surely you just hoist battle ensigns and fly "Enemy in sight"?

 

[DJE]

As I understand it the only legal requirement is to fly your national ensign when entering or leaving a foreign port. The rest is a matter of courtesy and tradition, unless you're in Turkey by the sound of it.

 

[ccscott49]

You had better make sure you are flying a good Spanish courtesy flag in Spain, the Guardia take a dim view of not and tatty ones! The correct one is the one without the crown on. Lots of peeps make the mistake of wearing the crowned one.