Courtesy Flags for Channel Islands

[Barry Jones]

Assuming you are a British registered yacht, do you fly the CI courtesy flag on arrival e.g. Guernsey flag for St.Peter Port ??

What happens if you are British flag but registered in St.Helier ?? - do you still fly a Jersey courtesy flag on entry ?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Assuming you are a British registered yacht, do you fly the CI courtesy flag on arrival e.g. Guernsey flag for St.Peter Port ??

Spoze you could, but I never have, and haven't ended up being deported.

 

[Seajet]

Also, as far as I remember the Jersey flag looks very like Int Code 'V' - distress, not that either seems likely to have lifeboats racing your way, but there's always sod's law.

 

[Angele]

Assuming you are a British registered yacht, do you fly the CI courtesy flag on arrival e.g. Guernsey flag for St.Peter Port ??

What happens if you are British flag but registered in St.Helier ?? - do you still fly a Jersey courtesy flag on entry ?

In the same way that the French appreciate it if you do, so do Channel Islanders.

Just to be clear, there is no CI courtesy flag. They are separate ones for Jersey and Guernsey (and Alderney too), but I have never seen one for Sark. Make sure you fly the right one in the right island, otherwise that really would offend!

And, yes, I think you should fly a Jersey courtesy flag even if Jersey registered, if your "home port" is here in the UK. My home berth is on the Hamble, but I am a member of one of the Jersey yacht clubs (and so fly that ensign). Even so, I fly a Jersey courtesy flag as well.

Seajet is correct to say that the Jersey ensign is similar to the "V" flag, but less so than the St Patrick saltaire!

 

[Topcat47]

Alderney Flag? Last time I was there the chandlery were selling Guernsey flags to anyone who asked.

 

[Angele]

Alderney Flag? Last time I was there the chandlery were selling Guernsey flags to anyone who asked.

I don't know when your "last time" was (and I'm pretty sure these didn't exist when I was a boy sailing around the Channel Islands), but see here. (I don't think they are making it up!)

Edit: Wikipedia confirms two things: (1) they are not making it up; and (2) they didn't exist when I was a boy (flag came into being in 1993).

 

[guernseyman]

If I may make a belated contribution: all the significantly inhabited islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey (eponymous Guernsey, and Alderney, Sark, and Herm) have their own flags.

Courtesy flags are just that. Personally, I don't mind if UK boats don't fly one, and am happy for foreign boats to be courteous to the UK in Bailiwick waters. I would not relish explaining how we are/are not connected to the UK to a foreigner.

A Guernsey flag suffices for the other islands - you have made a good gesture. I occasionally fly a Sark flag when visiting but, given the geography of the island especially now no one collects mooring fees, it is hardly ever seen by the Sarkees.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

If I may make a belated contribution: all the significantly inhabited islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey (eponymous Guernsey, and Alderney, Sark, and Herm) have their own flags.

Courtesy flags are just that. Personally, I don't mind if UK boats don't fly one, and am happy for foreign boats to be courteous to the UK in Bailiwick waters. I would not relish explaining how we are/are not connected to the UK to a foreigner.

A Guernsey flag suffices for the other islands - you have made a good gesture. I occasionally fly a Sark flag when visiting but, given the geography of the island especially now no one collects mooring fees, it is hardly ever seen by the Sarkees.

No one collects mooring fees? Is it free now then?

 

[guernseyman]

No one collects mooring fees? Is it free now then?

You obviously missed the postings on other threads - yes - both Havre Gosselin (at least a dozen visitor's buoys) on the west coast and Greve de la Ville (six) on the east coast are free now and for the foreseeable future.

 

[doug748]

I would say Guernseyman has the full SP.

As far as my (possibly) limited understanding goes there is no formal rule to follow between Red Flag States. As the man says it is a matter of courtesy only

Similarly both Guernsey and Jersey (and for all I know Alderney) have their own defaced Red Ensign which can be used in place of the Red Ensign on registered boats, or not, at the owners discretion.

In case this detail knowledge sounds a but anal, I have to plead the fact that I have just bought a secondhand Guernsey Defaced Red (£2 cheers squire) and will be flying it with pride, smug in the knowledge that few of the buggers in the UK will know what it is and may mistake me for a toff.