Courtesy flags - where do you have to wear one?

[RichardS]

So are you saying Q and courtesy should be flown simultaneously until check-in?

It's a good question as, of course, sailing around the Med I've never flown a Q flag so just hoist the courtesy flag when I see land on the horizon. However, my recollection from sailing in the Caribbean is that I would hoist the courtesy flag with the Q flag beneath it and then drop the Q flag after clearance.

Richard

 

[[163233]]

My understanding was Q flag and then courtesy after check in, where the Q is unnecessary (soon to become quite a limited array of countries) then the courtesy flag. Although I've heard that if visiting Algeria to do both.
I got my Isle of Man flag in Douglas, no-one had an issue with it one way or another.

As regards the previous question about English flying Scottish or Welsh courtesy flags when visiting then yes, most do, it adds a bit of fun, like it's really foreign. Although I forgot in Wales and despite it being proper foreign with them speaking wrong and everything they didn't mention it.
NI is much more complex, some suggest flying no flag at all.

 

[jamie N]

Reeds flag etiquette states vessels visiting the uk have to fly the red ensign, not the union jack.
You also can't fly a st George, Welsh or Scottish flag from your vessel as that is reserved for admirals. Doing so can lead to arrest, confiscation of the vessel and a large fine.
Luckily our rules are not policed.

It's a measure of the sort of bloke that I am, but I'd love to test that, and (perhaps) turn my boat into 'The Mahogany Martyr'! Freeeeedom etc.etc.. ?

 

[[70521]]

I fly the pan-celtic flag whilst on the Celtic Fringe. The UK ensign is on the transom.

 

[[163233]]

I fly the pan-celtic flag whilst on the Celtic Fringe. The UK ensign is on the transom.

It's really the "no-English" flag, because England was also a Celtic nation until the Anglo-Saxons invaded, and if invasion is enough to stop it, then Wales was invaded as well.

 

[Sea Devil]

I seem to remember they are not compulsory in any country, but as above I would not think of visiting a foreign country without flying one. It shows respect and as it says on the tin it is a courtesy. Failing to fly one may mean you upset officials before you start and that is never a good thing

Courtesy flags are obligatory in Tunisia, Morocco, Gibraltar and many other countries. Generally speaking the smaller the country the more importance they place on their flag being flown. I nearly got fined by harbour police after sailing into a Tunisian port without one as it had been stolen in the previous port. The local marina immediately loaned me a Tunisian courtesy flag but that did not stop the harbour police threatening me with a fine for entering without their courtesy flag flying.
The flag should be flown from entering their waters, whilst in port and only struck when their territorial waters have been exited.
I have found generally the Americans, Spanish, French do not seem to give a damn...

 

[Refueler]

I seem to remember they are not compulsory in any country, but as above I would not think of visiting a foreign country without flying one. It shows respect and as it says on the tin it is a courtesy. Failing to fly one may mean you upset officials before you start and that is never a good thing

When I organised for the Baltic Sprint Cup to come to Ventspils in Latvia 2007 - some of the race boats did not have Latvian Courtesy flags - being the local guy - I was called by the Border Guards in the evening and told to sort this out. If the boats did not have Latvian flags flying by midday next day - the 'offending' boats would be forced to sail out and clear Latvian waters.
Luckily I managed to grab a load of flags on sticks designed for clipping to car windows !!

 

[Mudisox]

So are you saying Q and courtesy should be flown simultaneously until check-in?

Yes, why make things difficult for yourself.

 

[jordanbasset]

The only time I ever got into trouble was when I went into Gibraltar. As I was flying the red ensign I did not need a courtesy flag, but unfortunately not having to put another courtesy flag up forgot to take the Spanish Courtesy flag down. The marine staff pointed it out in a very aggressive manner, shouting words to the effect of 'get that rag down'. My mistake but still surprised at emotion behind the instruction

 

[jamie N]

Flag of the Scottish Highlands.

What reaction in Cowes would this generate flown at the stern?

 

[Joker]

Bewilderment?

 

[Refueler]

Thanks for all, I only visited countries around the Irish sea, no one seemed to bother. Hopping over to France or Norway sounds like another story then.

If you are a UK boat (registered or not) ... then visiting within the UK - you can literally fly what you want or not ... (I believe the Skull and Crossbones and other Pirate flags were recently removed from the 'illegal list') ..... as long as its not insulting, designed to insult, shows innapropriate design or logo.
But if you come from a non UK location, regardless of UK boat or not - then Q flag is required until Pratique is granted. The same as you visiting any non EU state ... Q flag till Free Pratique granted ...

The Courtesy Flag should remain hoisted (in some countries 24hrs a day) till you depart. It shows good respect to the flag of country visiting by flying it even if its another EU state etc.
Some countries such as China will watch you hoist / lower the flag and can get upset if it touches the deck ... seriously !!

 

[colind3782]

A couple of years ago the GC in Empuriabrava were pulling people for flying the "wrong" Spanish courtesy flag, without the crown in the middle. There were rumours of fines but nothing confirmed.

 

[laika]

I was under the impression you should only fly a courtesy flag after you make an official check-in (where required).

That's interesting: I hadn't heard that before. I've always hoisted (roughly) when entering territorial waters with the Q flag below, then removing the Q after clearance. The RYA page on flag etiquette isn't specific on this:
Flag Etiquette | Regulations | Knowledge & Advice | RYA - Royal Yachting Association

But their boating abroad page is:
Entry and Exit Formalities | Boating Abroad | Knowledge & Advice | RYA - Royal Yachting Association

However googling this question I found a few sites supporting the "fly Q until clearance then replace with courtesy" theory. I also found this thread from 10 years ago:
Q flag
..which suggests that this piece of etiquette may be US-specific.

After today's investigation I shall continue to do what I've been doing as:
- I'm not American
- On a practical note, no-one is going to get upset if you are wearing their country's courtesy flag superior to the Q on the starboard spreader
- ...But they might if they don't *see* a courtesy flag and think, like I and many others do, that it should be flown on entering territorial waters

Which countries care? I would say those that are most nationalistic. Turkey and Greece are fanatical, the French don't care and no-one expects you to have a courtesy flag for all the channel islands. Obviously me being me I stress about whether the Alderneyans are going to be offended by me flying a Guernsey courtesy flag or whether being part of the same bailiwick they'd prefer that to the Alderney courtesy flag that I don't have. Given that most of the French boats are flying a tatty scrap of toy union flag I'm comforted that it really doesn't matter.

 

[RupertW]

I wouldn’t dream of sailing in a foreign country without flying the appropriate courtesy flag.

Normally I take great pleasure in not just having the national flag but the regional one as well below it. I think I’ve got just 5 country flags but at least double that on regional flags.

But I still managed to land in a country unexpectedly last year with no courtesy flag or a way to buy one. Lots of armed officials from different forces but all ended amicably and left s few days later still without one. Am about to buy one as this year we may need to visit there again.

 

[rogerthebodger]

It is a legal requirement for me to fly a South African ensign (same as SA flag) when ever I leave port as my vessel is registered on the South Africa register of ships. This is staten in the our Ship Registration act.

I have a friend who flies the blue peter whenever he leaves his mooring in his 26 ft sailboat.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Already stated that. Reeds flag etiquette. Go look it up.

Reeds flag etiquette section does not have force of law. Anyway, I don't believe it says what you claimed.

 

[JumbleDuck]

But I still managed to land in a country unexpectedly last year with no courtesy flag or a way to buy one. Lots of armed officials from different forces but all ended amicably and left s few days later still without one. Am about to buy one as this year we may need to visit there again.

My first trip to the Isle of Man was rather unexpected and I didn't have a courtesy flag with me. The Peel harbourmaster pointed out in a very friendly way that I needed one and I ended up flying a Manx flag made for sandcastles for a week.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Marineros in Calvi used to flog them to visiting boats for a nice markup.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

It's really the "no-English" flag, because England was also a Celtic nation until the Anglo-Saxons invaded, and if invasion is enough to stop it, then Wales was invaded as well.

In their turn the Welsh Normans (Gallo-Normans?) invaded Ireland.