Courtesy flags

[TiggerToo]

Is there anywhere official one can put up flags of places one has "been to" - just to show off? We had an argument with SWMBO the other day when I enforced the removal of the courtesy flags from our starboard cross trees as we left Brittany... putting them somewhere else might have boon a good compromise

 

[pyrojames]

You can put anything you like on the port cross tree!

 

[johnalison]

Unfortunately, if you put up flags in order to show off, that is exactly how it will appear to others. It is not normally correct to display more than essential flags when under way, such as; ensign, burgee(1 only) and a courtesy flag where appropriate. Additional flags count as house flags and are only worn in port. If you wish to display a line of flags it will look as if you've put the washing up to dry.

I've no doubt people will think this unduly pedantic, but this is what sailors in the past have done as a matter of course.

 

[snowleopard]

On returning to the UK from out year's cruise I put the courtesy flags of all the countries visited as if dressing overall (It only made it to the masthead, not down the other side) I don't think anyone noticed but it made me feel good.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

I have a 'I've Been to Chester Zoo' sticker on the back window of my car.

 

[TheBoatman]

I've got a Leeds/Bradford airport sticker on my briefcase and (get this) a Rolls Royce vistors badge on a pair of overalls.
[bursts into song] .... I've bin everywhere man.....

Peter.

 

[Sgeir]

I very much disapprove of the misuse of courtesy flags.

My lady wife and I have recently spent five weeks sheltering in Loch Spelve, during which time we were astonished, and delighted, to learn so much about fish farms, and fish farm related items.

Imagine our shock and horror when, after the F5 had abated, while seeking the shelter of Balvicar Bay, we came across an unattended boat, on a mooring, showing the flags of Scotland, Ireland, Spain, the Dagenham Girl Pipers, the EU, and Portugal. This was clearly an indication of an unseamanlike approach to sailing.

We rowed ashore and left a card in the window of Balvicar Post Office:
<ul type="square">"To the Yacht Earwig, you are in Scotland now, and the appropriate ensign for your vessel is that of the Merchant Navy, commonly known as the Red Ensign. If, of course, you are a member of a properly fitted out organisation, then, you may, of course, be entitled to wear a Blue Ensign.

"Prior to the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, the plain blue ensign had been the ensign of one of three squadrons of the Royal Navy, the "Blue Squadron." This changed in 1864, when an order in council provided that the Red Ensign was allocated to merchantmen, the Blue Ensign was to be flag of ships in public service or commanded by an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, and the White Ensign was allocated to the Navy.

"Thus, after 1864, the plain blue ensign is permitted to be worn, instead of the Red Ensign, by two categories of civilian vessel:-

"British merchant vessels whose officers and crew include a certain number of retired Royal Navy personnel or Royal Navy reservists, or are commanded by an officer of the Royal Navy Reserve in possession of a Government warrant. The number and rank of such crew members required has varied over the years, as have the additional conditions required, since the system was first introduced in 1864.

"Yachts belonging to members of certain long-established British yacht clubs, for example the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club. Permission for yachts to wear the blue ensign (and other special yachting ensigns) was suspended during both World War I and World War II.

"Defaced blue ensign
Since 1864, the Blue Ensign is defaced with a badge or emblem, to form the ensign of United Kingdom government departments or public bodies, for example:-

"Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
Port of London Authority
Aberdeen Harbour Board
Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)
Combined Cadet Force
Northern Lighthouse Board
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
Outer Hebrides

"Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary



"Ensign of the defunct Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service



"Ensign of the defunct Royal Navy Auxiliary Service



"Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board




"Ensign of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency



"Ensign of the Outer Hebrides as used at the International Island Games Association competitions.





"Vessels belonging to members of certain British Yacht Clubs (for example, the Royal Harwich Yacht Club)


"Government vessels of UK overseas territories. This usage stems from the fact that in 1867–69, orders in council provided that the ensign for vessels in the service of any of the British colonies was to be the Blue Ensign, charged in the fly with the seal of the colony. Any British colony with ships in its service thus had reason to use the Blue Ensign. This worldwide, imperial use is the origin of the use of the Blue Ensign by many areas today, such as the Australian states.


"The defaced blue ensign was formerly used as:

"The jack of the Royal Canadian Navy from its inception until the adoption of the Maple Leaf flag in 1965. (see Flags of the Royal Canadian Navy 1910–1965) The blue ensign was approved by the British Admiralty in 1868 for use by ships owned by the Canadian government.
Blue Ensign worn as a jack by the Royal Canadian Navy from 1957–1965

"Blue Ensign worn as a jack by the Royal Canadian Navy from 1921–1957

"In the first half of the 20th century, Blue Ensigns for each province of Canada often appeared in charts of "all the world's flags", but these flags were just fantasies of the artists who drew the charts, and then copied by other artists putting together similar charts. They never existed in real life.

"Flags of UK Overseas Territories using the Blue Ensign
These include:

"Flag of Anguilla
Government Ensign of Bermuda (the flag commonly used on land, however, is Bermuda's Red Ensign)
Flag of the British Virgin Islands
Flag of the Cayman Islands
Flag of the Falkland Islands
Government Ensign of Gibraltar (there is another flag, not based on an ensign, that is commonly used on land)
Flag of Montserrat
Flag of Pitcairn Islands
Flag of Saint Helena
Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands
Flag of Hong Kong prior to 1997

"National flags based on the Blue Ensign
These include:

"Flag of Australia
Flag of New South Wales
Flag of Queensland
Flag of South Australia
Flag of Tasmania
Flag of Victoria
Flag of Western Australia
Flag of Fiji (light blue)
Flag of New Zealand
Flag of the Cook Islands
Flag of Tuvalu (light blue)

"Other flags based on the Blue Ensign
Flag of Hawaii"[/list]
Jings, it was a long postcard. But it only cost 1/10d for three weeks in the window.

 

[Woodlouse]

Did you get a thankyou note? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[machurley22]

Not this rapscallion by any chance?

I am led to believe that his thirst was such that there was no time to lower the courtesy flags though you will note that the cover is on the main and that this picture was taken a week after the triumphant return.

 

[Sgeir]

Judging by the chipboard in the windaes, I'd say they've hud a chip pan fire and are waiting furra cooncil tae re-hoose them. Sorry, ahem, re-boat them.

 

[davies]

Why not get a sticker saying "My other boat's an Oyster"?