Courtesy Flags?

[alant]

Now, for the present, we are in a Federal Europe, so do we still need them, or will the star ring take precedence?

 

[laika]

Now, for the present, we are in a Federal Europe, so do we still need them, or will the star ring take precedence?

As I suspect you know the answer to this and are therefore making a political statement, would this post be better off in the lounge?

 

[KellysEye]

We used courtesy flags of each country, the EU flag is not recognised as a courtesy flag.

 

[alant]

As I suspect you know the answer to this and are therefore making a political statement, would this post be better off in the lounge?

What political statement might that be?

 

[prv]

What political statement might that be?

Well it certainly wasn't a practical question, since I believe you're a professional mariner and therefore well know that individual country courtesy flags are required and used.

Pete

 

[RichardS]

Are you perhaps talking about the yellow Q flag Alant?

That's a whole different kettle of fish, as it were. :ambivalence:

Richard

 

[JumbleDuck]

Now, for the present, we are in a Federal Europe, so do we still need them, or will the star ring take precedence?

As long as you fly either a Saltire or a Scottish Merchant Flag as courtesy ensign north of the border, you can fly an EU flag below it if you want. We won't be offended.

 

[superheat6k]

Only use of an EU flag on my boat would be to help light the oven ! What federal Europe ? Even if we stay in the EU it is not a federal Europe (so the In Politicians keep telling us). Any attempt to move UK towards a federal Europe will require further referenda.

 

[[70521]]

Now, for the present, we are in a Federal Europe, so do we still need them, or will the star ring take precedence?

Do I understand you have not been to France recently?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Do I understand you have not been to France recently?

He does seem a little sore about the ring.

 

[trapezeartist]

On a vaguely related note, if Welsh boats insist on flying a Red Dragon as an ensign, why do they not display an English courtesy flag after crossing the Bristol Channel?

 

[macd]

On a vaguely related note, if Welsh boats insist on flying a Red Dragon as an ensign, why do they not display an English courtesy flag after crossing the Bristol Channel?

Fair point. Besides, anyone who presumes to demand that I fly a courtesy flag for a place that is not a sovereign state is going to be disappointed. Whether I choose to fly one or not is entirely up to me.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Fair point. Besides, anyone who presumes to demand that I fly a courtesy flag for a place that is not a sovereign state is going to be disappointed. Whether I choose to fly one or not is entirely up to me.

Of course. Flying a Scottish courtesy flag, for example, is purely a matter if manners and not a legal requirement.

 

[macd]

Of course. Flying a Scottish courtesy flag, for example, is purely a matter if manners and not a legal requirement.

I fear much of this is rooted in false semantics. Whatever the origins of the expression "courtesy flag", it long ago came to mean something which has nothing to do with courtesy, and everything to do with the laws of the sea and of the obligations of vessels foreign to whichever country's waters they were in. In those circumstances (except on innocent passage through) flying such a flag is of course not manners but an obligation. If a courtesy flag were called something else -- a "passage flag", or whatever -- I've no doubt half these threads would never begin. I've little doubt that you know all this, JD, but many don't seem to.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I fear much of this is rooted in false semantics. Whatever the origins of the expression "courtesy flag", it long ago came to mean something which has nothing to do with courtesy, and everything to do with the laws of the sea and of the obligations of vessels foreign to whichever country's waters they were in. In those circumstances (except on innocent passage through) flying such a flag is of course not manners but an obligation. If a courtesy flag were called something else -- a "passage flag", or whatever -- I've no doubt half these threads would never begin. I've little doubt that you know all this, JD, but many don't seem to.

Agreed. Use of a Scottish or Welsh flag is one of the few instances where it really is a matter of courtesy. Mind you, this thread has made me think ... I'm planning a jaunt round the Irish Sea this summer, so perhaps I should get a St George's Cross courtesy flag in case I go to England. I already have the Welsh, Irish and Manx ones.

 

[laika]

perhaps I should get a St George's Cross courtesy flag in case I go to England. I already have the Welsh, Irish and Manx ones.

Well you'll need a cornish one and a devon one at least. I think folks in the solent have other things to get angry about but there is a hampshire flag too. Someone might be deeply upset that you're not flying it. Hmm...actually I wonder how many people I've been irritating by not flying a sussex flag since I've been here. Or more specifically the PRB&H flag...

 

[mjcoon]

He does seem a little sore about the ring.

Is that a supposition (or suppository)?

Mike.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Is that a supposition (or suppository)?

Just a little stuck up. Though of course the more stuck up, the sorer people tend to be.

 

[alant]

Well it certainly wasn't a practical question, since I believe you're a professional mariner and therefore well know that individual country courtesy flags are required and used.

Pete

That was pre federation.

 

[alant]

On a vaguely related note, if Welsh boats insist on flying a Red Dragon as an ensign, why do they not display an English courtesy flag after crossing the Bristol Channel?

Since when have the English (which flag is that exactly?) deserved courtesy from us Welsh?