Coutesy ensigns

[reginaldon]

Seen in Dover today: a Dutch yacht flying a Union Flag as a courtesy flag at his starboard spreader, a Belgian yacht flying a French tricoleur as a courtesy flag, a classic Danish ketch, but flying the Red Ensign at the port spreader, in fact one of the few correctly dressed boats was a Latvian yawl. It is a good job we are not as particular about flag etiquette as some of our neighbours.

 

[dulcibella]

Basically all nonsense anyway?

 

[Liz_I]

Really!! Don't think so. What is the word COURTESY - got it?
One of the forumites is correct when he states 'We are doomed' Come on, it's not rocket science, takes little time and cost but it keeps people happy.

 

[hornblower]

I agree - if you take care of things like courtesy flags then you will probably use the right lights and generally keep your vessel shipshape - its all part of good seamanship

 

[Sea_dreamer]

Anyone know of a good explanation online of courtesy flags and the correct way to dress the yacht?

 

[reginaldon]

Sorry don't know an Online route, altho' there will be one , but pick up a Nautical Almanac from Amazon - good value!
NB I'm always a cheap skate.

 

[johnalison]

It's not always the owner's fault. We challenged a Dutchman in Brighton about his Union Flag and he was appalled, having been assured by his (Dutch) chandler that it was correct.

Also seen at Dover 6 years ago; a German with a Union Flag upside-down. When I asked him if he was in distress he looked puzzled, and when I explained my reasoning he suffered from an acute sense-of-humour failure.

 

[FAITIRA]

Can be expensive not to do it right, a couple of years ago Brits were fined in Portugal for having "tatty" courtesy flags, others for no anchor lights or shapes.

 

[Cornishman]

In the days of the USSR Russian ships calling at Plymouth's Victoria Wharves for china clay always had the Union Flag as a courtesy ensign. They did not recognise the mercantile ensigns of any country apparently.

 

[steve_cronin]

Yes, I find that, especially when....

..I tell the "My father used to go to Hamburg quite a lot...No, he was the bomb-aimer in a Lancaster" joke

Personally, I have taken steps to ensure that our boat will be the best dressed yacht in Gouvia Marina this year.

Dismayed at having to replace yet another UV destroyed Greek Courtesy Ensign with the "same again" tatty and flimsy piece of blurry printed nylon which is the ONLY offering of local chandleries, I have purchased a half yard, sewn bunting Greek flag with a proper boltrope and toggle sewn-in from MrFlag.com This will compliment the rather superior hand made one and three-quarter yard Red Ensign bought for us by our elder son from the Royal flagmakers in The Strand. Lesser peasant vessels should keep clear!

BTW, I wonder if David & Pat Teal of "Retreat from Battle" (MedMan) have a proper Italian C.E. yet? We left them making one from a sheet of A4, some child's crayons and a length of sticking tape in Brindisi Harbour in 2001*. However, as he is a retired school teacher, would we expect anything less?

Steve Cronin

*I always felt a bit mean about that David as we were heading south to Greece and we could have left you ours!

 

[reginaldon]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

BTW, I wonder if David & Pat Teal of "Retreat from Battle" (MedMan) have a proper Italian C.E. yet? We left them making one from a sheet of A4, some child's crayons and a length of sticking tape in Brindisi Harbour in 2001*. However, as he is a retired school teacher, would we expect anything less?
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That's why I'm a cheap skate - I thought it was because I'm a Yorkshireman - NE coast.

 

[Emjaytoo]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

We shall be taking our boat to Vlissingen at the end of the month and will no doubt pass through Belgian waters en route to The Westerschelde, should we fly a Belgian courtesy flag whilst in their waters?

 

[ccscott49]

It doesn´t matter whether the Russians recognised a countries maritime ensign, they should still have been wearing one! Dickheads!

 

[reginaldon]

Re: Courtesy Ensigns re: Emjaytoo

From the NA it seems that you should.

NB. The Latvian ensign had me guessing a while until I consulted my 8year old grandson's poster of national info. including flags

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: Courtesy ensigns

Apart from the courtesy factor (and it is nice to be courteous to the folk of countries that you visit), flying a courtesy flag from the starboard spreader also serves as a good wind direction indicator for folk who dont have the new fangled electronic versions (or they have packed up, like ours).

And if you have visiting guests on board, you can fly their country's flag from the port spreader - and then you have a wind indicator on both tacks!

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

Certainly, but seeing how fond the Belgians are of that nauseating ring of stars thing, would they actually recognise their own tricolor?

Steve Cronin

 

[Koeketiene]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

Prat

 

[KellysEye]

>Basically all nonsense anyway?

There are countries we have passed through who have on the spot fines for not flying a (their) courtesy ensign or flying one that is frayed. Try it in Venezuela for example. It certainly isn't nonsense in some parts of the world.

 

[thalassa]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

[ QUOTE ]
Certainly, but seeing how fond the Belgians are of that nauseating ring of stars thing, would they actually recognise their own tricolor?


[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, they would . And I think one of the reasons many of us Belgians are not fond of flying the proper flag is, that we're forever held for Germans in any French or British port, and treated accordingly. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
It has some advantages however. Moored alongside in Weymouth, one is the last boat anyone wants to raft up to... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Another Belgian fad (at least for the Flemish) a few years ago was sporting tricolors defaced with a lion. As it is reserved for governement vessels only (customs etc.), owners got a rather hefty fine, so they disappeared.
And indeed, many Dutch chandlers sell Union flags and not the correct ensigns, but I haven't seen them in Belgian chandlers.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Yes, I find that, especially when....

Well in that' i'd prefer to see education rather than embarresment!

SWMBO can never remember which is German and which is Belgian, so she just remembers that the German has hoizontal stripes rather like towels laid on sunbeds, whereas the Belgian one is far more upright!

There... now i've just upset the German members of the forum!

Anyway... it could be worse... you could have a Dutch ensign, and be mistaken for a French boat... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (only joking France)