Curtesy Flags

[Questor]

Planning a trip to Cherbourg and Channel Islands next week.

So we fly our French curtesy flag en route to Cherbourg.

Question is, what happens on the next leg from Cherbourg to Guernsey. I assume we still fly the French flag as we're still in French waters. Right....... or wrong?

Should we also have a flag for Channel Islands?

And then if we leave the C I to return to Chi in one stint, what then?

R

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[duncan]

I only know that I have aquired a pretty one for Guernsey (each of the CIs has their own) as well as the French one.
I had assumed you flew it when entering port rather than 'territorial waters'.
Finally you need a yellow duster for the CIs as well apparantly according to the experts on here (who are probably at lunch right now!) They said a Q flag but that a yellow duster would do...../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Questor]

A Q Flag? What's a Q Flag? Shouldn't that be a pink duster?

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[Aardee]

Flag "Q" - AKA a yellow duster. Only fly it until you've been "welcomed" by local Customs & Excise...

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me" - A A Milne.

 

[Moose]

You should put the French Courtesy ensign up (on your Starboard flaggy bit) 12 miles from France. You shouldn't fly any courtesy ensign while in the Channel Islands because you have a Red Ensign. When you leave the Channel Islands you should put up a Q flag.

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Moose

 

[adarcy]

Re: Courtesy Flags

Nearly right IMHO

I must admit never really thought about the 12 mile and have tended to put the courtesy flag up when nearing harbour (also helps if you are a little uncertain which country you are approaching). As France and UK are in the EU, there is no need for a "Q". I suppose you can keep the French courtesy up until outside the 12 or more than halfway between France + C I.

The C I are outside the EU so you need a "Q" until customs is cleared. The red/blue duster will do but, of course, you can fly a courtesy of the Island you approaching/at after all it is only a courtesy. On leaving C I you "should" fly the "Q" when you enter EU waters either going to France or UK. It's the entering not the leaving that matters. In UK anyway, if the customs don't clear you on the way in or in a "reasonable" amount of time while you wait for them at your berth then pop the carbonless form in the customs mailbox

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[duncan]

Re: Courtesy Flags

What customs form and mailbox - these things do not appear to be a constant for public slipways...............

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[adarcy]

Re: Courtesy Flags

Agreed for slipways (but apart from your good self how many trailer boats go foreign that often?)
but they're at most marinas and I think the almanacs say you can post it to Customs at ? Southampton or maybe your local HQ

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[sailorman]

i think that due to your limited marine knowledge u should keep clear of the C.I..


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[duncan]

Re: Courtesy Flags

well we are on a pontoon really but it's not what you would call a 'marina'!
Should I contact them by 'phone, or VHF, somehow on arriving back at Poole Harbour? Advising them where I am based if they wish to visit?
or more seriously do people still go through this after, for example, poping over to Braye for lunch one June (long) day?

I can no doubt get forms from Cobbs Quay - and probably post them there too - but I don't remember seeing anything in the Almanac around contacting customs; and I haven't ever seen them in the approaches to Poole.

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[tcm]

Re: Another option

I note that these are courtesy flags, so surely one can elect to be rude, and not in the least bit courteous, no?

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[adarcy]

Re: Q Flags

<<Should I contact them by 'phone, or ....>>

No I believe you are supposed to fly the Q and you may be cchallenged by them before or after you tie up. You are not obliged to chase them to visit you. You are supposed to wait the aforesaid "reasonable" amount of time, during which you can of course tie up tidy up etc. If they have not arrived, then I believe you are obliged to send them one of their forms but not hang around.

Now whether everyone does this or not I could not possible say but I will hereby publicly state that we have always done this. We have flown the Q from well before the Needles and on up to Hamble and have never been challenged or visited. We have never exceeded our allowances and if we did by error would be more than happy to pay any duty. You are aware that they are entitled to confiscate your boat for smuggling and would at least impound it while investigations are underway. This is not at all the same as exceeding G Brown's idea of what is reasonable to bring in duty paid from the EU, these are the true smuggling laws which give HM Customs very free reign. Basically, we do not think it worth risking losing our boat for such a small amount of hassle.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by adarcy on 01/09/2004 15:50 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[duncan]

Re: Courtesy Flags

thanks - seems pretty straightforward then; go to Cobbs and get some forms!

especially as the weather next weekend looks conducive to a trip over....../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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