Flag etiquette

As always it depends.

There's nothing wrong with the left hand side. You might think that the Stars and Stripes are somewhat large, but there's nothing in the rules against that. What it depends on is the ensign. If the boat is wearing a British ensign then flying a St Andrew's cross as a courtesy flag is pleasant, good humour. If the vessel is not British, then the Union Flag should be shown from the right spreader, and not the Scottish one.

Having said that, we wore a Corsican courtesy flag and not a French one the summer before last.
 
Flag etiquette - question

Do all countries observe the same flag etiquette?

If not, when in foreign waters should one observe the etiquette of their flag our the etiquette of the host nation?

It is just possible following your own flag's etiquette, you may be breaking the law of your host country!
 
Zen Zero said:
As always it depends.

There's nothing wrong with the left hand side. You might think that the Stars and Stripes are somewhat large, but there's nothing in the rules against that. What it depends on is the ensign. If the boat is wearing a British ensign then flying a St Andrew's cross as a courtesy flag is pleasant, good humour. If the vessel is not British, then the Union Flag should be shown from the right spreader, and not the Scottish one.
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Are you sure? Why not the St Andrew's cross above the Union Flag, when in Scottish waters?:p
 
Lakesailor said:
Absolutely fine. Get over it.
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I quite agree.

It's a bit of coloured cloth. Some people think it symbolises something. That's fine, they are entitled to their view.

Others think anything to do with flags is a load of bunkum. That's also fine for the same reason.

For one group to become insulted, aggrieved, upset, distressed or whatever because the other group does not hold the same beliefs as they do is the fundamental cause of so much trouble in this world, and if we were all a little more tolerant of differing perspectives it would be better for all of us.

Sermon over.

I am in the "flags are pretty and a nice way of inviting people with similar interest over group", but I couldn't give a fig where, when or how they are displayed (sorry, I guess I should say flown or hoisted or something).
 
nortada said:
Do all countries observe the same flag etiquette?

If not, when in foreign waters should one observe the etiquette of their flag our the etiquette of the host nation?

It is just possible following your own flag's etiquette, you may be breaking the law of your host country!
Click to expand...

Skipper of a boat we were in company with was severely *******ed for not flying his ensign in French waters. I've also been politely warned for not flying ensign or courtesy flag here 24/7, on the mooring.
 
nortada said:
Do all countries observe the same flag etiquette?
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More or less, yes, at least for the basics that are likely to upset people. We invented it and then our navy exported it everywhere else.

A merchant navy engineer I was talking to described his ship being shot at by a port sentry with a rifle, somewhere in South America, for not flying the courtesy flag (or flying it somehow incorrectly, I can't remember). The captain complained to the port captain, who was not interested, considered the sentry to have been in the right.

Pete
 
nortada said:
So much for hauling the red duster down at 9pm!
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which person were you referring to? Ensigns down at Sunset or 9pm which ever is sooner. Up at 0800 or 0900 depending on time of year.

It is amazing tho that the dates November to February appear in official Navy Documents but online people have quoted RYA and given different dates for Ensign flying in Winter Sep to March Oct to April...

When to wear Colours:- The Colours of a vessel should be worn,
whilst at sea, at all times (unless racing). When at anchor or in harbour
they should be worn as follows:-
Between November 1st and February 14th, from 0900 hr to Sunset.
For the rest of the year from 0800 hr to 2100 hr. All local time
 
Jamesuk said:
which person were you referring to? Ensigns down at Sunset or 9pm which ever is sooner. Up at 0800 or 0900 depending on time of year.

It is amazing tho that the dates November to February appear in official Navy Documents but online people have quoted RYA and given different dates for Ensign flying in Winter Sep to March Oct to April...

When to wear Colours:- The Colours of a vessel should be worn,
whilst at sea, at all times (unless racing). When at anchor or in harbour
they should be worn as follows:-
Between November 1st and February 14th, from 0900 hr to Sunset.
For the rest of the year from 0800 hr to 2100 hr. All local time
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I hate the way they treat their flags here in Italy! Especially the patriotic ones!

Tie it onto the backstay and leave it there until there's nothing left of it.
 
Jamesuk said:
which person were you referring to? Ensigns down at Sunset or 9pm which ever is sooner. Up at 0800 or 0900 depending on time of year.

It is amazing tho that the dates November to February appear in official Navy Documents but online people have quoted RYA and given different dates for Ensign flying in Winter Sep to March Oct to April...

When to wear Colours:- The Colours of a vessel should be worn,
whilst at sea, at all times (unless racing). When at anchor or in harbour
they should be worn as follows:-
Between November 1st and February 14th, from 0900 hr to Sunset.
For the rest of the year from 0800 hr to 2100 hr. All local time
Click to expand...

So do you leave your ensign up in the dark, well after sunset in February then? Sunset, or 9pm if earlier, seems more appropriate.
 
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prv said:
Seems to have aimed at the masthead but missed slightly :)

Pete
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:) the missus is to blame honest.... she bought them at the boat show last year not having a clue how tall our mast is... :)

She also bought the small size of flag as apparently the larger one can be very noisey if left up at night in a breeze???
 
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