Flags....which is right

FunkyMonkey

FunkyMonkey

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Was wondering what flag would be the right flag to fly on my boat, (i do like a good flag) the boat is registered in the uk but kept in spain, after reading some of the etiquate on boat flags i thought it best to ask !

i started reading about Courtesy Flags then got a bit lost, pardon my ignorance on this!
 
FunkyMonkey said:
Was wondering what flag would be the right flag to fly on my boat, (i do like a good flag) the boat is registered in the uk but kept in spain, after reading some of the etiquate on boat flags i thought it best to ask !

i started reading about Courtesy Flags then got a bit lost, pardon my ignorance on this!
Click to expand...

Red ensign should be worn aft, and spanish courtesy flag should be flown from starboard side of your radar mast (or similar location) when in spanish waters.

Many boats take the ensign down at night and that is definitely ok, arguably more correct, but in the Med this is widely not done. My boat wears its red ensign 24/7/365 (for good tactical reasons - local officials tend to leave red ensign boats alone)

If you are in Balearics there is a different courtesy flag and this may be catalan so cover Barca too. not sure, others will know. From my obserrvations in Balearics, there seems no firm practice on what to do. You can fly the mainland spain c'flag, or the balearics/catalan one, or both. You see all combinations

BTW, you "wear" an ensign but "fly" other flags. Sorry about the pedantry, dont shoot the messenger, I didn't make up these rules!
 
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wow it really is that complicated, the boat is in port ginesta barca at the moment but im taking it down to Sant Carles next month to leave her in the MDL marina there till the new year then hopefully over to Ibiza before taking it down to Mar Menor for next summer

im guessing ill need a few flags ...
 
It's a bit complicated in the Balearics as there is a Balearic flag, the Catalan flag (most Balearans consider themselves Catalan) and then individual flags for the 3 main islands so, with the Spanish national flag, in theory a boat could be flying any one of 6 courtesy flags. Personally, I fly the Balearic flag which doesn't seem to offend anyone.
In general, though, flag etiquette, such as it is, seems to be far less anal than in the UK and nobody really gives a toss what you hang from the back of your boat
 
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