Flags

[Tugw]

What would you consider to ba a good size for a signal flag? Im thinking in particular of the "Q" flag.My wife is a non EU subject,as such i believe i must fly the "Q"while in EU waters(not sure if its only the UK untill i clear the immigration boys,Maybe you could advise on this as well) Ive looked at some of the "sets"that are available and i had difficulty seeing them when they were on the shop counter never mind at sea !! Any advice greatfuly recieved.

 

[Sneds]

Try e-mailing the RNLI

 

[Sneds]

I of course mean the RYA! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[albineer]

I'd have thought that 30x20 cm was big enough. You could get one here. No need to buy a full set.
http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?category=28&group=1

 

[Salty John]

You fly 'Q' on arrival at a foreign port and before you clear-in. When cleared-in you change it for the appropriate courtesy flag. This procedure has nothing to do with the nationality of the crew, only the country of boat registration.
Crew members and passengers must clear customs and immigration before landing but there is no requirement to fly flags to indicate the nationality of individuals aboard.

 

[Tugw]

I was under the impression that you had to fly Q if there was a non EU national on board,Im sure i read this on the RYA website

 

[Skyva_2]

Tug,
I don't think that is so, there is nothing special about the EU except that you don't have to fly a Q flag. The only place we normally need one is the Channel Islands, and they don't insist on it. You also in theory need to fly Q if going from Channel Islands to EU including UK, but few seem to bother.

You also need to be aware of the Schengen requirements which are available on the RYA website eg

http://www.rya.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D41D5...genCrewList.pdf

 

[Tugw]

Ok but my point is tha my wife is an Egyptian national,she still travells on her Egyptian passport,she will have both a visa for Germany/Holland and one for the UK,so does that mean i dont need to bother with the Q?

 

[Skyva_2]

Tug,
I looked on the RYA web, and found this which you must have read.

"Departing the UK

If you are departing the UK and going directly to another EU country, you are free of formalities with UK customs.

If you are departing the UK and going directly to a non-EU country, you must advise customs of your intentions using form C1331 - full details can be found in Notice 8.

Arriving in the UK

If you are arriving into the UK directly from another EU country there is no need to fly your Q flag or notify customs of your arrival unless you have goods to declare or non-EU nationals onboard.

If you are arriving into the UK directly from a country outside the EU (which includes arriving from the Channel Islands) you must fly the Q flag from the 12 nautical mile (territorial waters) limit and report to customs by telephoning the National Yachtline on 0845 723 1110. Again Notice 8 details the requirements for the completion of form C1331.

Outside the UK on a UK registered vessel similar rules will apply i.e. whether you need to fly the Q flag and contact customs will depend whether both your departure and arrival ports are within the EU. If you are remaining within the EU and do not have anything to declare (goods or non-EU nationals) you do not need to fly the Q flag, but should still be prepared to present your paperwork (including passports for all those onboard) when asked.

Although a member of the EU, the UK is not a party to the Schengen Treaty which has essentially abolished checks at common boarders between Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Anyone entering the Schengen area from a non-Schengen country may be subject to a passport check. When entering the Schengen area via either Belgium or the Netherlands, vessels from non-Schengen countries are required to complete and submit a crew list. Links to samples of the forms are available above.

When outside the EU practices vary, but if in doubt you should fly the Q flag on first entering territorial waters, and ensure that you obtain customs and immigration clearance for both the boat and crew, before either you or your crew leave the boat on any other business."

Not totally clear but it looks safest to fly the Q. Not that much notice will be taken!
Keith

 

[Tugw]

Well done that man !! i was sure id seen it somewhere,Its a bit of a middle liner really-boat EU.Wife-not EU.Ill fly the thing and be done with it,they can only call me stupid(quite acurate really)
Thanks Folks