Flying the flag?

[Vulcan]

My boat is french registered on the Med. I'm not sure if there are any specific regulations but understand that I should fly the french national flag above the red ensign when cruising. I would like to leave a red duster flying when in port, is that OK?

 

[Koeketiene]

You should fly a French flag only if you are registered in France.

Think of it as a car - drive a French registered car -> French liscence plate.

Run a search on the forum - this subject has already been debated to death.

 

[Birdseye]

you can fly the red duster from the cross trees but below the courtsey flag of the country you are visiting. only the tricolor from the stern.

 

[Viking]

You should 'ware' your 'red ensign' from the port spreader. Right spreader for courtesy flags, messages flags. French tricolour from the stern or mizzen.

 

[charles_reed]

Ah! This should provoke a long and acrimonious chain

In fact you should only wear the flag under which the boat is registered as the ensign and the flag of the country you are visiting at the starboard spreader.

The former is supposed to tell people wher you're from and the latter that you intend to obey the laws of the country you are in.

What you understand is a Solecism and will lead you to be the butt of derision.

 

[charles_reed]

naughty You

winding him up

 

[Guest]

Re: naughty You

Why naughty? Viking's answer seems sensible, in that the Red Ensign can't be worn from the stern/mizzen, and the starbord spreaders are normally used for courtesy flags etc. And putting a national ensign below another national ensign on the starboard spreader would I think be a no-no.

However, I understand the desire to hang a red ensign somewhere on the boat, and there is no law or custom that I am aware of against hanging it below the port spreader, provided it is of a small(ish) size so it can't be confused with the boat's national ensign at the stern/mizzen.

 

[Vulcan]

Re: naughty You

Thanks guys, that's all clear then! I haven't been able to find any specific regulations concerning correct protocol, just individual practices.

 

[snowleopard]

Re: naughty You

it is common custom to fly flags indicating the nationality of one or more crew members from the port spreader. i don't think this has yet permeated into official publications.

just to stir the pot a bit further, where do people fly regional flags? for example i like to fly a cornish flag in addition to the red ensign, also to fly the breton courtesy flag in addition to the french when across the water. (just to make it more tricky- i don't have spreaders!)

 

[Vulcan]

Re: naughty You

Finally found a good definition for flag etiquette. Bloc Marine page 335.