oldgit
Well-Known Member
A MoBo.
On entering. Q before Courtesy or just put both up and if so which one goes on top.
On entering. Q before Courtesy or just put both up and if so which one goes on top.
In the real world.
- Thread starter oldgit
- Start date
Parabordi
Well-Known Member
I think you only need Q when coming into UK
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
You need to fly a Q flag when entering any country that requires customs clearance and maintain it until cleared. My practice was to put it below the courtesy flag on the hoist as it makes it easier to remove and leave the courtesy flag in place.
Sea Change
Well-Known Member
I always put the courtesy flag above the Q, because the Q will be coming off again soon enough.
That's if I remember about the flags at all. Honestly I think we just do this for our own amusement, nobody actually cares.
(Our red ensign blew away a couple of months and three countries ago, so we've joined the ranks of the underdressed).
That's if I remember about the flags at all. Honestly I think we just do this for our own amusement, nobody actually cares.
(Our red ensign blew away a couple of months and three countries ago, so we've joined the ranks of the underdressed).
Marsali_1
Well-Known Member
The RYA seems, like many, to think that the Q flag is flown until clearance is granted at which time it is replaced by the courtesy flag for the country cleared into: Flag etiquette | RYA . Unfortunately nobody seems to offer the "authority" for this line of thinking so I'm not sure if it officially exists in Maritime Law. However, given that the flags are flown from the starboard side they are signal messages and, therefore, it makes sense to only fly one message at a time. The Q flag requests pratique and the raising of the courtesy flag in its place indicates that pratique has been granted.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
That may be the letter of the protocol, but it doesn’t follow that the residents and officials in other countries will see it that way. Personally, I would always hoist the courtesy flag prominently, and if the Q has to take second place, if will still be seen and understood.
SaltyC
Well-Known Member
Pay courtesy to the country and ask for permission to enter. Seems to follow on.
PeterBoater
Well-Known Member
For the trip I think you have in mind, I'd suggest courtesy flag starboard side with Q flag below it when required, club pennant port side with Dunkirk 85 pennant below it. Doubtless there are finer points of flag etiquette that people will quote but I don't think anyone's gone to court over it for centuries.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
Q over courtesy.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Until you get stroppy with customs or immigration or port authorities. Or give them any reason to take interest in you. Rarely happens, but witnessed it in a couple of tropical places. Not me! Was the 'you can't tell me what to do' type.
Otherwise, as you say, most are fairly unbovvered.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
We’d be hanged, drawn and quartered by our club for flying the burgee on the port side.
jbweston
Well-Known Member
Why is that do you think? Do they fly the courtesy ensign on the port side?
I think the courtesy ensign goes on the starboard side and it would be odd to fly the burgee on the same hoist above or below the courtesy ensign. I always move the burgee to the port side when I hoist a courtesy ensign on the starboard.
I know a few clubs that are sticklers for rigid old-fashioned practice don't allow the burgee to be flown from the spreaders at all. They require it to be raised on a Ken Dodd tickling stick above the windex at the masthead. So Johnny Foreigner's apology for an ensign can be flown at whichever spreader you fancy.
It's only tradition after all. Some of us think it's fun and polite to follow these traditions. But have you ever thought what was said back in history to the first skipper ever to do what is now the tradition. Anarchy! Revolution! Burgee! What will they think of next?
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
What we do out of sight of the club balcony is our own business. Politeness dictates that the courtesy flag goes on the starboard halyard. We don’t have a masthead place, it would interfere with everything else up there.
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dunedin
Well-Known Member
Be careful - some places will fine you and/or subject to extra hassle if fail to fly an ensign (unless in home waters), and occasionally for courtesy flag.
We were stopped with 150m of leaving La Rochelle marina as had removed ensign staff to squeeze into tight fuel berth and had forgotten to refit as departed. And all the race coach RIBs were threatened with fines for lacking an ensign at Les Sables - some now have engine covers as ensign colours.
And from other reports some other more remote places can be much more serious - particularly in these days.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Thanks to all who contributed.............................
Have made up my mind to follow the " rules " more or less and of course have no intention at all of announcing the result over the interweb.
As a clue it probably involves the minimum amount of effort on my part.
The boat came complete with monster " Red" ensign, which obsqures most of the view aft, really designed for a much larger vessel, it will be worn with some pride.
Eligible to apply for a "Defaced Blue" from our club, having 2 years unblemished service.
However as have several perfectly usable Reds to wear out and a new Blue costs money..................................
Have made up my mind to follow the " rules " more or less and of course have no intention at all of announcing the result over the interweb.
As a clue it probably involves the minimum amount of effort on my part.
The boat came complete with monster " Red" ensign, which obsqures most of the view aft, really designed for a much larger vessel, it will be worn with some pride.
Eligible to apply for a "Defaced Blue" from our club, having 2 years unblemished service.
However as have several perfectly usable Reds to wear out and a new Blue costs money..................................
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Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Flying an ensign, only the correct one, is a legal requirement. As is flying a qualifying burgee if it’s a special ensign. They are perfectly entitled to take action against incognito foreigners.
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
If the purpose of the trip is as you surmise, it might be worth remembering that the BEF didn’t give a fig for what flags the vessels that are being celebrated may or may not have worn at the time in question.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
I bet they did, not sure they would have been pleased to see one with a big swastica in the middle
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
I thought about that and that’s exactly why I was very careful to reference ‘the vessels that are being celebrated’.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Need to join a different club, or tell them to get out a bit more
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