What courtesy flag in Shetland?

[A1Sailor]

I wonder how you sticklers for flag etiquette manage to enjoy your sailing when those in breach of it seem to be everywhere?

It must be tough being on the receiving end of so many insults and be powerless to do anything about it.

Agreed.
I too would advise Leif to fly his own National Ensign and not to worry about a courtesy flag. As a Seafarer, you will get courtesy wherever you go - without flying anything but your own..

 

[heimdal]

Shetland has its own flag...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Shetland

 

[oldbilbo]

I'm surprised at this place. Why, the 'gin pennant', of course...

 

[Leif-J]

Thanks everyone for your efforts in enlightening me in the obviously not quite uncomplicated flag etiquette of Shetland.
I think I will have to visit the best store in Copenhagen for foreign flags before setting out on this adventure - and fit a flag line or two extra to make room for all flags and underwear.
Hopefully we will make it there. We will need a decent weather window to do the voyage of some 540 nm.
Brgds
Leif

 

[ukmctc]

We have an ambition of sailing from Copenhagen to Shetland when it get summer again. What courtsey flag do we fly when approaching Lerwick? Red Ensign and/or something else?
Would like to show the locals due respect.

They have their own flag and it can be purchased from the chandlery on Commercial street. They are proud of their flag and fully appreciate it being flown as a courtsey. I sailed there last spring, the best time to visit is May/June, the best chippy is not the one at the harbour but up on commercial street too, just below the castle. Orkney has its own flag.
When you visit us in Scotland we also like boats to fly our countries flag, just like Cornwall and Wales.
You can just fly the red duster but your consideration is appreciated by us in the north.

 

[Leif-J]

Suppose we would like to fly the local Shetland flag, do we do that in combination with Red Ensign or alone?

 

[ctva]

Suppose we would like to fly the local Shetland flag, do we do that in combination with Red Ensign or alone?

Where ever you go in the UK, keep the Red Ensign up and below that put the local flag....probably...

 

[mixmaster]

When you visit us in Scotland we also like boats to fly our countries flag, just like Cornwall and Wales.

I'm not usually a stickler for such matters but just for the record, Scotland, Cornwall and Wales are not countries.

They are considered nations by many.

 

[alan_d]

Which nation you are in is a pretty basic concept really. Hard to imagine anyone actually needs to ask, esp international boat people!

How many nations do you think make up the United Kingdom? Do you think that nations and nation-states are the same?

Nationhood may be a more complex concept than you seem to think.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

How many nations do you think make up the United Kingdom? Do you think that nations and nation-states are the same?

Nationhood may be a more complex concept than you seem to think.

What about Norfolk & Suffolk- when will Wessex & Mercia secede?

Essex is already a matter of Seperate Ethics, I think?

 

[prv]

I'm surprised at this place. Why, the 'gin pennant', of course...

In that case, how about the forum burgee?

Pete

 

[Viking]

Suppose we would like to fly the local Shetland flag, do we do that in combination with Red Ensign or alone?

I did the Ålesund/Shetland Race last year. I 'wore' Red Ensign with 'Y' flag when we arrived. When I asked about flags I was told (with a smile) "take them down and just fly the local flag". So brought it in Lerwick Harbour. I would have just flown the 'Shetland flag' when I arrived but could not find one here locally in Ålesund Norway. Have a good trip!! ;0)

 

[Leif-J]

Wow, seems my "simple and innocent" question brought stirrred up a lot of emotions. I know from Scottish friends that the subject being a part of United Kingdom is not all that simple. Also from many vacations spent in Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish republic we have got interesting experiences.
We very much look forward to visit Shetland - hope we will make it there, and hope we will manage to show due respect to the locals and their national feelings.
Btw we have always found people in all of Britain very friendly and easy to get in contact with.
Brgds
Leif

 

[Fascadale]

Easy

It will please the locals if you fly a Shetland flag

(but it may displease a few others, but they won't be in Shetland)

 

[FishyInverness]

Easy

It will please the locals if you fly a Shetland flag

(but it may displease a few others, but they won't be in Shetland)

[/IMG]

Amen to that! Leif, you can trust Fascadale's responses on this one....

 

[Leif-J]

Kind of like the Shetland flag - it is almost like our Dannebrog, only blue where ours is red.
I will go and get one.
On the same note, we are planning to go to Scotland in a couple of years. Assume I fly the Scottish flag there?

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Wow, seems my "simple and innocent" question brought stirrred up a lot of emotions. I know from Scottish friends that the subject being a part of United Kingdom is not all that simple. Also from many vacations spent in Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish republic we have got interesting experiences.

True - like a family who are down on their luck, we spend a lot of time bickering amongst ourselves.

But out of curiosity, do you not have any of this in Norway? Do the people up country near thye Arctic circle not resent the Oslo government? Or is that the wrong comparison and your local resentments go back to the Swedes in former times.

All very odd. IN the USA there is a lot of resentment of the Washington government out in the individual states but no suggestion that bthe US should be broken up and no nationalist movement in Hawaii or Alaska or Puerto Rica or Guam or Samoa for example.

 

[Leif-J]

Bosun Higgs, I am in Denmark, not Norway
And - hope I do not upset anybody with this - it is my impression, that most Norwegians sport a more well developed national pride, than do Danes in general. Some of you may have heard this famous Norwegian sports commentator when Norway once beat England in a football match (ages ago). He went absolutely crazy.
Anyway - Norway Sweden and Denmark once was one nation, and I think we have a kind of sibling relations between us - even it is many years ago.
That said I love sailing along the Swedish and Norwegian coasts. As I am sure I will also with the Shetland and Scottish coasts.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Bosun Higgs, I am in Denmark, not Norway

Apologies. For some reason Leif is fixed in my mind as a purely Norwegian name which clearly it isn't.

And - hope I do not upset anybody with this - it is my impression, that most Norwegians sport a more well developed national pride, than do Danes in general. ........... Anyway - Norway Sweden and Denmark once was one nation, and I think we have a kind of sibling relations between us - even it is many years ago.

So no resentment between the three? I guess not. Here there is a growing resentment stoked up by a clever Scottish nationalist politician and you asked your flag question just at the time we are having lots of TV programs on the subject of Scots independence. The UK is not a very happy country at the moment.

 

[Leif-J]

Resentment - not really. Sometimes a bit of rivalry, especially when it comes to football (or handball). But nothing serious as I understand it. I have good friends in both countries and even brought my present boat from Sweden in 2010.
But I do understand the tensions in UK - both from many visits and also from reading history. It can be quite a challenge make people understand, that you may not agree with what your ancestors may have done 200 years ago, let alone be responsible for with what they have done in past times.
Peace on earth!