Flag Etiquette

[higgs]

When flying a couresty flag of another country, should it be flown above or under one's club burgee? It is my belief that the position of honor on the starboard spreader would be the top position and the flag of the guest country should be there. I have not found any documented sources supporting my view. In practice, I see both positions frequently. Chapman, as of 2 years ago, does not cover this. That referrence only states a club burgee should be flown from the masthead while the courtesy flag should be flown from the starboard speader. Very few people fly a burgee from the masthead anymore.

 

[Rick I]

Starboard yard

The courtesy flag should be flown from the starboard yardarm. The club burgee should be flown from a "pigstick" at the masthead. Very few do this and most fly the courtesy flag above the club burgee on the starboard spreader. Rick Ihttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group

 

[Don12364]

Please do not.

Please do not fly any flag 'superior' to the flag of the country being visited because it could or would be construed as an insult to the nation concerned. Nothing would happen but you might not get the courteous, quick and friendly service in marinas and locks etc that other visiting boats do - and you would be left wondering why.In Europe we tend to fly our own club and sailing association flags etc from the port spreader when the courtesy flag of another country is on the starboard one - then there can be no offence given.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Courtesy Flag

I always fly the Canadian Flag alone from the starboard spreader (my only flag hoist), unless I need the YC burgee for recip, then it is below the Canadian flag.P.S. Make sure it a real Canadian flag (their length to height ratio is different than ours), not a unreasonal facsimile.

 

[Gord May]

Flag Seniority

POSITIONS OF SENIORITY 1. Taffrail, gaff, or mizzen peak. 2. Main mast truck or pilot house staff. 3. Main upper starboard yard or spreader. 4. Main lower starboard yard or spreader. 5. Main upper port yard or spreader. 6. Main lower port yard or spreader. ASSIGNED POSITION OF SENIORITY Position 1 National Ensign. Position 2 Yacht club burgee. Position 3 Foreign courtesy flag. Position 4 Flag Officer’s flag Position 5 Defaced Blue Ensign Position 6 Power Squadron, Provincial Flag, etc. The above signifies the order of seniority only on singled masted vessels, power or sail. A flag is flown from the most senior position available, being displaced only by a more senior flag. The most senior position is always occupied by the National Ensign. Only one flag, burgee, o Excerpted from: USPS Flag Etiquette at: usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.htmlhttp://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.htmlCourtesy FlagsWhen you visit foreign water, your boat should display a courtesy flag (the civil ensign of the country you are visiting) whenever your U.S. national ensign (the USPS ensign or the yacht ensign should not be displayed in foreign waters) is displayed. (The USPS ensign and U.S. yacht ensign should not be worn in foreign waters)If your vessel is mastless, it should wear this "courtesy flag" at the bow, in lieu of a squadron or club burgee, or on a starboard antenna strong enough to support it. It your vessel has one or more masts, display it single-hoisted at the outboard signal halyard of the main starboard spreader. Move any flag normally flown there to the inboard starboard halyard or, if your boat has only one halyard per side, to the port spreader halyard.The customs observed in various foreign waters differ from one another. Try to learn the correct procedure for the country you are entering. For example, is some countries it is customary to fly the courtesy flag only after the quarantine flag (the yellow 'Q' flag) and the vessel has been granted pratique by the appropriate authorities.Do not fly a foreign courtesy flag after you have returned to U.S. waters. It is not to be used as a badge of accomplishment for having cruised to another country.