A Flag Officer who felt that offence might be taken if his Courtesy Flag was lowered whilst his Broad Pennant remained would not be wrong to leave it flying.

Yacht flag etiquette uk. Most yachts will carry one flag hoist on each spreader but some carry more than one so the outermost one is senior and the starboard side is senior to the port side. Although this might cause offence to some there is nothing legally wrong with this practice provided the rules governing the wearing of a special ensign are adhered to. Flags are displayed due consideration should be given to flag etiquette and precedence.

It is a legal requirement for a UK flagged vessel to fly an ensign. Other countries insist on a certificate of registration to prove nationality and they expect UK boats to fly a red flag with a union jack in one corner. The law requires that a private pleasure yacht should display its nationality if required by wearing proper national colours Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s2.

Some of the main flags that are used on ships are ensigns flag with the colour of nationality jacks flags smaller than ensign used for signalling and distinction house flags flag of the owner or company pennants flags used by ships. Failure of a UK registered vessel to fly an Ensign is a breach of the Merchant Shipping Act. A yacht may wear the RED or a SPECIAL ENSIGN which is commonly known as the Colours.

Outside the UK thats not enough. The most senior position on a boat is the most aft and is reserved for the ensign. Defaced white ensigns include that of the British Antarctic Territory.

The UK it will be a small replica of their National Maritime Flag. If a purely decorative effect is desired it is better to con-fine the display to flags of lesser status. The ensign is for most countries the national flag but in the UK we reserve the national flag land and fly an ensign at sea.

However yachts may wear the defaced Blue Ensign provided that. Flags may be flown on every day of the year. Ensign and Burgee 11 The Ensign is the national flag and denotes the nationality of the owner.