Canadian ensign

[Westie]

I am just repeating what has been told to me by our yacht club... We go north with 25-40 boats every summer and have discussed this to death.

I did edit my original response as it seems that is an acceptable way to do it if your antenna is on the starboard side. The bottom line is there is a formal standard but most people really won't notice if you have not followed it.

"When you visit foreign waters, your boat should display the civil flag of
the country you are visiting whenever your Canadian flag is displayed.
(Shown is the U.S. ensign.) Your courtesy flag is not to be larger than
the national flag.
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. If your vessel has one or more masts, display it
single-hoisted at the outboard signal halyard of the main star-board
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. Try to learn the correct procedure for the country you
are entering. For example, in some countries it is customary to fly the
courtesy flag only after the quarantine flag (see next page) has been
secured. Do not fly a foreign courtesy flag after you have returned to
Canadian waters. It is not to be used as a badge of accomplishment for
having cruised to another country.
When a foreign guest is aboard, you may display the flag of the guest’s
country from the bow staff or outboard port spreader. Should more than
one such guest flag be appropriate, wear them (on spreader halyards
from port to starboard in the alphabetical order of their countries names
in the English language.)"

 

[softsides]

I'm finally getting a chance to log in and jump back in the conversation. A lot of interesting information, but the bottom line is I need to get a Canadian flag before we leave. I only have a flag staff at the bow, it's tall enough for two burgee size flags. I had been planning to fly U.S. top and Canadian bottom, but I gather that would be rude. So I'll either reverse that or fly just the Canadian once we arrive. As for mounting a second staff on, say, the stern, that would mean drilling holes and the admiral would never allow that. :smt018

 

[trflgrl]

Flag etiquette/standards of respect in the USA call for flags of nations to be of equal size and to be flown on staffs of the same size/at the same height; this is modeled in other countries, as well, on podiums and elsewhere. Go with your thought of flying only one rather than stacking if you're unable to install a second staff.

 

[Nehalennia]

I only have my stern staff and on this model of Sundancer, no proper place for a burgee mast. I've read the etiquette and believe the spot I fly it is OK. Normally Old Glory is flying there.

 

[play dough]

I'm actually surprised that anyone would really care whether the foreign country's flag was being flown or not on a recreational craft. I'm sure, as has been pointed out, there's a prim and proper way to display flags and if done should be done correctly, but few would be aware. Three or four Canadian registered boats in our marina last weekend and nary a USA flag anywhere. The clod that I am, I thought nothing of it and thought it was nice they were visiting.

 

[THJeff]

Personally, I would fly the American flag on the stern and the Canadian flag from the bow (in place of my burgee)...

That is what I do too.

 

[JimG]

Interesting thread...

To the OP: I would not remove old glory for a Canadian flag (or any other country) while visiting. If you can't fly old glory at the stern, then I would suggest two equal staffs and flags on the bow.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Good read here. Question for our Canadian friends. I thought flying the Candian flag on the bow was a requirement by Canada once you cleared customs?

 

[Nehalennia]

It's not a requirement, it's a courtesy.

 

[trflgrl]

I don't really care whose flag is flying....I just want to ride with one of you to Canada!!! :smt038

 

[Molson]

From: http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359048153800/1359048247377


The National Flag of Canada is the proper national colours for all Canadian ships and boats, including pleasure craft. The Canadian Shipping Act states that a Canadian ship shall hoist the flag on a signal being made to her by one of Her Majesty's Canadian ships, or any ship in the service of and belonging to the Government of Canada; on entering or leaving any foreign port; and if of 50 tonnes gross tonnage or upwards, on entering or leaving any Commonwealth port.
Foreign vessels may fly the Canadian flag as a "courtesy flag" when they are berthed in a Canadian port. The flag then is customarily flown from the foremast.
General rules governing merchant vessels and pleasure craft are as follow:

• the flag should be worn in harbour and in territorial waters but need not be worn while under way on the high seas unless the vessel wishes to identify her nationality to another ship;
• whenever possible, the proper place for a vessel to display the national colours is at the stern, except that when at sea, the flag may be flown from a gaff;
• when in harbour the flag should be hoisted at 0800 hours and lowered at sunset;
• when a merchant ship and a warship of any nationality pass or overtake one another, the merchant ship should dip the flag as a gesture of courtesy. If on a staff, the lowest corner of the flag should be brought to the level of the rail and kept there until the salutation is acknowledged by the naval vessel. If flown from a gaff, the flag should be lowered to six feet (1.80m) above the level of the deck, until the salute is acknowledged;
• in times of mourning, the flag may be flown at half-mast, which places the upper corner of the flag next to the staff at approximately three-quarters of full-hoist. As on land, a flag hoisted to or lowered from half-mast position must first be hauled close-up.

 

[Jackie J V]

I think the normal convention would be to fly a small courtesy flag higher than the home flag. Here's the Jackie J V in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan flying the Stars and Stripes from the light mast while the Maple Leaf flies from the stern.



The other two vessels I travelled with also had the Stars and Stripes mounted similarly. (P.S. Please excused the pinched flag - it got that way under way and I fixed as soon as noticed).

We have tons of Loopers come through my home port area every year. Some follow convention, some not. I've never seen anyone challenged for getting it wrong or simply not knowing. Having said that, you'll always encounter some grumpy old b@strd wherever you are.

Paul