What Are the Flag Rules on a Boat?
From the ensign at the stern to the courtesy flag in a foreign port - the most visible set of rules afloat.
Flag etiquette is the cheapest sign that a yacht looks properly run at sea, and sometimes it has a legal footing. The basic rules are simple, but they are often mixed up. The table below sets out where each flag goes and the rule.
Flags and their positions
Flag | Position / rule |
|---|---|
National flag (Turkish) | Aft, in the place of honour; clean and free of tears |
Courtesy flag | In foreign waters, the host country's flag, flown from the starboard spreader |
Q flag (yellow) | On first entry to a foreign port: 'awaiting pratique'; once formalities are complete, it comes down |
Club/marina burgee | At the bow or from the port spreader |
Not flying a courtesy flag in foreign waters can, in some countries, lead to a warning or a fine; a torn or faded national flag is both bad manners and, in some waters, grounds for sanction. UV quickly fades a flag, so replacing it each season is part of good seamanship.
For a Göcek owner who often crosses to the Greek islands, the practical three-part preparation is a clean Greek courtesy flag, a Q flag, and up-to-date transit log and paperwork. A yacht with the national ensign astern, courtesy flag on the starboard spreader, and burgee flown elsewhere is instantly recognisable at sea.