Courtesy Flags

Jimmy Green Half Yard Courtesy Flags

Jimmy Green Courtesy Flags are manufactured to the highest standard in our supply partner factory in Italy.

Their strict quality controls ensure that each flag is well crafted, neatly stitched, UV-Fade and Wind-Fray Resilient.
All Courtesy Flags are manufactured from very strong and durable 145 grams per m² (+/- 5%) top quality 100% polyester, special knit, woven bunting to measure 45cm x 30cm (Half Yard) with colourfast screenprint patterns and motifs.

Jimmy Green Courtesy Flag Specifications and Plus Factors:

• Half Yard size (traditional diagonal measurement) is nominal and may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process.
• Half Yard means 18 inches measured diagonally from one corner of the flag to the other diametrically opposite corner.
• Modern Flag Production defines half yard as 45cm x 30cm 
• Screen printed on one piece of flag fabric
• Excellent definition/detail on motifs, crests and emblems
• Top quality UV resistant 100% polyester woven bunting
• Colourfast and fade resistant
• Hoist reinforced with special flag webbing tape
• Braided line is sewn into the integral hoist tape, creating a loop at the top and a tail at the bottom, as per the photos
• Finished with twin stitched hems (outside edges)

Jimmy Green Courtesy Flags are not made from the shiny, cheaper nylon fabric, nor are they the smaller 20cm x 30cm size.

Jimmy Green stock over 210 different Courtesy Flags, and we will add more if there is any demand.

All Jimmy Green Courtesy Flags are available individually:
You can filter the flags by Ocean/Location.
Some Flags may appear in multiple zones, e.g. Spain = North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
There is also additional local geographical information to help your search.
The Parent Country is also listed where appropriate so that you can identify whether you need a specific island flag or not:

e.g. The Netherlands or Netherlands Antilles Courtesy Flag may cover Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Curacao
However, the feel-good factor when you make landfall and sail into your chosen anchorage flying the correct local courtesy flag will more than makeup for the extra price of the individual flags :-)

Jimmy Green Courtesy Flags are also available in Bundles by Voyage Plan, Ocean Passage or Location Courtesy Flag Sets

Feedback on Courtesy Flags

Any feedback on local reaction to our courtesy flags is welcomed - we will happily do some more research and update our information and even our flags if required.

Where there are different options on courtesy flags, we list them separately, and any first-hand feedback is always welcome.

For example, the British Virgin Islands is normally red, which is what is listed but is generally welcomed in blue, and we have some blue if you would like one.

Similarly, Bermuda is normally red, but the local authorities generally accept blue.

Spain is available as the simple red/yellow/red horizontal striped courtesy (less expensive) or with the correct Yacht Ensign Crest option.

Bahamas is available as the national flag and as the civil ensign as an alternative because feedback suggests that this version may be more widely used locally.

N.B. Foreign Yachts should fly the red ensign as a courtesy flag when visiting the UK (not a Union Jack). They may also fly the red ensign for some associated British islands, dominions and territories without causing offence.

Courtesy Flag Etiquette

As a gesture of courtesy, yachts should fly a foreign nation's flag when they enter and operate in its waters.

There are no universal rules governing courtesy flag etiquette.

Officials interpret the rules differently from country to country, region to region, island to island or even from port to port.

Failing to fly a courtesy flag or flying a courtesy flag improperly may only be considered impolite in some places, but in others where it is enforced by local law, officials go as far as impounding passports or imposing fines until the proper flag (which may only be available to purchase locally at great expense) is flying on board.

Flying an undersized, faded or tatty courtesy flag may be considered worse than having no courtesy flag at all in some places.

If you are in any doubt, the best thing to do is observe other yachts from your country and ask them for guidance.

N.B. Simultaneously flying all the courtesy flags of the different countries/islands you intend to visit on your cruise should be avoided because your intentions could easily be misinterpreted and cause offence.

Traditionally and logically, you should not fly a courtesy flag until customs and immigration properly clear your vessel.
You should only fly the yellow Q (quarantine) flag until customs clearance is complete.
This is because you have officially entered the new country once cleared through customs.
However, it is common practice, and generally speaking, courteously accepted in many countries, to hoist the courtesy flag above the Q flag in anticipation of clearing customs and immigration.

The courtesy flag (or Q) should be flown at the starboard spreader on a mast with spreaders.

If the yacht has more than one mast, the courtesy flag should be flown from the starboard spreader of the forward mast.

On a yacht without any mast, the courtesy flag (or Q) should be flown at the bow.

N.B. Only your own ensign or national flag should be flown from the stern of a yacht.

The True Spirit of Courtesy Flags

In recent years yacht owners have been a little more adventurous in their approach to courtesy flag etiquette, especially in relation to individual countries, Crown Dependencies and other islands within the United Kingdom, including regional and even county flags.

It may be considered polite or even proper to fly the appropriate regional or island courtesy flag, e.g. in the Channel Isles, there are individual courtesy flags for each island.

There is nothing wrong with endearing yourself to the local sailors, fishermen and officials.
It is entering into the spirit of the 'courtesy' tradition.
Some locals may be particular about whether it is the correct maritime ensign or the land flag.

However, in general, the effort you make to be courteous is important and therefore appreciated.

This courteous local approach is welcomed when extended bluewater cruising, e.g. in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, where French, British, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish islands have their local flag.

If you are flying the local flag as a matter of courtesy, you will be entering into the true spirit of courtesy flag etiquette and doing the 'right thing'.

If you are on a strict flag budget and are not interested in MAKING YOUR FLAGS, then the parent island flag will generally pass muster:

Some Examples of Islands with National 'Parent' Flags
The French Courtesy Flag may cover, e.g. Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Society Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Nouméa - N.B. This list is not exhaustive.
The Chile Courtesy Flag may cover Easter Island.

Local Courtesy Flag Ranking

If the region or island flag is in ‘foreign waters', it should be flown below the National Courtesy flag, e.g. Brittany under France.

There may be some local exceptions to this rule, e.g. the Azores flag over the Portugal flag, Galapagos over Ecuador.
We advise that you seek advice or look around the marina or anchorage at how other visiting yachts display their flags.

Courtesy Flags, Club and Individual Flags flown for Fun

If you and your crew want to fly your regional or county flag or even your cruising club flag e.g. Cornwall, Devon, the ARC World Cruising Club, then it is probably best to hoist these on the port spreader to avoid any confusion with your courtesy flag(s).

This is becoming much more prevalent, especially on rallies.

Flags should always be displayed from the correct spreader, tastefully and in good spirit, to ensure that no offence is caused.

Explore all the Courtesy Flags available on our Courtesy Flags world map