3/4 Yard Courtesy Flags - Premium Sewn

Jimmy Green 3/4 yard Courtesy Flags are manufactured to the highest standard in our supply partner factory in the UK.
The strict quality controls in place 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 155 gram per m² (+/- 5%) top quality MoD 100% polyester, special knit, woven bunting

Jimmy Green 3/4 Yard Courtesy Flag Plus Factors:

Premium Sewn and Appliqué Sewn: manufactured in the UK

• Three Quarter Yard Size (traditional diagonal measurement) is a nominal 70cm x 35cm and may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process.
• Complex motifs are screen prints or badges, appliquéed to the appropriate panels
• Tricolours and other simple panels are fully sewn - stitched together to form the full pattern
• Complex panels are full screen prints
• Excellent definition/detail on motifs, crests and emblems
• Top quality MoD UV resistant 100% polyester woven bunting
• Component panels cut out from MOD approved 155gm m² top quality UV resistant 100% polyester woven bunting
• Rich colours
• Colourfast and fade resistant
• Hoist reinforced with special flag webbing tape
• Braided Polyester line sewn into the integral hoist tape creating a loop to grip the varnished toggle at the top and a tail at the bottom
• Finished with triple stitched hems (outside edges)

N.B. Due to the intricate nature of some emblems and motifs, the screen printed design is sewn on to the panel using the appliqué stitching technique.
Some complex patterns and flags made up from multiple shapes e.g. fesses, pales, bends, crosses, palls, chevrons, bends and borders - may be made from one screenprinted piece of flag fabric: Flag Shapes and Glossary

e.g.
Croatia - full screen print
Cyprus - full screen print
France - sewn panels
Greece - full screen print
Italy - sewn panels
Monaco - sewn panels
Montenegro - full screen print with sewn border
Slovenia - sewn panels with appliquéed screen printed motif
Turkey - appliqué sewn emblems

Traditional Yard Sizing for Flags

The yard sizing (traditional diagonal measurement) is nominal and may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process.

• The 3/4 Yard Size refers to the outside diagonal measurement e.g. from the top corner of the hoist to the bottom corner of the fly end.
• The fly is measured along the horizontal length, top or bottom.
• The hoist is measured down the vertical length of the left hand side next to the staff.
• The Fly end is the opposite end to the hoist = the end that flies in the breeze.

Jimmy Green Courtesy Flags are not made from the shiny, cheaper nylon fabric and these flags are 3/4 yard size for larger yachts

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

N.B. Foreign Yachts should fly the red ensign as a courtesy flag when visiting the UK (not a Union Jack) and 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 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 even ask them for guidance.

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

Traditionally and logically, you should not fly a courtesy flag until your vessel is properly cleared by customs and immigration.
Until clearance is complete, you should only fly the yellow Q (quarantine) flag.
This is because you have not officially entered the new country until you are 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.

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

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 ever 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 actually 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 whether it is the correct maritime ensign or the land flag but in general it is the effort that you make to be courteous which 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, Portugese and Spanish islands have their own local flag.

If you are flying the local flag as a matter of courtesy then 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 OWN 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' then 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. Azores flag over Portugal flag, Galapagos over Ecuador.

We advise you to seek advice or have a good look around the marina or anchorage at how other visiting yachts are displaying 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 should always be displayed from the correct spreader, tastefully and in good spirit, to ensure that no offence is caused.