When to use a Q Flag on your Yacht
Q Flag
The Q flag is for some the symbol of a cruisers dream, heading into foreign ports and adventures in new countries.
Raising the Q flag indicates Quarantine. In this case, quarantined in that you are a new arrival and not yet officially checked into the foreign country.
There are a number of “opinions” relating to how and when to raise the Q Flag – each from apparently authoritative sources – with different interpretations.
The basics are generally the same but there are some disagreements about the details.
This is our interpretation:
If you sew, you can make your own Q flag pretty easily. However, the supplies would cost far more than buying the flag. There are many options to purchase and we found this one on Amazon (unfortunately, the shipping may cost more than the flag itself).
• Q flag on Amazon
NB: Maybe a Q flag could be a great boat-warming present for would-be international cruisers, showing that you believe in their dreams!
Raising the Q flag indicates Quarantine. In this case, quarantined in that you are a new arrival and not yet officially checked into the foreign country.
There are a number of “opinions” relating to how and when to raise the Q Flag – each from apparently authoritative sources – with different interpretations.
The basics are generally the same but there are some disagreements about the details.
This is our interpretation:
- As you enter the territorial waters of a country, hoist the Q flag on the starboard spreader to indicate that you have not yet checked in. Some say you should fly the courtesy flag above it; others say no other flags on the same halyard.
- Theoretically, no one can go ashore until the boat is checked in with customs, immigration and other (usually health) authorities, who may come to the boat. In practice, in many places the captain or the entire crew goes ashore to check in. Even within a country, the practice may change from one place to another. The bottom line, however, is that the first place you go ashore should be a Port of Entry and the first thing you should do is check in, following whatever the local custom is. Be sure to check cruising guides and Noonsite to learn the Ports of Entry and also the local practice!
- After all the formalities have been attended to and the boat and all crew are officially checked in, the Q flag is lowered and the courtesy flag of the country is flown on the starboard spreader. Nothing should be higher than the courtesy flag and any burgees should be on the port spreader. In many countries, locals will be very offended by ratty looking courtesy flags, so if you intend to be in a country for more than a couple months, you may want to look into higher quality flags or carry several spares.
- There is almost no guidance on what to do after clearing out of a country, while you are still in its territorial waters.
- We were told to fly the courtesy flag as long as we were in a country’s waters, then to change for the Q flag of the “new” country we were now in. When you return to your home country from a foreign country, you should fly the Q flag until you are fully checked in.
If you sew, you can make your own Q flag pretty easily. However, the supplies would cost far more than buying the flag. There are many options to purchase and we found this one on Amazon (unfortunately, the shipping may cost more than the flag itself).
• Q flag on Amazon
NB: Maybe a Q flag could be a great boat-warming present for would-be international cruisers, showing that you believe in their dreams!