Foreign Courtesy Flag/Visitor Flag - French Polynesia
Dimensions: 12" x 18"
Nyl-Glo™ Nylon Bunting
This small craft flag is the specified "local area" courtesy flag of French Polynesia in proper design and proportion. It's made of 100% Nylon bunting with brass grommets. It's recommended that visitors to this area also carry the tri-color French "civil ensign" for customs and other official merchant activities. Note that the civil ensign or Merchant Flag of any country is not necessarily the national flag of that country.
As a gesture of courtesy, visiting cruisers should fly the specified courtesy flag of their host country when they enter and operate in its waters. Generally, cruising yachts under 60 feet select 12" x 18" or 12" x 24" flags. Larger yachts may want 16" x 24" or larger flags. There is no size requirement, so if you prefer the look of a larger flag, then fly it. Make sure that it clears a 360-degree fly from your spreader halyards (sailboat/powerboat) or bow (powerboat), or that flag will soon be in tatters.
As noted in Chapman's Piloting, a visitor flag is normally NOT hoisted until the vessel is properly cleared by customs and immigration. Until clearance is complete, fly the yellow Q (quarantine) flag.