Flags

By rights we should be flying a Dutch flag as we registered L'Avenir in the Netherlands after we purchased her last year. She was previously unregistered as there's no legal requirement here to do so and most Dutch people don't bother. If you travel to other countries, however, you may be asked for ownership papers. Most 'foreigners' fly the flag of their home country though. This serves several purposes. It advertises the fact that you probably don't speak the language and can't read the signs and you may very well be an idiot who can nether drive nor moor a boat. To ensure that you don't collide with their pride and joy Dutch boat owners will, quite rightly, leap ashore to help you tie up, all the while offering painfully direct advice as to what you're doing wrong and the correct way to go about things. Some people don't take too kindly to this but there's no denying that the Dutch know a thing or two about boat handling.
Your flag also identifies you to fellow foreigners. Last year we flew the Scottish Saltire which no-one recognised. This year, in the interests of impartiality, we opted for the Aussie flag which everyone knows. So, those same people who help us tie up feel bound to ask incredulously (in light of our occasional obvious lack of expertise) 'Did you really sail this from Australia?'
Fellow Aussies are few and far between so when we meet we're always greeted with enthusiasm using proper aussie lingo that doesn't get much of an airing at home. Words like 'cobber' and 'fair dinkum'. All very well until Rob attempts 'G'day mate' in his broad Scottish accent.
25 years and an Aussie passport is just not quite enough. Perhaps we should fly both flags.