British bathing flags

Last modified: 2007-10-27 by rob raeside
Keywords: bathing flags |
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• Bathing flag
• Surfing flag
• Danger flag
• Hazardous offshore wind flag

See also:

• United Kingdom
• Flags in sports
• Beach Quality Program flags
• Beach flags

Red and yellow flags mark areas of water that are patrolled by lifeguards. These are the safest places to swim.
From a R.N.L.I. brochure.
André Coutanche, 9 July 2005

Spotted at Tynemouth, County Tyne and Wear, were specific signal flags at the beach. The one flying was red over yellow. On a signpost there was an explanation of different signal flags. The red over yellow flags indicates the bathing area. The surfing flag is checkered black and white, indicating the area for surfers. The danger flag is plain red and indicates that you should not enter the water, there.
Marcus E.V. Schmöger 24 September 2001

When you see the black and white chequered flags, it means an area of water has been marked for use by craft. For your own safety do not swim in these zones.
From a R.N.L.I. brochure.
André Coutanche, 9 July 2005

Danger flag

The red flag indicates danger. Never enter water when the red flag is flying.
From a R.N.L.I. brochure.
André Coutanche, 9 July 2005

Hazardous offshore wind flag

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 July 2007

At http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/leisure/tourism/beach-safety/beach-flags.cfm is a yellow flag bearing a traffic danger sign in black i.e. an exclamation mark inside a triangle.

Explanation given (quote): “HAZARD - OFF SHORE WINDS. This flag indicates that wind conditions are especially dangerous - so under no circumstances should you take an inflatable into the sea.” The same flag is shown on a table, see photo end of webpage.
Jan Mertens, 27 January 2007

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 July 2007

At http://www.norfolk-norwich.com/norfolk/discovering-norfolk/beach-guides.php is a notation about "OFFSHORE WINDS / An orange wind-sock flag - beware of offshore winds." An orange pennant is shown. As to a windsock (a drawing, really), see http://www.go-cornwall.com/BeachesSafety.html, with caption: "NO INFLATABLES / (when blowing offshore)". I wonder which is the official one - the yellow flag with the triangle & exclamation mark, the orange pennant, or the orange windsock?
Jan Mertens, 28 January 2007

I am not sure in this case that it is possible to say for sure what might be an "official" flag, as there is no competent authority covering the whole of the United Kingdom, or even England, in this instance. My personal observations since 1974 would indicate that there is no official warning flag, as such, that these matters are usually taken care of by the district council or other appropriate local authority in the area concerned and that practice varies from one area to another.
Colin Dobson, 30 January 2007