Back in the 1960s, General De Gaulle was on his way to visit Martinique. A group of Brit charter-yacht skippers climbed H.M.S. Diamond Rock and set up a British ensign on it. The French were mightily pissed off, redirected the General so he wouldn't see it, and had a heck of a time getting the flag down. Certain people were personas non grata in Martinique for quite a while after that. The French don't share the British sense of humor.