Blue Ensign (Sunsail)

[Guest]

Spotted in the Solent on saturday morning was a Sunsail yacht sporting a Royal Mail logo on the bow and flying a defaced Blue Ensign at the stern. There were also several other Sunsail boats, all with the Royal Mail logo, taking part in a regatta but each of the others I saw were flying the Red Ensign. I am certainly no expert in matters of flag etiquette but as I understand it, the Blue Ensign is warranted to both the actual boat and its owner. Also the person (owner) who holds the warrant must be on board whenever the Blue Ensign is flown. I am sure that there is most probably a full explanation as to why this yacht was flying the Blue Ensign. Any ideas?

 

[iangrant]

Now that really...

has to take the biscuit - Sunsail with a blue flag out the back - corr blimey - and delivering the post - such a regular run from Portsmouth to Cowes I guess!!!

Ian

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Now that really...

Sounds like the Post Orifice/Consignia/Royal Snail, not content with losing squigglyteen billion quid on postal cervixes has decided it should subsidise Sunsail as well.

 

[bedouin]

What is more - even if the owner is warranted to fly a (defaced) blue ensign, and he is on board, he still can't fly it if the boat is being chartered (I believe).

 

[AndrewB]

Doubtless Chris Gordon, MD of Sunsail Ltd, was skipper for the day. You'd think he could do better than a clapped out Beneteau, wouldn't you?

 

[Oceanranger]

This Sunday a Sunsail boat with a Royal Mail sticker approached me on port tack. Just before we were due to pass port to port he rounded up across my bows. After shouts of "Starboard tack, you silly postman!!! he fortunately bore away. I expect the 17,000 people being made redundant will be pleased to learn that the Royal Mail is spending the money it will save on their salaries wisely.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

You are correct

NM

Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

Is this yet another wind-up? nm

.

 

[Eudorajab]

Who gives a d**n about the blue ensign. What is the Royal Mail doing chartering boats and sending management on jollies for when its losing so much money. Maybe half the reason that they are in this mess is that they are too busy cutting people up on the water to concentrate on delivering the mail.

Keelhaul the lot I say.

 

[Rob_Webb]

Anyone seen the papers?

Anyone else seen page 31 of today's Telegraph (City Diary)?

It's interesting that Royal Mail/Consignia claim to know nothing about the logos!

Nice one boys!!!

 

[Oceanranger]

Re: Anyone seen the papers?

Yes, I was I surprised to see me quoted in today's Telegraph. Less surprised that Consignia seem unaware of where their money's going - guess you could say it was "lost at sea".

 

[Rob_Webb]

Re: Anyone seen the papers?

Was it a pleasant suprise to see your words in print? Feeling famous (although anonymous)?!