blue ensign

[jimbaerselman]

Off topic, but you should have seen the expression on the local Greek policeman's face when I was applying for a residence permit.

"What is your Nationality?"
"British"
"But you were born in England?"
"Yes. Britain includes Scotland, Wales and England"
Pause.
"But your passport says you are from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Do I have to write all of that down?"
"Well, that's my defined nationality"
"But your car plate says 'GB'. Why don't you have a simple name, like 'Greece' - it's much easier to write on a form"
"Try 'UK'"
"I think I'll just write OK"

 

[Rabbie]

My points excatly. Only now, I am an inverted snob. Am I alone?

 

[pyrojames]

The Swiss and the Italians from memory as well. The Australians often fly and Aus Red Ensign, as opposed to the national flag which is blue. IN an on Australian way, it is seen as slightly snobbish to fly the red, rather than the blue national flag!

 

[Metabarca]

[ QUOTE ]
Good point! Incidentally, ISTR that the UK isn't unique, and that a handful of other countries use nautical ensigns that differ from their national flags, but offhand cannot think of any. Anyone know?

[/ QUOTE ]

Italy for one. Its nautical flag consists of the usual tricolor with a central shield bearing the symbols of the four maritime republics (Venice, Amalfi, Pisa and Genoa) - although there were more of them, that's all that appear on the flag.

 

[Amari]

While we are vaguely on this subject, I get confused between the various national flags flown by passing vessels, particularly the vertical and horizontal variations of red, white and blue. Anyone know where i can get a poster, small enough to put above the chart table, shewing national flags? Can't remember seeing such in the catalogues

 

[ribrunt]

[ QUOTE ]
Also wearing white is the Royal Engineers Yacht Club which predates the Royal Yacht Squadron, by many years and is the first recorded yacht club in the world.Royal Engineers taught the Navy how to dive, oh and the Royal Airforce how to fly

[/ QUOTE ]

And those in the Royal Cork obviously taught the REs how to sail...given that they were founded first!

As for correct name for the 26 counties that make up the southern half of the island to your left as you look at it - it's Ireland. As per the constitution. Simple really.

 

[caol]

[ QUOTE ]

Why do people often feel the need to impose our preconceptions on the choices of others

Personal choice

[/ QUOTE ]

Precisely.

There is something sad about this, which is that people should make such a fuss about it. Why is it so important?

Live and let live.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

[ QUOTE ]
Its interesting how these conversations return almost inevitably to the concept of the class system.

What would Ronnie Barker and John Cleese say!!

Personally I have joined a club which is privileged , its a great social and sailing club, we join in on the rallies frequently, and I am proud to wear the defaced ensign which identifies us a member of the club. I also am proud of the red ensign which demonstrates a legacy of maritime heritage.

Why do people often feel the need to impose our preconceptions on the choices of others

Personal choice

[/ QUOTE ]
Of course they do. It is inevitable that these conversations return to the concept of the class system, because that is exactly what they are designed to enforce. It has nothing to do with choice, and the analogies of cheese or ale preference really don't wash, because those of us who don't belong to an organisation that has been ordained by the Queens Second Warrant Commander to the Pope's Swiss Legion don't actually have a choice, and would probably be subject to laws that are still in place(because they haven't actually been used for 500 years) that allow us to be hung, drawn and quartered.

Accusing people who suggest that there may be something wrong with this of being communists? Isn't that a bit 50's? Surely in this day and age we would be terrorists, no?

I'd love to see the EU introduce a rule enforcing all European registered ships to wear the EU flag, just to watch the uproar it was cause all around Europe.

Cant you people find a more substantial way to identify yourselves? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Have beer on me, bitter, lager, stout. You choose /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[PeterGibbs]

Clifford,

How right you are! I have lost count of the number of times I have encountered loutish, boorish behaviour by boats flying a blue ensign of one kind or another. Why does a piece of blue cloth so readily confer an apparent immunity from the seamanlike regard one would expect to be shown to fellow sailors. We mere mortals might even expect to learn a thing or two from the self-proclaimed senior wranglers of the sea? But I've rather given up on that score...I'm sure there are some professional blue ensigners out there - somewhere. For now I just keep a safe distance from blue ensigns!

Mystified, PWG (red and proud of it)

 

[Billjratt]

Agree with PeterGibbs. In my experience, blue seems to indicate selfishness and an innate inability to control a vessel safely. (Med and Scot W C)

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
I have lost count of the number of times I have encountered loutish, boorish behaviour by boats flying a blue ensign of one kind or another.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very sad state of affairs, how do you manage to have such rotten luck?

Where on earth do you sail anyway? I've been Solent based for the last ten years and, apart from a very small number of racers [who aren't flying ensigns of any colour], I find sailing people invariably friendly and helpful. In fact that's one of the main reasons I enjoy sailing!

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
How right you are! I have lost count of the number of times I have encountered loutish, boorish behaviour by boats flying a blue ensign of one kind or another. (red and proud of it)

[/ QUOTE ]
Curiously enough we met just such a boat this afternoon. Gosport Fuel pontoon 1300 hrs and its raining. Foxy Lady III (with scruffy blue flag on the stern) was just paying the bill when we arrived on the inside and moored up waiting for them to move on. Fuel attendant girlie said the hose wouldn't reach us and we would have to wait until the FL III moved. And we did, wait that is. After 10 minutes I asked one of the crew who said we are off in a minute. Wrong /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

At this point a Bav 44 turned up having just motored for 27 hours from the Scillies. Turns out they had taken part in the Fastnet only to loose the starboard stay 30 miles short of the rock. They weren't impressed with the wait for FL III either.

After another 10 minutes in a loud voice so most of the marina could hear, I asked if they were moving, to which the woman with a plum in her mouth said "why didn't you ask" Stunned, I pointed out to her that they were taking up a busy fuel pontoon during a saturday lunchtime, but it clearly hadn't occured to them that other boats might want to fuel up. After making a bit of a hash of motoring off the jetty they left and we finally moved up and leaving enough room for the Bav 44 to temporally moor on the end. I promised the Bav 44 skipper who seemed in good spirits for someone who nearly lost his mast and had been at sea for a week in difficult conditions, that we would be quick, unlike FL III whose crew should be tucked up in a nice nursing home rather than going to sea in a F4.

As we motored towards Portsmouth harbour guess what, FL III is doing large turns round the balast bouy whilst they work out how the sails go up, only they haven't seen the chaos and yachts take avoiding action /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif


Pete

 

[landaftaf]

HeHeHe

relax ........ wind down ........ chill out ........ remember how superior you are to these arses and ensure you dont get like that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
HeHeHe relax ........ wind down ........ chill out ........ /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ] Already done so, actually I was trying to imagine what the skipper of the Bav 44 had been through over the past week, made my standing around for 20 minutes in the rain pale into insignificance /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
..should be tucked up in a nice nursing home...

[/ QUOTE ]

Does anyone else on this forum besides me find this kind of post distasteful? Criticizing someone else who may not be in a position to respond [anyway why should they bother?] is bad enough, but to then go on and criticize them for being elderly is cheap and unmanly.

Says more about the poster than the subject.

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
..should be tucked up in a nice nursing home...

[/ QUOTE ] criticize them for being elderly is cheap and unmanly.

[/ QUOTE ]
On reflection I agree and therefore I apologise to the forum for the remark.

Peter

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
On reflection I agree and therefore I apologise to the forum for the remark.


[/ QUOTE ]

Now that was manly.

I'll totter off and drink your health with a glass of Wincarnis ["Fortifies the Over Forties"]!

 

[Pete7]

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[PeterGibbs]

Replying to your querstion: I could recount incidences as far apart as Penzance, Amsterdam, Channel Islands, Orwell River... you get the picture.

One lovely incident, not so long ago, I was motoring in a shallow marked channel and noted a traditional-style yacht under sail heading to cross. He aimed straight for my line and without any attempt to pop ahead or behind me went straight for my position. I accelerated and he just cleared my stern, standing in his blazer and breton hat, looking ahead, shouting as me "col regs!" as he passed. He knew he had contributed to an unnecessary near contact situation yet stood on. He was flying the blue ensign. A character straight out of Peyton.

On another occasion I was moving up to the Oranjesluizen near Amerstam when I saw a blue ensign following me too closely. I waved him in whereupon he entered the lock, lost control of his vessel and had to be helped by the natives. When the shouting had stopped I then entered behind him...it's how we red ensigners stay sane....

PWG

 

[Poignard]

Well, that's all very interesting but I still fail to see what part the blue ensign plays in these incidents of bad seamanship, or the Breton cap, or the blazer. Are you sure you're not suffering [just a little bit] from an inferiority complex? Forming judgements on people according to what they wear or what ensign they fly is a bit immature isn't it? Where will it end? Next thing you'll be judging people by what sort of car they drive, or whether they have green wellies, or say wireless instead of radio.

You must live in a frightening world - all these "posh" people determined to do you down! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif