Blue ensign

[AndrewfromFal]

I don't think that's a sound analogy at all. People who drive range rovers don't, afaik, go around slagging off the plebs and proles in their sad little nissans and fords for being small minded social failures. That's not to say that the ford and nissan drivers don't routinely slag off the RR drivers as arrogant toffs...just my point, overt social bigotry is pretty much a one-direction affair nowadays.

Bigotry exists to differentiate and exclude people from ones' society. If you've spent any time in London in the last 10 years you'll be well aware that 'overt social bigotry' from the rich towards the less well off isn't necessary as those at the lower end of the social scale are excluded by their own impecuniosity, and this is something affecting an increasingly large proportion of the population.

Different standards for different ensigns? That too is a rather bizarre concept. For a start the blue doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a club, such as if associated with the RNSA, many of whose members have had no professional sea training. It's a National identification flag for chrissakes, not a club thing! It just happens that the UK has three of them all of which which spring from the same root, the Navy!

It says so much about the UK, that if you own a vessel for the purposes of personal enjoyment, there are potentially 3 different coloured ensigns that could be flown off the back of it. Who has what, and what it all means is not something that can be explained in a way that is logical or consistent, but will tell those in the know something about the yacht and it's owner.

 

[capnsensible]

That is a really long week for a crab, thought it was Thursday standeasy?

I think it depends on hotel checkout time.

 

[AndrewfromFal]

Indeed - that's why tax exiles tend to get a bad press. So is educating the young, tending the sick, caring for the elderly, keeping the peace and doing all the other things which make this a civilised place to live.

+1 (at the risk of someone asking if that's the number of chips I have on my shoulder)

 

[capnsensible]

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flags_based_on_British_ensigns


Enlighten yourselves. I stopped counting at 100.

 

[Jamesuk]

The main issue with ensigns is not the colour but the traditions. The red ensign is left up 24 hours per day for many boats. Perhaps we could have a rule change for all ensigns.

As long as the ensign is illuminated at night you can wear the ensign 24 hours per day regardless of colour,size etc

If only.

 

[prv]

For a start the blue doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a club, such as if associated with the RNSA

What is the RNSA if not a club?

Pete

 

[mjcoon]

It says so much about the UK, that if you own a vessel for the purposes of personal enjoyment, there are potentially 3 different coloured ensigns that could be flown off the back of it. Who has what, and what it all means is not something that can be explained in a way that is logical or consistent, but will tell those in the know something about the yacht and it's owner.

If Scotland secedes, will all those ensigns have to be re-designed to incorporate a Dis-Union Flag?

Mike.

 

[Kukri]

There is only one bit of cloth, worn by a yacht, that should command universal respect, and it is this one:

No I am not a member.

 

[chinita]

UKIP voter, possibly even member. Amiright?

???

Erm, no on both counts.

It was meant to be a flippant comment.

 

[Tempus]

The main issue with ensigns is not the colour but the traditions. The red ensign is left up 24 hours per day for many boats. Perhaps we could have a rule change for all ensigns.

As long as the ensign is illuminated at night you can wear the ensign 24 hours per day regardless of colour,size.

I've always thought that the "strike at sunset or 9pm etc".... was a ridiculous tradition anyway, brought in by the RN to save on cloth. I have never been in the RN and boating is so expensive the ensign cost is irrelevant. Our ensign is treated like the Royal Standard - when we are in residence if flies at all times to signify "we are aboard". I think this is a perfectly reasonable approach, and much better than taking it down at sunset etc.

btw we do have a warrant for the blue (but don't usually fly). Interestingly although there is much fuss made by more pompous club members the warrant simply says, "members may wish to abide by the tradition that the ensign is lowered at sunset..etc" - there is no actual requirement to do so. My view is people can wear whatever they like, but I massively object to pompous idiots in red trousers telling me to "lower my flag sir!" at sunset - although this is has thankfully has only happened twice.

 

[AndrewfromFal]

My view is people can wear whatever they like, but I massively object to pompous idiots in red trousers telling me to "lower my flag sir!" at sunset - although this is has thankfully has only happened twice.

So to sum up

• Red Ensign = Good
• White Ensign = Good
• Blue Ensign = Good
• Red Trousers = Bad

I quite agree....:encouragement:

 

[Vara]

Sadly, I think I am probably one of the poorest people in possession of a Blue. I am seriously worrying about where I am going to find my £15.00 annual RAYC subscription from.

Thinking of entering Popsie in JRT racing. Anybody interested in buying a leg, or a head, or an ear?

Join the Army sailing assosciation, only a tenner. Nice ensign too.

 

[JumbleDuck]

If Scotland secedes, will all those ensigns have to be re-designed to incorporate a Dis-Union Flag?

We already have an ensign, thank you very much. It's the Scottish Merchant Flag or Scottish Ensign, which was used before 1707 for both merchant ships and the Royal Scottish Navy. I've had a succession of them for every boat I've owned, and it's an interesting sign of changing times that while I had to have the first one specially made, 25 years ago, and explain carefully what I wanted, many chandlers in Scotland now sell them off the shelf.

 

[doug748]

And I'm not sure where the "served your country" idea in this thread came from anyway. You get a blue ensign for joining the right club, it's nothing to do with military, or any other, service.
Pete

I think that was me.

Rather good, I thought

 

[nigelmercier]

Red ensign, blue trousers. OK.
Blue ensign, red trousers. Plonker.

 

[awol]

We already have an ensign, thank you very much. It's the Scottish Merchant Flag or Scottish Ensign, which was used before 1707 for both merchant ships and the Royal Scottish Navy. I've had a succession of them for every boat I've owned, and it's an interesting sign of changing times that while I had to have the first one specially made, 25 years ago, and explain carefully what I wanted, many chandlers in Scotland now sell them off the shelf.

Pleb! Mine is ..............

Please note "Pleb" is used to differentiate from "Patrician" not as a term of abuse.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Pleb! Mine is ..............

Definitely superior - you can see the canton is stitched.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Pleb! Mine is ..............

Please note "Pleb" is used to differentiate from "Patrician" not as a term of abuse.

<sniff> Wrong shade of blue around the saltire <sniff>

 

[James_Calvert]

<sniff> Wrong shade of blue...

Which sparked a thought...

If you have a warrant for a blue - does wearing an old faded one have more kudos - or just demonstrate a level of parsimony - or both?

And is the answer the same for wearing a red?

 

[pmagowan]

Now this is getting ridiculous! Here I am in my red trews flying my matching ensign and reading that I am doing it all wrong. I have some light blue pantaloons but I am afraid I only packed the one ensign. These rules are so hard to keep up with!

Also, if a man in red trousers told me to lower HIS flag I would call the police. "Get ye to Clapham common" I would cry while clinging to my boat hook (and I mean boat hook!).