Brightlingsea Watersport YC

Athene V30

Athene V30

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Trying to understand why the people at the BWYC think they can fly a white ensign? Makes me mad.

I went in today when I saw it and spoke to the lady at the counter. Dont think I had too much of a rant but I was not happy!

I know lots of people / places flew all sorts of flags for the Jubilee weekend and I didnt get bothered at all by it, but some weeks later I would have expected a YC to be doing the right thing.

Rant over!
 
Karouise said:
Trying to understand why the people at the BWYC think they can fly a white ensign? Makes me mad.

I went in today when I saw it and spoke to the lady at the counter. Dont think I had too much of a rant but I was not happy!

I know lots of people / places flew all sorts of flags for the Jubilee weekend and I didnt get bothered at all by it, but some weeks later I would have expected a YC to be doing the right thing.

Rant over!
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One is duty bound to take action ;)
but they are from Essex :D
 
Don't be too harsh with them Peter...it is a real 'amateur hour' club. I understand a bunch of peeps who felt the Colne YC was too cliquey and have formed this effort in the old University SC premises. Must agree though...VERY bad form, but sadly only to be expected!
 
Cobra said:
Don't be too harsh with them Peter...it is a real 'amateur hour' club. I understand a bunch of peeps who felt the Colne YC was too cliquey and have formed this effort in the old University SC premises. Must agree though...VERY bad form, but sadly only to be expected!
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I dont think I was harsh, but was thinking of going back with a long ladder to take it down though! :D

They seem to be trying to make a go if it by serving food (the breakfast smelt great) so good luck for that, I know how hard it is to make a small business work.

Maybe they just dont comprehend that some can be offended by this misuse of the white ensign.
 
Karouise said:
Trying to understand why the people at the BWYC think they can fly a white ensign? Makes me mad.

I went in today when I saw it and spoke to the lady at the counter. Dont think I had too much of a rant but I was not happy!

I know lots of people / places flew all sorts of flags for the Jubilee weekend and I didnt get bothered at all by it, but some weeks later I would have expected a YC to be doing the right thing.

Rant over!
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A fantastic weekend's weather at last.

Went up to Hamford Water and anchored with about 45 other boats having a blissful weekend.

Everyone happy and waving to each other .

I come back to a thread like this. I cannot believe you actually went into this club and had a go at a probable a poor innocent soul.

Who are you actually defending ?
 
LONG_KEELER said:
A fantastic weekend's weather at last.

Went up to Hamford Water and anchored with about 45 other boats having a blissful weekend.

Everyone happy and waving to each other .

I come back to a thread like this. I cannot believe you actually went into this club and had a go at a probable a poor innocent soul.

Who are you actually defending ?
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Glad you had a good weekend.

There are many servicemen who have given their lives over the years to give us all the freedom to do so. As an ex-serviceman and current reserve serviceman I have the utmost respect for all who serve to protect the rights of others.

I believe that symbols such as the ensign I proudly served under are due to be treated with respect and not used indiscriminantly.

Sorry if this offends you. The misuse of the white ensign offends me.
 
Karouise said:
Glad you had a good weekend.

There are many servicemen who have given their lives over the years to give us all the freedom to do so. As an ex-serviceman and current reserve serviceman I have the utmost respect for all who serve to protect the rights of others.

I believe that symbols such as the ensign I proudly served under are due to be treated with respect and not used indiscriminantly.

Sorry if this offends you. The misuse of the white ensign offends me.
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But what right do you have of marching into an establishment ?

Are you some kind of a flag policeman ?

If you are unhappy, surely there are proper channels where you can report it.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
Are you some kind of a flag policeman ?

If you are unhappy, surely there are proper channels where you can report it.
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As it so happens as a Commissioned Officer I do have the right to confiscate a flag being used incorrectly. It is detailed in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy - I think you have to be in full uniform which I wasnt - not something I tend to wear when going to the boat! Which was why I went in to make them aware that what they were doing is incorrect.

Anyway, this is an improper use of the East Coast Forum. We are a friendly bunch and I dont want to mess that up.
 
Not wishing to inflame, but I am with Peter on this.

The White Ensign is the top of the shop, so to speak, and deservedly so.

Nelson used the White Ensign at Trafalgar, even though it was not universally used by the Navy until the 1860s.
 
Reminded of the comments made by a recent American ambassador to the UK "England is so nuanced I was never confident I had addressed an envelope correctly"

I guess the yacht club just chose the flag they thought was nicest, they won't have had a clue they acted incorrectly. I'm sure Peter was jolly polite about it, he is a navy chap after all. Forgive us Peter when you see us with the wrong ensign, we only ever fly what takes our fancy that day, though never a white ensign, even we know that's just not right. And we'd cheerfully change an flag if someone said it offended them.
 
Karouise said:
As it so happens as a Commissioned Officer I do have the right to confiscate a flag being used incorrectly. It is detailed in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy - I think you have to be in full uniform which I wasnt - not something I tend to wear when going to the boat! Which was why I went in to make them aware that what they were doing is incorrect.

Anyway, this is an improper use of the East Coast Forum. We are a friendly bunch and I dont want to mess that up.
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But why not just send a friendly email to the club president ?

As mentioned, i'm sure they had no idea.

And why needlessly make a public issue of it on a forum ?
 
Having lived in Brightlingsea and being ex Navy............I don't have a problem:cool:

Forgot to add I was once a member of the yacht club.....I dare say they will remember me......unfortunately:o
 
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Karouise said:
I went in today when I saw it and spoke to the lady at the counter. Dont think I had too much of a rant but I was not happy!
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It seems inappropriate to have remonstrated, even midly, with "the lady at the counter" unless you had first ascertained that she was an officer of the club. The decision to fly that flag was obviously made in innocence (or ignorance) but probably not by that lady.

A written note of complaint signed in your naval capacity and addressed to the club commodore would have been the way to proceed IMO.

If no offence was meant then none should be taken. To say that is a slight on those who serve in the forces is pushing it a bit. Education might be more effective than a reprimand.
 
Flag etiquette

You never know, the Commodore may be an officer of the Royal Yacht Squadron......

I think the club handles all sorts of watersports not just Yachtsmen, perhaps Waterskiers don't know the rules.

Education is always better than TRAINING BY RANT :mad:
 
Boz said:
You never know, the Commodore may be an officer of the Royal Yacht Squadron......

I think the club handles all sorts of watersports not just Yachtsmen, perhaps Waterskiers don't know the rules.
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Equally...and I am pretty sure of my facts here he is almost certainly NOT!!!

As I have already intimated, I am totally with Peter and Jim on this one...If a club pertains to be a 'Yacht Club' that is seeking RYA recognition, then it should have certain standards and I am sorry, as much as I detest flag etiquette debates, CORRECT flag etiquette is one of the standards it should adhere to!

BTW I am not a member of either the Colne YC or Brightlingsea SC the two ESTABLISHED AND RIGHTLY RESPECTED clubs in the town so have no axe to grind, choosing and preferring just to do my own thing!
 
Flag Etiquette

Boz said:
You never know, the Commodore may be an officer of the Royal Yacht Squadron......
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My Comment was of course tongue in cheek.... At the risk of thread creep....I'm as much for correct Flag Etiquette as the next man; I've sailed extensively out of The British Kiel Yacht Club, the consequences of poor flag etiquette there were dire, talk of ropes ends and keel hauling abounded but that's the Army for you.

Much fun to be had in the Solent as well, forcing HM Ships to dip, when they noticed anyway.....
Regards
Russ
 
Cobra said:
Equally...and I am pretty sure of my facts here he is almost certainly NOT!!!

As I have already intimated, I am totally with Peter and Jim on this one...If a club pertains to be a 'Yacht Club' that is seeking RYA recognition, then it should have certain standards and I am sorry, as much as I detest flag etiquette debates, CORRECT flag etiquette is one of the standards it should adhere to!

BTW I am not a member of either the Colne YC or Brightlingsea SC the two ESTABLISHED AND RIGHTLY RESPECTED clubs in the town so have no axe to grind, choosing and preferring just to do my own thing!
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Like myself, all you are doing is offering an opinion .

All I know is that most ex navy men would not have taken the kind of action that took place. I am very surprised that you and Full Circle appear to support this kind of direct action.

It does prove however how little I have in common with many of it's contributors. But that is fine as we all in the right place at the right time and none of us are right or wrong.

I have enjoyed this forum very much so many have put lots of hard work into making it a success . I am sure that it will continue to serve the majority well .
 
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LONG_KEELER said:
But why not just send a friendly email to the club president ?

As mentioned, i'm sure they had no idea.

And why needlessly make a public issue of it on a forum ?
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Where, Oh where, was the Nelson or Hornblower touch?! Surely they wouldn't have "had a word".
At dead of night the offending ensign would have been removed in a clandestine operation, reverently folded, parcelled and despatched promptly the following morning by first class recorded delivery to the First Sea Lord. (always assuming Brightlingsea Post Office has not been closed).
Obviously a replacement would have been hoisted. Three suggestions. Buy and hoist a child's Union Flag from a beach vendor for a few pence (you can always claim it on expenses). If that is considered too small and insulting, how about using a white sheet and writing a suitable signal upon it before hoisting-say "Ignorant Essex Club" or "C.P.I."; or purloin a Belgian Ensign and inscribe "Belgium Welcomes Red Diesel" upon it.
No initiative shown, far to PC!
Go to it.
 
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