Do I need an ensign for the Solent?

Yes I spotted this MrJemm when I was looking at the Davids website - (was going to buy an open face to go with my old BSA as it would look the part until someone described an accident they had whilst wearing a "piss pot". I'll carry on with my full face thanks :eek:

Zagato didn't always get it right, he made a real pigs ear of the Jag XK150 but my dream car is his Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (if only I had a couple of million!) - simply gorgeous although an XK120 might beat it for top spot :D

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Zagato said:
This maybe a protocol, versus trend, versus generation question but I am only going to be sailing as far as the Solent from Chichester Harbour. I don't mind having one I just don't want to look like a real tit or a goody goody by having one, I only have a 26' boat. Or is it OK to have one, I don't want to be seen to be showing off or flashy in my little boat.

Sorry if this insults some but I am new to the culture of sailing and don't want to be sniggered at - new boy with new pencil case and all that!!
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Yes.
 
Over 99% of boats bigger than a dinghy do as do I but have never worried if I have forgotten. Your boat will look undressed without one compared to all the others.
It's not something to worry about but with 10 years of boating in Chichester Harbour and the Solent, it's rare to see a boat without one.
 
SolentBoy said:
Fly an ensign if you wish.
Don't fly one if you don't want to.
Leave it up 24/7 or adhere to the sunrise sunset thing.
The choice is yours.

Some people really care about these things but that is their choice.
I don't, but can understand and accept that others do.
Anyone who seeks to impose their own beliefs and rituals on others is in my opinion best avoided.
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Hear hear...

Mine (probably the smallest size they do) goes up the day I launch, and comes down at the end of season on lift out day.... most people in Chi harbour seem to fly them... you don't have to fly it, I do because in a way I feel privileged to be able to - in the past a lot of very brave things have been done by men on ships flying the same flag.... that's just me though... :p
 
Zagato,

I suspect that you have absorbed more than you think from your long past days out with Dad. Unavoidable really, but it shows (if only subtley) between the lines in your posts. Add to that the fact that there are many experienced people on here who deliberately register as new users in order to tease the more helpful posters, and perhaps you will understand the paranoia of some.

Keep reading & posting, and just ignore the flak, it is seldom personal & generally reflects more on the poster than the accused.

Finally, given your far distant experience, if it seems right, it probably is. Have the confidence to experiment, predict what you think will happen & review what actually happens. If the two are different work out why & modify your prediction next time! Always be ready for things to go wrong, have a view of what those things may be & have a plan to deal with them.

I don't think you will go far wrong.
 
Good points Searush - I was shocked into realising how much I didn't know when I first took the Drascombe out in Chichester Harbour.

This was my second sail in her, I rigged her in 30 mins having practised at home and charged over to Emsworth on the engine to have a first look at the area. Somehow I managed to ground the thing as I went too close to a warning pole - oh dear not a good start - even though all the boats around appeared to be floating at low tide I hit the rudder.

Having powered the boat off I went back down the estuary, was freezing cold and there was no wind - so after 2.5 hrs (5Hrs from hitching up at home!) I decided to call it a day but then the sun came out at about 11.00 am and the wind picked up. Engine off, sails up and I practised sailing up and down just inside the harbour mouth as the tide roared in. I couldn't get anywhere, I was just tacking up and down but not moving in the direction I wanted to go, so engine on and out through the harbour mouth.

Engine off and sails up again just outside the mouth and oh dear feeling queasy with the rollers coming in and sails not filling as the boat rocked so much. After an hour of this I thought enough is enough and motored all the way back to Itchenor. On nearing the slipway I realised the rudder had been bent from grounding it earlier and I couldn't pull it up out of it's slot and so wasn't able to get the boat up the slip. Spanner out and the rudder was dropped in the water - sniff. Not a good day but still enjoyed the adventure.

Now lets put this into perspective, in Falmouth we would look out of the window, nice day, bit of wind, 3-4, just the job and jump in the boat - or so I thought.

I now realise that I must be aware of the tides, look at a chart as I was sailing all over the sand bank on an incoming tide, pull the centre board up a bit, make sure you know what the markers are for and don't go to close to them, etc etc. Luckily a very kind guy waded out on the next low tide or next day and retrieved my rudder for me.

The following year the boat was only used once. It took 5 hours from announcing we were going sailing to actually getting the boat in the water. We motored around the estuary for an hour whilst one kid fell asleep and the other ate her lunch and complained. 3 & 5 year old kids get bored very quickly on a boat even after having a go at the helm, so after an hour on the water the boat was dragged up the slip and after another 2.5 hrs we were finally home and the boat was put up for sale last winter and sold within 2 weeks for £5250. Not bad for a hard used tarted up 1980's Longboat.

Adding only another £250 I was lucky to find through forum members a bargain, top nick 1991 Folksong 26 and I am determined to crack the sailing lark, enrol on a course and primarily have fun with it - safely and fully prepared this time :rolleyes:

The last sail! Notice the lack of mast lol

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And the new boat now brought down from Holyhead. Not bad for £250 more! Near new engine, first launched in 91 and in very good condition. Came with all the kit but NO ENSIGN!! Thanks Brian for putting me onto the Folksong boats. It will be great for a motor around the harbour with the kids to start off and for me to get the hang of gradually over the years.

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Sailing with kids;

Have harnesses & bouancy aids. Life jackets will scare 'em to death if they ever go off!

Lots of snax & finger food (Is it time for the Mars bars yet, Mum?) Ginger biccies are good for queasyness.

Lots of layers of warm clothing & good waterproofs over. Don't let 'em get cold, wet & miserable, they have lower reserves than adults.

Let them bring toys & create a safe play area below where they can be on passage, books, cuddlies, crayons & colouring books are all good. Sort out a set of perspex wash boards for really bad weather so they can see you & you them.

Get then looking out for bouys, daymarks etc - my son's eyesight was phenomenal & still far better than mine. Get them involved in where you go. Pubs can be Pirate lairs - listen for Blind Pugh Tap tap tapping, find a Black spot under a beer mat. Visit "Deserted islands", give 'em a spade to look for treasure. Count the jellyfish. Let 'em dangle their feet in the water from the lee rail, then they will enjoy it leaning rather than fear it.

Kids can be huge fun on a boat if you go with the flow & become a kid again yourself. Try to force them to do what you want, & life will be unbearable for all of you.
 
Somebody else mentioned Blind Pugh I will google him I think rather than ask :D as I did the Burgee - club flag, yes!

EDIT, Oops, well Treasure Island was never going to be my thing - to tame. I was too busy messing about on farms, rebuilding cars (or breaking them!) and reading other literature, ahem! Commando magazine I mean!
 
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Zagato said:
The last sail! Notice the lack of mast lol

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I also notice (and find very familiar!) the lack of humour on your significant other's face! "I hope you appreciate that just because it's your thing, it doesn't mean we're all having a great time!". An open boat with kids in anything other than a millpond sends mothers into protection overdrive!

We're now into a second full year of sailing with our kids on a very similar 26' boat and having a "downstairs" is a great advantage. On a particularly lumpy and wet crossing to Cowes from Chi last year ours were snug as bugs in the forepeak watching a movie and they slept all the way back a week later as we left on the early tide. It's also great for lazy summer evening sails back from East Head when they are knackered from playing on the beach all day and they want to snuggle up. :)

My wife is now much happier and even likes sailing just for the hell of it when the kids are at school.

Just hope for a better summer than last year! :(
 
Yes your right of course. She like so many others (me included!) had the classic experience of good old Dad charging out into the rollers making everyone one else on board sick as dogs within ten minutes of leaving the shore. In her case it was her first and last time but I had no choice and had to crew, I dreaded it :(

This last sail was perfect for her. We hit short steep waves pretty much immediately going out of Itchenor which was a good test. Although apprehensive she felt safe and didn't feel sick although I only spent maybe 20 minutes in it (lets not push it!) and so doubled back and spent the rest of the time going up to Itchenor reach and back to the slip. Perfect and now presenting her with the bigger boat she is very keen on just toddling about the harbour under power on a calm or windless day. She is even keen to sleep on it overnight and use it as a caravan :eek: Err well maybe darling but it is a tad cramped down below :rolleyes:

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These pictures taken whilst boat is in storage!
 
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Spot on Zagato.

It's about fun & enjoyment. You don't have to emulate Shackleton or Bligh. Potter locally & she will start suggesting place she'd like to visit. Just leave some relevant literature around that she will find interesting.
 
I bet once dolphins have been sighted the interest levels shoot up.

There is of course, the "Oooh, did you see that? Looked like a dolphin" tactic.
 
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