Dressing a boat for the Diamond Jubilee

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NigelCraig

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Probably a stupid question but I'll ask it anyway!

Our local harbourmaster, in setting out instructions for proposed "review of the fleet" on june 4, has laid down boats must be either dressed overall or dressed appropriately. I know what dressed overall means (although not sure with 20ft overall inc bowsprit my mast is high enough to fit in 40 flags!) but is there a specific meaning to "dressed appropriately"? Or does he just mean not to take the p**s?

On a related note I'd like to fly a red ensign on this occasion, but I don't have any need otherwise to register with SSR - Is the penalty keelhauling, flogging or is it more serious than that?
 
Unless your boat is a dinghy, in these days I suspect flying a red ensign is a good idea anyway, or the Customs people might take an interest.

I'd think that and a club burgee from the starboard spreader would be fine, and if you feel like it any code flags that will fit, just check they don't spell ' b****ks ' or something ! :)
 
NigelCraig said:
Probably a stupid question but I'll ask it anyway!

Our local harbourmaster, in setting out instructions for proposed "review of the fleet" on june 4, has laid down boats must be either dressed overall or dressed appropriately. I know what dressed overall means (although not sure with 20ft overall inc bowsprit my mast is high enough to fit in 40 flags!) but is there a specific meaning to "dressed appropriately"? Or does he just mean not to take the p**s?

On a related note I'd like to fly a red ensign on this occasion, but I don't have any need otherwise to register with SSR - Is the penalty keelhauling, flogging or is it more serious than that?
Click to expand...

I had to lookup what Dress Overall means and found this useful info: http://www.yosc.org.uk/flagetiquette.pdf
 
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Well, if boats are going to be underway during this review, it's actually wrong to be dressed overall and underway at the same time. Dressing overall is for mooring/anchor/etc.
 
Hornet_UK said:
Can some one explain what "Dressed Overall" means please?:confused:
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There are (I think) 40 signal pennants, which have to be strung on dressing lines in a particular order from bow to masthhead and back to taffrail. I think technically it includes national flag at masthead as well ensign at stern but could be wrong on that. Also suppose to be struck when underway (which is difficult is you haven't got a burgee halyard fitted!)
 
As in this International Festival Of The Sea at Portsmouth; I don't remember the correct order for the flags, hopefully it'll be in the almanac, everything usually is !

IFOS076-1.jpg
 
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Rest easy! You don't have to register your boat to exercise your entitlement to wear the red ensign. Another source of info on dressing overall is the RYA website - http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectio...G ETIQUETTE AND VISUAL SIGNALS - PART II .pdf

When under way the masthead is dresses with an ensign alongside the burgee. The size of this ensign should match that of the ensign being worn in the usual position. When moored/anchored, thein addition to the masthead flags the signal flags are arranged from stem to masthead and down again to the stern:

E, Q, p3, G, p8, Z, p4, W, p6, P, p1, I, Code, T, Y, B, X, 1st, H, 3rd,
D, F, 2nd, U, A, O, M, R, p2, J, PO, N, p9, K, p7, V, p5, L, C, S.

In a single-masted vessel the divide at the masthead would be between the 3rd substitute and flag D. In a twin masted vessel flags from Y to O should be between the masts. This order can be made up by any reputable flag supplier. It is important that the size of the flags fits your vessel and that they are spaced correctly to fill the dressing lines.

Rob.
 
Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather have the flags separate so as to convey their meaning, in such a case as the VHF being out of action, and set the flags up for dressed overall parties myself...

I grant it's old 'technology' now, but it's called 'International Code' for a reason !
 
I'm really surprised that the first link on the Google list describes dressing overall as "bunting".

I always thought bunting was just the collection of colourful (but usually plain) triangular flags used at fetes etc, whereas dressed overall is the nautical term for nautical applications?

Bunting? Pah! That's for landlubbers!:)
 
Seajet said:
Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather have the flags separate so as to convey their meaning, in such a case as the VHF being out of action, and set the flags up for dressed overall parties myself...

I grant it's old 'technology' now, but it's called 'International Code' for a reason !
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Or simply cut them apart if the situation warranted?

Given the probability of being in a situation where flags were genuinely the best option (as opposed to flares, smoke, mobile phone, sat phone, EPIRB etc, or just plain old abandoning to a liferaft), you're probably not gaining much other than hassle for the (more likely) occasions you want to dress overall...
 
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There's a reason why peeps only dress overall for special occasions....It's a right pain to roll all the flags up and put them away neatly and in order afterwards.

There there is the fun and games of tying knots at the right length so they aren't too short or too long.

Looks pretty though!!
 
NigelCraig said:
On a related note I'd like to fly a red ensign on this occasion, but I don't have any need otherwise to register with SSR - Is the penalty keelhauling, flogging or is it more serious than that?
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Flying the flag isnt an entitlement for which you need to register - its an unfortunate duty outside of UK waters. That is, of course, unless you are a furriner in a furrin boat and wanting to join in our party. In which case you can fly anything here in the UK without anybody bothering one way or the other.

I never know whether to be pleased by this relaxed attitude or irritated that the bureaucrats are so incompetent that they cant even administer their own silly regs.
 
wotayottie said:
I never know whether to be pleased by this relaxed attitude or irritated that the bureaucrats are so incompetent that they cant even administer their own silly regs.
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Be pleased - they are FAR less incompetent when it comes to shafting us for other trivial things... be thankful that there's something they don't bother with.


The nearest I'd go to dressing overall for anything to do with the ruling class would be putting up a message to communicate my displeasure at the whole nonsensical notion of being *glad* that some close-bred has been lording it over us for 6 whole decades and not having the decency to return the common land her predecessors stole from us.

Think that's count as "dressed appropriately"?
 
Keen_Ed said:
Well, if boats are going to be underway during this review, it's actually wrong to be dressed overall and underway at the same time. Dressing overall is for mooring/anchor/etc.
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My understanding is that it is OK if you are moving between berths in port. But I can't lay my hands on my RYA Flag Etiquette book to check their interpretation. Some ports are quite big...
 
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