Dressing your boat - correct sequence.

FullCircle

FullCircle

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Nov 2003
Messages
28,223
Visit site
On the occasion of our wedding this year, Full Circle will be the wedding limo, taking us from our side of the river by the church, to the other side of the river in Burnham On Crouch.
I have appointed a forumite as Coxswain, who is to look after detail, and drive the vessel.

Now, as we are parking it on the pontoon of the Club that we belong to (Royal Corinthian), I am keen that our party should not make a complete arse of the dressing of signal flags.

Has anyone got a pointer to the correct order of flags, and is there a special wedding style message suggestion that may be spelt, as a little devilment for those in the know?
 
There are a couple of 'correct orders' The main principle seems to be to make sure that not spurious/rude messages are being spelled out and that the flags are in an eye-catching and pleasing design.

No golden rule - but following a suggested pattern and order will ensure that you don't offend anyone.

One order is :E Q p3 G p8 Z p4 W p6 P p1 1 CODE T Y B X 1st H 3rd D F 2nd U A O M R p2 J p0 N p9 K p7 V p5 L C S.

Another is: Bow to mast head:- B, Q, U, 2nd Substitute, L, Numeral 8, T, P, Numeral 5, S, Numeral 9, X, Z, 3rd Substitute, R, Numeral 0, C, G, Answering Pendant, D.

Mast head to stern W, Numeral 4, E, F, Numeral 7, N, Numeral 6, J, O, Numeral 3, H, Numeral 2, Y, M, Numeral 1, K, 1st Substitute, V, I, A.

Hope that this helps.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have appointed a forumite as Coxswain, who is to look after detail, and drive the vessel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice of you to think of me Jim , but I really think I need more experience before taking it on /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
600e582e.jpg


Your are marrying a member of the Royal family then!
 
Dressing your boat - joining the flags

As a tip, don't rely on just joining the flags together to make the strings. I once watched a French corvette in Weymouth do just that at 0800 on the Queen's birthday. All three strings (bow-masthead, masthead-masthead, masthead-stern) broke in the middle, and they finally "dressed ship" at 0915.

Instead, get some light line, fasten the flags to that, then hoist the line to the masthead. You can tension the line without putting strain on the flags.

PS Don't forget that they should not be flown while underway. Hoist 'em on one side of the river, drop them as you start acoss, then rehoist on the other side. Pedantic? Moi?
 
Make sure well-wishers don't tie horeshoes & tin cans to your stern. I'd hate to think of you and Lynn drifting out to sea with congratulatory bits'n'bobs wrapped around your prop....
 
I think you will find the foredeck area will have the Bride & Groom standing ankle deep in fragrant petals. Only because I will be wearing my deckies though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top