mad_boater
Well-Known Member
I have often wondered who is allowed to fly what ensign flags.I think the red one is used for merchant shipping and us ordinary boaters but what about navy and the white one ?
ensign flags
- Thread starter mad_boater
- Start date
Sneds
Well-Known Member
The white one is Royal Navy, AFAIK to wear a blue ensign (is that the correct terminology?) you have to be an officer or professional in one of the services?
But then, what about defaced ensigns?
Someone more knowledgable will be along shortly to give us a definative answer /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
But then, what about defaced ensigns?
Someone more knowledgable will be along shortly to give us a definative answer /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
calamitys38
Well-Known Member
Basically, as SNEDS says, the White Ensign is for commisioned Royal Navy warships. Exceptionally, the Royal Yacht Squadron have been allowed to fly the White Ensign as well, but they must also fly the RYS Burgee.
The Blue Ensign (with various defacements) are flown by vessels in Government Service (such as vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Army vessels, Customs and Police Vessels. In addition, Merchant Ships may fly an undefaced Blue Ensign if the Master and sufficient other members of the crew are Reservists. Yachts and Motor Boats may also fly an undefaced Blue Ensign if the Skipper has a warrant to allow this. A warrant is obtained by either a serving or Reserve Naval officer satisfing the criteria held in the Queens Regulations Royal Navy (QRRN) or by joining a yacht club that has been allowed to issue their own warrants (eg Royal Dorset Yacht Club, Royal Naval Sailing Association etc).
The Red Ensign is flown by all other commercial and private vessels.
Hope above helps.
The Blue Ensign (with various defacements) are flown by vessels in Government Service (such as vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Army vessels, Customs and Police Vessels. In addition, Merchant Ships may fly an undefaced Blue Ensign if the Master and sufficient other members of the crew are Reservists. Yachts and Motor Boats may also fly an undefaced Blue Ensign if the Skipper has a warrant to allow this. A warrant is obtained by either a serving or Reserve Naval officer satisfing the criteria held in the Queens Regulations Royal Navy (QRRN) or by joining a yacht club that has been allowed to issue their own warrants (eg Royal Dorset Yacht Club, Royal Naval Sailing Association etc).
The Red Ensign is flown by all other commercial and private vessels.
Hope above helps.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
The blue one is used to annoy those YBW forumites who are ever on the lookout for something to be annoyed about.
Sneds
Well-Known Member
My mate(82 and still motor boating) has a blue one and wears it with pride, if he is on my boat can it be worn by/on my boat?
Would love to see the look on the saily's faces /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
BTW Twister congrats on 5000 posts! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Would love to see the look on the saily's faces /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
BTW Twister congrats on 5000 posts! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
All a lot of colourist tosh! With certain notable exceptions it is a load of elitist borrocks
Like what buttons you have on your blazer, which tie you wear around your panama hat, how you pronounce 'Uppinham', which cabinet minister rodgered you at school, which club Daddy got you into and all that.
The ship wears an ensign to tell other ships the country of registration.
A sector of society seeks to confuse it by trying to set themselves apart from the 'common herd'
As if it makes any difference what colour ensign your boat is wearing - especially when you run it into the pontoon in Rhu - remember that Rupert? Reverse means put the engine in reverse not a dance step, twerp!
Or Captain Angry and his nurse in Loch Alinne? You were at anchor and still wearing a defaced ensign.
But shouting at me from the fore deck in your Y fronts did a lot of good didn't it -silly old trout. Did we foul your mooring? No, but we spoiled your smutty afternoon eh!
Generally there are more wasters and incompetents flying bodged up ensigns than all the regulars.
Who do they think they are?
Could we have a special ensign for the 'Radio check' brigade?
Or maybe the ' I am the stand on vessel and he is only a 100,000 tonne container ship so he will give way' brigade.
More nominations for those groups that might qualify to wear a specially defaced ensign. suggestions for the particular defacement too please
Like what buttons you have on your blazer, which tie you wear around your panama hat, how you pronounce 'Uppinham', which cabinet minister rodgered you at school, which club Daddy got you into and all that.
The ship wears an ensign to tell other ships the country of registration.
A sector of society seeks to confuse it by trying to set themselves apart from the 'common herd'
As if it makes any difference what colour ensign your boat is wearing - especially when you run it into the pontoon in Rhu - remember that Rupert? Reverse means put the engine in reverse not a dance step, twerp!
Or Captain Angry and his nurse in Loch Alinne? You were at anchor and still wearing a defaced ensign.
But shouting at me from the fore deck in your Y fronts did a lot of good didn't it -silly old trout. Did we foul your mooring? No, but we spoiled your smutty afternoon eh!
Generally there are more wasters and incompetents flying bodged up ensigns than all the regulars.
Who do they think they are?
Could we have a special ensign for the 'Radio check' brigade?
Or maybe the ' I am the stand on vessel and he is only a 100,000 tonne container ship so he will give way' brigade.
More nominations for those groups that might qualify to wear a specially defaced ensign. suggestions for the particular defacement too please
Poignard
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
BTW Twister congrats on 5000 posts!
[/ QUOTE ]
Thankee lad!
But as the "Old Guvnor" remarked when I told her: "Pity you can't mend the kitchen tap instead of wasting time on that stupid forum"
BTW Twister congrats on 5000 posts!
[/ QUOTE ]
Thankee lad!
But as the "Old Guvnor" remarked when I told her: "Pity you can't mend the kitchen tap instead of wasting time on that stupid forum"
Searush
Well-Known Member
Ooooh! Somebody trodden on your corns then? Having the right to wear a specific ensign, makes no difference whatever to one's ability to sail. Why would you think it should? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Special ensigns do not assign any special priviledges (although I understand free berths in Naval Dockyards may be given) so why get your knickers in a twist over it?
Special ensigns do not assign any special priviledges (although I understand free berths in Naval Dockyards may be given) so why get your knickers in a twist over it?
tony345
Well-Known Member
clearly said by someone only entitled to wear a red ensign 
C
Chrusty1
Guest
"so why get your knickers in a twist over it?"
I don't think he is, I think he is just pointing out some of the uncomfortable truths that a lot of us know about but some others don't seem to want to accept.
There always has been and probably always will be a lot of snobbery in sailing / boating, sometimes it slips the leash and sticks it's ugly little head into the forums. I just accept it as a fact of life, cos there is naff all that I can do to prevent it.
Railing against it just causes the snobs to close ranks and go into denial, so there is no point. Personally I am happy and proud to wear the red when I am aboard my boat, it has a proud tradition and it will do for me.
I don't think he is, I think he is just pointing out some of the uncomfortable truths that a lot of us know about but some others don't seem to want to accept.
There always has been and probably always will be a lot of snobbery in sailing / boating, sometimes it slips the leash and sticks it's ugly little head into the forums. I just accept it as a fact of life, cos there is naff all that I can do to prevent it.
Railing against it just causes the snobs to close ranks and go into denial, so there is no point. Personally I am happy and proud to wear the red when I am aboard my boat, it has a proud tradition and it will do for me.
C
Chrusty1
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
clearly said by someone only entitled to wear a red ensign
[/ QUOTE ]
Clearly said by someone who thinks he is a cut above other people
clearly said by someone only entitled to wear a red ensign
[/ QUOTE ]
Clearly said by someone who thinks he is a cut above other people
Poignard
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Personally I am happy and proud to wear the red when I am aboard my boat, it has a proud tradition and it will do for me.
[/ QUOTE ]
In other words, you do what you like.
Well so do I, and if I like to wear the blue ensign [which many year of Service in the Royal Navy entitles me to do] then that's what I will do. I also had many years service in the Merchant Navy, so if I feel like wearing a red ensign I'll do that. What I choose to do on my boat is no concern of yours. If you think a piece of red cloth makes you a better seaman than someone else then you're a fool.
You mention "proud tradition. As far as I know, the "proudest tradition" of the Royal and Merchant Navies was fighting to keep this country free so that individual citizens may, as far as possible, live their lives as they wish without interfering busybodies telling them what to do.
Anyway, I'm off sailing for a few weeks so I'll leave you the the petty triumph of "the last word" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Personally I am happy and proud to wear the red when I am aboard my boat, it has a proud tradition and it will do for me.
[/ QUOTE ]
In other words, you do what you like.
Well so do I, and if I like to wear the blue ensign [which many year of Service in the Royal Navy entitles me to do] then that's what I will do. I also had many years service in the Merchant Navy, so if I feel like wearing a red ensign I'll do that. What I choose to do on my boat is no concern of yours. If you think a piece of red cloth makes you a better seaman than someone else then you're a fool.
You mention "proud tradition. As far as I know, the "proudest tradition" of the Royal and Merchant Navies was fighting to keep this country free so that individual citizens may, as far as possible, live their lives as they wish without interfering busybodies telling them what to do.
Anyway, I'm off sailing for a few weeks so I'll leave you the the petty triumph of "the last word" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
C
Chrusty1
Guest
What on earth are you banging on about?? I haven't said you shouldn't wear the blue ensign if you want to, or is that you half read a post then interprete it to suit yourself, as you fire off a hasty reply?
You can wear your wifes knickers for all I care /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You can wear your wifes knickers for all I care /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sneds
Well-Known Member
Hey Gwylan
Was only comenting, someone stole your sense of humour?
I will be in Portishead on Monday evening - mines the boat without any ensign /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Pop by and say hello /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Was only comenting, someone stole your sense of humour?
I will be in Portishead on Monday evening - mines the boat without any ensign /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Pop by and say hello /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
No Ensign!
Tsk Tsk!
That gwylan bod.
Raggie?
You sure you want to do this?
You B Channel guys.
Must be all that muddy water flowin about so quick. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Tsk Tsk!
That gwylan bod.
Raggie?
You sure you want to do this?
You B Channel guys.
Must be all that muddy water flowin about so quick. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Searush
Well-Known Member
Watch out for that Kwacker, he wants to wear the Plaid Cymru, but his knees are too knobbly for funny skirts.
Raggies are all right really - just coz you don't like sailing backwards, no need to knock raggies.
BTW, I'm hoping to be around towards the end of the week, but may have SWMBO aboard to keep me under control.
Raggies are all right really - just coz you don't like sailing backwards, no need to knock raggies.
BTW, I'm hoping to be around towards the end of the week, but may have SWMBO aboard to keep me under control.
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
SWMBO aboard?
Might get a decent cup of tea then.
Look out for a R.I.B full of nervous Newbies /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Might get a decent cup of tea then.
Look out for a R.I.B full of nervous Newbies /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Powers
New Member
Royal Navy Ensigns
I have just come across this site and wonder whether any of the contributors could possibly help solve a long standing mystery that has puzzled myself and many others for ages.
Briefly, there are photographs in existence of the British aircraft carrier HMS Implacable under her own power proceeding across Plymouth Sound in January 1952, having left Devonport Naval Base earlier that morning. She had been in Dockyard hands for a refit during 1951 and had been re-commissioned into the Fleet three days before the pictures were taken. The photos clearly show her flying the White Ensign at her stern and a large undefaced Blue Ensign at her mast. This unusual occurrence has generated many comments and novel suggestions, but no definitive answer.
Any observations would therefore be very welcome.
I have just come across this site and wonder whether any of the contributors could possibly help solve a long standing mystery that has puzzled myself and many others for ages.
Briefly, there are photographs in existence of the British aircraft carrier HMS Implacable under her own power proceeding across Plymouth Sound in January 1952, having left Devonport Naval Base earlier that morning. She had been in Dockyard hands for a refit during 1951 and had been re-commissioned into the Fleet three days before the pictures were taken. The photos clearly show her flying the White Ensign at her stern and a large undefaced Blue Ensign at her mast. This unusual occurrence has generated many comments and novel suggestions, but no definitive answer.
Any observations would therefore be very welcome.
