Ensign Size

[hisw]

Does any one know what the correct size of ensign should be for a 32 ft yacht

Im I correct in thinking it should be an inch for every foot?

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[tony_brighton]

they tend to come in 'old fashioned sizes' i.e 1/4 yard, 1/2 yard and 1 yard. I think people tend to go over-large - stick with the smallest one you can get away with.

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[burgundyben]

nah, ya dont want a piddly one, recon 1 yd for a 32 footer, if boat has a counter stern then you wanna great big one so the tip of it touches the water on calm evenings....

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[Aja]

Only agree in part. You want the biggest one you can get which sits an inch above the water. If it touches the water it will wick - and there's nothing that looks as bad as a soggy duster.

Donald

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[Guest]

Sorry but I smile ...... the size is up to you, but most would opt for a 1 or 1.5 mtr job.

Really its what you can fly without being silly small, or troublesome big !!!!



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

plus if its wet - it doesn't dry your hands as well - particularly after an engine job !!!!!



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Aja]

....and also you dont want to be slapped on the back of the head on a run with a wet ensign!

Donald

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[clouty]

You don't want the thing to tangle up, and when it does, the longer the fly (plain bit) the more there is cut off and mend.

<hr width=100% size=1>clouty

 

[Ivy]

Size doesn't matter (so i am reliably informed). The question is, are you proud to be British? if yes then fly BIG, if no, then only fly a small one, and only when you have to. ie when in foriegn waters.

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[dulcibella]

Since Blair joined George W's potty posturing in Iraq, my advice would be "as small as possible".

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[mica]

Reading your replies they are all incorrect. Have none of read the article on Flag Etiquette published by the Cruising Association some years back. I quote from their article and hope they won't sue me for copyright as follows:

Ensigns: They show the Country of the Register of the Vessel. This is a requirement of International Law (Geneva '56). Traditionally they are measured "by the yard" rectangular in shape and usually with a ratio of 2:1. Their use is also governed by national law. They therefore belong to the The Vessel and not the Owner. The wearing of any other flag as an ensign, except "A Privileged Ensign", breaks both International and National Law and disgraces the flag being misused. (There is quite a bit of other stuff about Privileged flags etc, but I will omit these) There is also a scale of sizes for each type of flag per size of boat.
Ensigns show:
LOA ft.
21 - 26 3/4 yd
27 - 34 1 yd
35 - 42 1 1/4 yd
43 - 50 1 1/2 yd
51 - 60 1 3/4 yd

Hope this helps you to fly the flag with pride.
Regards,
Mica

<hr width=100% size=1>MICA

 

[Jacket]

But are those sizes legally required sizes, or just their recomedation? I'd have thought the latter.

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[mica]

It is a recommendation, as it says rough guide. however, it does say "The greatest care should be taken with the size and condition of all Flags. There is nothing more insulting than to wear a faded or tattered Ensign or Courtesy Flag or one so large that it hangs in the water and cannot be dipped. To fly a flag that is too small to be seen is ridiculous and hardly "proud". A light racing yacht and and a heavy beamy cruiser of the same L.O.A. may not look "well dressed" with identically sized flags. A guide for an ensign used to be an inch per foot but in modern yachts this is often found to be a little on the small side.

Regards,
MICA

<hr width=100% size=1>MICA

 

[Jacket]

I agree with most of that, but is a faded or tatered (within reason) ensign really insulting? I've never viewed it that way. To me, it just shows a keen sailor.

And why can't a large flag be dipped? Surely it just gets wet? And how often do you dip your ensign anyway? Given the number of yachts around, i'd imagine the RN would get very annoyed if every yacht they saw did it- tying up a dozen men for no real purpose.

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[pvb]

Assuming you\'re not Dutch...

Your 32-footer will look great with a 1yard ensign. However, if you were Dutch, you'd probably want to have at least a 1.5yard ensign! Why do Dutch boats fly such big ensigns??

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[bob_tyler]

Re: Assuming you\'re not Dutch...

They're rightly proud of their little country.

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[Metabarca]

Re: Ensign Size - Italy

If this were a legal requirement, there would not be a single Italian boat within the law. In the land where cutting a fine figure is all, ensigns are small and usually tatty. Which is assuredly (and in this case, positively) a reflection on the sailing class. 'Problem is, the red ensign I sport on my shrouds is larger than the vessel's ensign. Probably quite wrong, but if I were to do it by the board, I'd look like a washing line every time I popped over to Croatia flying and wearing three flags!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[Ivy]

I couldn't agree more, I have a very small one (ensign), and I only fly it when I have to. I don't believe in advertising, especialy when it's a crap product !

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[ianwright]

Flags, particularly ensigns, are not decoration, they are communication. Wear the biggest you can manage, never less than a yard at the hoist, so that it can be seen from a decent distance.
To those sad types who favour small and scruffy ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no, forget it, you wouldn’t understand..

IanW


<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[bob_tyler]

Is the "product" you are referring to yourself?