Ensign size

[Chiara’s slave]

White ones can be interesting. There was a cruise of 25 plus white ensigns arrived in Boulogne one year. Early in the morning there was a massive BANG. All the white ensigns were suddenly displayed, then the owners( many dressed in pyjamas) all appeared to go back to bed, leaving us mear mortals somewhat bemused

Being only a demi God I cannot offer an opinion on the fully divine. I won’t be invited to their party this side of heaven. All good, as it’s extremely expensive.

PS, I still don't own a pair of red trousers.

 

[newtothis]

If in doubt, go large and use several.

 

[capnsensible]

There always seems to be lot of inverse snobbery about ensigns whenever this subject pops up. Wonder why?

 

[Wansworth]

There always seems to be lot of inverse snobbery about ensigns whenever this subject pops up. Wonder why?

Envey. The englishdisease

 

[johnalison]

Envey. The englishdisease

Which of us doesn't enjoy someone from a superior social station getting into difficulties of embarrassment? Our boat suffers numerous scars from third parties and on the whole I think the culprits were mostly middle-of-the-road boats rather than from either end of the smart/scruffy spectrum. We spent nearly a week once in Falmouth on the Town marina with the RYS cruise, and had occasion to converse with a number of them. They seemed perfectly affable and no different from any other cruise in company. One disadvantage of a cruise in company is that one is less inclined to meet outsiders or acquire new friends. One exception occurred when a Westerly group invited us top join them at a Vin d'Honneur to make up the numbers - our secind in the same week.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Perhaps you could explain to me why I have higher social standing for having a bit of blue cloth on the back of my boat. Cos I have no clue.

 

[Bru]

Perhaps you could explain to me why I have higher social standing for having a bit of blue cloth on the back of my boat. Cos I have no clue.

You've got it backwards

You have a bit of blue cloth on the back of your boat because you are of a higher social standing ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

You've got it backwards

You have a bit of blue cloth on the back of your boat because you are of a higher social standing ?

I very much doubt this is true. I’ll grant you some of the guys with white ones are quite posh though

 

[Bru]

I very much doubt this is true. I’ll grant you some of the guys with white ones are quite posh though

I've got a white ensign, I look down on him

I've got a blue ensign, I look up to him. I look down on him

I've got a red ensign. I know my place

(Adapted from the historic comedy sketch exclusively for the YBW forum by your very own resident pinkie commie leftie socialist, and proud wearer of the red duster, me!)

 

[DJE]

So, about 3 feet give or take - I wonder what that equates to in old money…

A bit over half a Smoot. ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I've got a white ensign, I look down on him

I've got a blue ensign, I look up to him. I look down on him

I've got a red ensign. I know my place

(Adapted from the historic comedy sketch exclusively for the YBW forum by your very own resident pinkie commie leftie socialist, and proud wearer of the red duster, me!)

Very good? For me though, sailing is more about your skills, rather than your social standing. Who gives a damn if the bloke in the next boat is an earl, and a squadron member. It’s who’s first to the windward mark that matters. Of course in that situation neither of you will be flying ensigns. Anyway, sailing and boat handling abilities seem to be evenly spread across society to me. And much more to be admired, envied even, than the colour of their ensign.

 

[The Q]

A great Joy during my clubs regatta week is the firing of the 08:00 Cannon.. (as the club flags go up.)
The look of Shock on tourists faces that pop out of the Broads hire boats is wonderful.
Even better is if a tourist is just passing the front of the club and they haven't noticed the cannon..

The cannon as far as we know has been fired for regatta week for over 100 years, and was originally fired to give club members time to get up, have breakfast and get ready for sailing..

Myself? I'll be raising the flags as I have done for 25 years, then I'll put the buoys out while the bacon butties are being cooked.

We also fire a double cannon at the end of the regatta as the last boat crosses the line, one year the wadding blew / melted a hole in a jib.....

At the moment I don't have a socket to fly an ensign, but when I get round to fitting one do I fly the Red Duster, or a Saudi flag? As I built her in Saudi, and I had to have a Saudi flag to get her registered there..

 

[Never Grumble]

I've never looked up to those flying white ensigns on their yachts ... they should be reserved for HM Ships.

Forget size, I'm more concerned that alongside people dont seem to follow the traditions of hoisting their ensign during daylight hours and taking it down at sunset.

 

[The Q]

If it's the same as the RAF, the who are or were a very senior rank are entitled to fly the Military ensign..
IIRC it's an Air Commodore and Above in the RAF, (which would be Commodore Navy, Brigadier Army)

Oh I also seem to remember the Dunkirk "Little Ships" are entitled to wear the White ensign as well..

 

[westhinder]

Forget size, I'm more concerned that alongside people dont seem to follow the traditions of hoisting their ensign during daylight hours and taking it down at sunset.

It has always mystified me why people who sail for pleasure should want to stick to military traditions. As far as I know ensigns are not lowered at sunset on merchant ships.

 

[johnalison]

It has always mystified me why people who sail for pleasure should want to stick to military traditions. As far as I know ensigns are not lowered at sunset on merchant ships.

i don’t know if you have seen the prices of UK sewn ensigns, the only proper ones , but I can tell you it is several times that of those of three-stripe Europeans. An ensign lasts a lot longer if taken down at night.

 

[PeterBoater]

It has always mystified me why people who sail for pleasure should want to stick to military traditions. As far as I know ensigns are not lowered at sunset on merchant ships.

In harbour, yes they are.

 

[LittleSister]

It strikes me that this supposed rule of thumb of the end of the ensign being just out of the water produces very different results when what may have been appropriate on a long, low freeboard hull with an elegant counter-stern is applied to the typical modern high volume, high freeboard hull, with a stern comprised of a wall of vertical GRP, designed to accommodate double aft cabins, sitting over a projecting bathing platform.

 

[michael_w]

IIRC the business of lowering ensigns at night was instigated by Samuel Pepys, because of the enormous cost of bunting used up by the Royal Navy.

 

[dunedin]

Forget size, I'm more concerned that alongside people dont seem to follow the traditions of hoisting their ensign during daylight hours and taking it down at sunset.

Perhaps we should do like most fishing boats with their “day marks” and get them made out of steel and welded in place