Ensigns - only British?

Note that's 'colours' as in 'striking colours' - not as in red.

After 2 short seasons in the Greek sun, ours is a murky brown - with a rather attractive fringe.
 
The correct way of signalling your Cornish identity is with a house flag, not with an illegal "ensign" of your own making.

The ensign is nothing to do with YOUR "identity" but signifies the state of registration of the boat.

I have no objection to people showing their identity, but please do it in the correct way rather than making up your own.

How I choose to signal my Cornish identity is matter for me to be comfortable with and I choose to do so in my own way. The boat is registered in Falmouth which when I last checked was in Cornwall. The ensign itself is not illegal and it is most certainly not 'home made' but produced by a reputable UK company in the midlands.

The 'state of the boats registration (part 1 or part 2 etc) is defined by its UK Certificate of Registry. The ensign simply reflects that document. As Cornwall is part of the UK, then I am quite comfortable that I meet the spirit of the law if not the letter of the law.

Begging me to 'do it the correct way' suggests that you might not have quite the same view as I do which would be fine if it was your boat but it isn't. Frank Sinatra's view on this remains my way too.
 
How I choose to signal my Cornish identity is matter for me to be comfortable with and I choose to do so in my own way. The boat is registered in Falmouth which when I last checked was in Cornwall. The ensign itself is not illegal and it is most certainly not 'home made' but produced by a reputable UK company in the midlands.

The 'state of the boats registration (part 1 or part 2 etc) is defined by its UK Certificate of Registry. The ensign simply reflects that document. As Cornwall is part of the UK, then I am quite comfortable that I meet the spirit of the law if not the letter of the law.

Begging me to 'do it the correct way' suggests that you might not have quite the same view as I do which would be fine if it was your boat but it isn't. Frank Sinatra's view on this remains my way too.

What a tortuous way of justifying being illegal! What is it about being Cornish that allows such perverse behaviour. Cornwall is not a flag state and therefore does not have an ensign - even if some a "reputable" UK company produces some made up flag that resembles an ensign. Your boat is not "Cornish" and it is not registered in Falmouth, but in Cardiff as the Falmouth office (like the Plymouth office where my boat was originally registered) no longer exists. It is British.

There is no such thing as the "spirit" of the law - only the law which you choose to ignore. So don't give all this nonsense about if you are comfortable with it makes it all right.

As I said earlier, if you want to show your "Cornish" identity there is a perfectly acceptable way of doing so and still stay within the law.
 
Given that they have to meet government budget cuts and the maximum fine on summary conviction is £50,000 (Merchant Shipping Act 1995 S.3), that could be a very good reason for calling in the DPP.

Fortunately, as far as I'm aware government departments don't get to keep fines that are levied for breaches of regulations they happen to administer. Except for speed cameras, anyway, whose reputation is also a good example of why not.

Pete
 
I could fly the blue, and my kids are always on at me to get one, but I'm not that fussed. I joined the club because it would get me on the water, give me access to training, and was handy for work, but certainly not because of the ensign.

What's more, I just can't be bothered with people getting exercised over what sort of person I must be because of a bit of cloth hanging over my stern.

But mostly it's because I have more essential or entertaining ways to spend my all too finite resources on my boat than on a 30-odd quid flag that I don't need. Fine for other people though, and I quite like this quirky aspect of our rules and regs.
 
What a tortuous way of justifying being illegal! What is it about being Cornish that allows such perverse behaviour. Cornwall is not a flag state and therefore does not have an ensign - even if some a "reputable" UK company produces some made up flag that resembles an ensign. Your boat is not "Cornish" and it is not registered in Falmouth, but in Cardiff as the Falmouth office (like the Plymouth office where my boat was originally registered) no longer exists. It is British.

There is no such thing as the "spirit" of the law - only the law which you choose to ignore. So don't give all this nonsense about if you are comfortable with it makes it all right.

As I said earlier, if you want to show your "Cornish" identity there is a perfectly acceptable way of doing so and still stay within the law.

Have I touched a nerve by any chance.... you must be a bunch of fun to sail with ? Rule book in one hand, accusing finger on the other and a scowl. Lifes too short...lighten up and accept that this is just my view. I don't seek to impose my view on anyone else as you do ...... unless ....... are you by any chance from Devon ?
 
How I choose to signal my Cornish identity is matter for me to be comfortable with and I choose to do so in my own way. The boat is registered in Falmouth which when I last checked was in Cornwall. The ensign itself is not illegal and it is most certainly not 'home made' but produced by a reputable UK company in the midlands.

The 'state of the boats registration (part 1 or part 2 etc) is defined by its UK Certificate of Registry. The ensign simply reflects that document. As Cornwall is part of the UK, then I am quite comfortable that I meet the spirit of the law if not the letter of the law.

Begging me to 'do it the correct way' suggests that you might not have quite the same view as I do which would be fine if it was your boat but it isn't. Frank Sinatra's view on this remains my way too.

Sorry, but you're quite wrong about this.

Registration and ensigns are a legal matter not one subject to individual whim and fashion and you seem to be clearly breaking the law.

No matter what one's wishful thinking is on the matter, Cornwall is *not* an independent state and has no independent international legal standing. It's residents and boats are subject to UK maritime laws and regulations.

As Tranona has accurately stated, you can express your individuallity by flying a house flag (by all means dress overall in Cornish flags if you wish that should also attract conversation) but if you fly an ensign you are required to fly one that is legal.
 
Have I touched a nerve by any chance.... you must be a bunch of fun to sail with ? Rule book in one hand, accusing finger on the other and a scowl. Lifes too short...lighten up and accept that this is just my view. I don't seek to impose my view on anyone else as you do ...... unless ....... are you by any chance from Devon ?

Not touched any nerve - just that it is not a subject where there is any "view" - from Cornwall, Devon or Dorset or the other outer fringes of our country. You know what you are doing is wrong and you seem to enjoy making up all sorts of spurious excuses for your behaviour.

I am not seeking to impose anything on you, just pointing out the absurdity of your "view" - with a big smile on my face! Always get a laugh out of people trying to justify doing something they know is wrong.
 
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I think the first fecker that steps on my boat with a rule book in hand telling me I can't fly my cornish ensign in my own waters had better be a good swimmer!

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However, when I am in foreign parts (east of the Tamar) I tend to fly my blue and associated burgee...
 
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I think the first fecker that steps on my boat with a rule book in hand telling me I can't fly my cornish ensign in my own waters had better be a good swimmer!

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However, when I am in foreign parts (east of the Tamar) I tend to fly my blue and associated burgee...

Can't see why you are getting so excited by this. There is no need to fly any ensign in UK waters (which include those around Cornwall). You can fly a pair of knickers from your staff if you feel like it (that flag in your avatar looks a bit like a pair of Y fronts anyway).

However once outside UK territorial waters the Act is quite clear on what is permitted. Doesn't need anybody with a "rule book" - just a bit of commonsense and respect for the law.
 
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I think the first fecker that steps on my boat with a rule book in hand telling me I can't fly my cornish ensign in my own waters had better be a good swimmer!

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However, when I am in foreign parts (east of the Tamar) I tend to fly my blue and associated burgee...

You know my stance on the Cornish KevO :)

Oh and BTW you can be fined Legally by a naval officer for incorrectly dressing your vessel with an incorrect flag.

You may also find that customs and excise, if they boarded you would probably have something to say about it as they ar very particular on what your nationality is....
 
You know my stance on the Cornish KevO :)

Oh and BTW you can be fined Legally by a naval officer for incorrectly dressing your vessel with an incorrect flag.

You may also find that customs and excise, if they boarded you would probably have something to say about it as they ar very particular on what your nationality is....

I think I would have to look very hard amongst the many dozens of Naval Officers I work with on a daily basis to find one who would actually give a flying ****. Oh... and I shall ask my BIL who is a sea-going HMCR officer to take down his identical cornish ensign from his raggie too.....
 
As an ex Naval Officer I would have smiled at anyone who flew a non official Brirish ensign and certainly wouldnt have been such a pratt as to have *******ed them for doing so.

It occurs to me that the miriad of British registered boats in Scotland that fly the flag of St Andrew as their ensign are all liable to prosecution however for some reason that doesnt happen ? Why do we think that might be ?
 
I think I would have to look very hard amongst the many dozens of Naval Officers I work with on a daily basis to find one who would actually give a flying ****. Oh... and I shall ask my BIL who is a sea-going HMCR officer to take down his identical cornish ensign from his raggie too.....

Fair point on the first account, although I'd happily sweeten the deal of the many down here who would ;) Just to get back at a cornishman.....

at the end of the day, it is illegal. HMCR should be keeping an eye on these things.

It's annoying that you will quite happily enjoy the traditions that the navy keep when we are in uniform and you see us, why can't you keep hold of one for yourselves?

It's silly , yes, it's the law yes, but most of all if your fore fathers saw you being so petty, I think they'd have gone bat ****.
 
Actually, had a Naval Officer mate on my last boat who used to salute 'the Ensign' as he came aboard to crew... he had to... or he wouldn't have been allowed to attend 'sundowners'
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Although I did allow him to 'slide' the port decanter to the next diner just to keep him happy... :D
 
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