Female Yacht Owners

[Poignard]

(...) However It grates a bit when some suburban, well heeled character sports an ensign tricked out like a petticoat for no significant reason.
(...)

What is it that grates?

His being suburban and well-heeled?

Do you suppose he would fret as much about what you do?

 

[Lightwave395]

Am I right in thinking British sailors fly their various flavours of ensign in foreign waters too?

You are, French boats seems to leave theirs on all the time until they shred then they replace them with a new one. We had an RYS rally in our marina this summer and most of them took theirs down every evening (the really really posh white ones) Seems to me that most UK boats I come across in French waters leave theirs up all the time too

 

[Poignard]

So what's the penalty for flying a blue ensign if you're not quaiified / authorised / posh enough ? Will you be blown out of the water if you pass an RN ship (or do they not give a toss ? )

The latter.

 

[awol]

So what's the penalty for flying a blue ensign if you're not quaiified / authorised / posh enough ? Will you be blown out of the water if you pass an RN ship (or do they not give a toss ? )

A naval officer or police officer, in uniform, can demand to see your warrant. Failure to produce one leaves you open to forfeit of the ensign and the disapprobation of all right minded sailors.

 

[Poignard]

You are, French boats seems to leave theirs on all the time until they shred then they replace them with a new one. We had an RYS rally in our marina this summer and most of them took theirs down every evening (the really really posh white ones) Seems to me that most UK boats I come across in French waters leave theirs up all the time too

I do whilst my boat is in the water.

 

[Lightwave395]

I do whilst my boat is in the water.

Me too, except when I leave the boat and return to UK

I fly a Blue ensign as it's the only one I have and as much as my French and Brittany courtesy flags regularly shred I can't seem to wear it out, my warrant has long since expired but as a humble retiree I can't afford to buy a new red one so it will have to do. Nobody in France seems to care...

 

[awol]

I do whilst my boat is in the water.

I remove both my ensign and burgee when I leave my boat on its mooring.

 

[Lightwave395]

A naval officer or police officer, in uniform, can demand to see your warrant. Failure to produce one leaves you open to forfeit of the ensign and the disapprobation of all right minded sailors.

I've never been 'disapprobationed' before, will it hurt or will I enjoy it ? ?

 

[Poignard]

I remove both my ensign and burgee when I leave my boat on its mooring.

I would if I had a mooring but my boat is 'dry-sailed'.

 

[dgadee]

The really exasperating part of all this is that you make the leap that I think I’m special. I assure you that flying a blue ensign engenders no such feelings. We are as friendly as anyone you are likely to meet, unpretentious, and are as likely to catch your lines as any lesser being who only flies the red. Our club has normal, mortal people as members, apart from the PRO who is a well known pillock.

Tee hee. I think you are as pleasant and inoffensive as you make out. But have you got the survey results to prove that about the rest of the club?

No, I wouldn't fly it. I wouldn't want my friends to think I had become a total Wally.

 

[Poignard]

N

Take a proper hard look at yourself - you are flying a special ensign. You could perfectly legitimately not bother - and fly a red one the same as “normal” people - but you CHOOSE to fly a public display that says you are different. Why do you do that?
The whole concept of having different ensigns is an anachronism that does nothing to welcome different people from different backgrounds to yachting. Given the topic of this thread I suspect it simply reinforces the stereotype of sailing as being a sport / hobby for stuffy people obsessed with rules - and usually those people are men.

and when the peculiarness of this is pointed out the response of two of the blue ensign flyers is not “I’d welcome you aboard to discuss the benefits of flying a blue ensign” it’s to essentially say they will reply with abuse. Really winning the argument with logic there!

There is no 'argument' to win.

Frankly, it is none of your business what other people do unless they are causing harm or breaking the law.

 

[dgadee]

There is no 'argument' to win.

Frankly, it is none of your business what other people do unless they are causing harm or breaking the law.

It's in public, so of course we have a business with it. Article 10 of the ECHR . Our Freedom of Expression!

 

[Poignard]

It's in public, so of course we have a business with it. Article 10 of the ECHR . Our Freedom of Expression!

Are you familiar with the ECHR?

If you are, perhaps you would like to remind us who is bound by it.

Clue: I'm not.

 

[awol]

No, I wouldn't fly it. I wouldn't want my friends to think I had become a total Wally.

Sad, you would think that this far into this thread ignorance would have been dispelled - one does not "fly" an ensign, the boat "wears" it.

 

[Poignard]

(...)

No, I wouldn't fly it. I wouldn't want my friends to think I had become a total Wally.

I'm sure other factors would be taken into account before they reached that conclusion.

 

[awol]

It's in public, so of course we have a business with it. Article 10 of the ECHR . Our Freedom of Expression!

Ah, the ECHR - entered into and signed by Winston Churchill in 1950. Nothing to do with the EC despite what some little Englanders believe.

 

[lustyd]

Sad, you would think that this far into this thread ignorance would have been dispelled - one does not "fly" an ensign, the boat "wears" it.

Why would you think that given the thread origin? Seems to invite ignorance

 

[dgadee]

Are you familiar with the ECHR?

If you are, perhaps you would like to remind us who is bound by it.

Clue: I'm not.

It dealt originally with the rights of the citizen against the state. By extension it became the duty of the state to ensure rights of the citizen against other citizens (e.g. in the development of privacy law, Art 8). We are all bound by it! Even blue flag fliers.

Art 10: .... "This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers." ...

 

[dgadee]

I'm sure other factors would be taken into account before they reached that conclusion.

Maybe, maybe. But I don't want to give them too much opportunity to snigger at me. Sniggering should be reserved for blue ensigns.

 

[capnsensible]

Love these ensign threads. Brings out all the chips on shoulders, sneering, tantrums, jealousy, yadda yadda.

It's almost as if some types of people believe a flag colour makes a difference to sailing skills.

I earnt the entitlement to hoist one on my modest 33 foot yacht and always felt good flying it.

Should I have really felt smug and looked down my nose at red ensign wearing plebs? Missed a chance there.

So for the mockers, just keep thinking that others actually care if it helps you out.