Female Yacht Owners

[Beneteau381]

I still don't understand the raison d'être of this thread. Anyone who hasn't met a lady skipper/owner must have led a very secluded sailing life.
I have also met transgender, coloured (though not very many), Irish, and even a few Brexit-supporting Englander skippers - just to name a few. All except the last have been delightful.

Most people I meet say Im delightful! What point are you trying to make?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Perhaps the phrase "Irish trucks" should be replaced by the term "trucks travelling to and from Ireland". I see trucks of every European nationality passing my door, on their way to the nearby fruit&veg packing plant.

If you like. More than half were Irish registered. The A48 is collapsing, it runs along the side of a slope for miles, the weight and vibration has made it slide down the slope. Fortunately, now they are gone, we don’t go there any more, so don’t have to suffer the repair roadworks.

 

[blush2]

Why is the gender of ownership so important? Plenty of competent skilful ladies on the water.

We are joint owners, both involved in choosing the last three boats. My experience is that my other half is envied for having a wife who is as keen on sailing as he is, this includes all boat maintenance. We have sailed long distance, done a lot of racing and I was even persuaded to participate in a regatta with an all female crew.

We did belong to a club which had a ladies helm race , I understand it came into being as a result of the number of times the ladies had to take charge of their boats the morning after a successful rally.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I amazed that so many people know who actually owns other people's yachts. It's never occurred to me to ask and I wouldn't consider it any of my business most of the time.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

If you like. More than half were Irish registered. The A48 is collapsing, it runs along the side of a slope for miles, the weight and vibration has made it slide down the slope. Fortunately, now they are gone, we don’t go there any more, so don’t have to suffer the repair roadworks.

There is also the unfortunate fact to be considered, that there will have been a loss of jobs in Holyhead and Milford Haven/ Fishguard.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

There is also the unfortunate fact to be considered, that there will have been a loss of jobs in Holyhead and Milford Haven/ Fishguard.

We are on the same side here, but 90 year olds whose house is being vibrated to bits see things differently.

The lady who chose, bought and steers our DF920 is of course their daughter. I know quite a few lady owners/skippers, but mostly it’s moot. We, and they, tend to say ‘ours’ not ‘mine’ in spite of who actually signed for the thing. In the same spirit I don't describe the car as “mine” even though she can lo longer drive,

 

[steve yates]

Sometimes I am tempted to explain, for the benefit of people who express the kind of cobblers in the above two posts (Vanity? Crusty old people in blazers?) the history, reasons and reality behind these ensign issues. But I'm afraid facts do tend to reinforce, rather than dispel, prejudice. And I do have better things to do. However, I will say this - think red ensign wearers who claim to be proud to wear the flag of the merchant convoys of WW2 (usually when berating blue ensigns) There's a clue there.

I would be curious to hear your explanation, I have no idea what different ensigns are about, except a vague feeling a blue one is posh.

 

[dgadee]

I would be curious to hear your explanation, I have no idea what different ensigns are about, except a vague feeling a blue one is posh.

Some of them seem to be really, really posh. Others not so. And then there's the really, really rich Caribbean (and other tax dodging) locations. A very rich pageant indeed.

And in the Republic of Ireland you can still get Royal clubs ever after all these years of independence.

Jane Austen's Sir Walter Elliot would have a field day.

 

[lustyd]

I would be curious to hear your explanation, I have no idea what different ensigns are about, except a vague feeling a blue one is posh.

To me the gist of it is that service people (aka navy) can wear a blue ensign, making it somewhat exclusive. Rich people get jealous of this and so created yacht clubs they can join without actually serving the country. These blue ensigns are defaced so as to highlight their fake status.

 

[Poignard]

To me the gist of it is that service people (aka navy) can wear a blue ensign, making it somewhat exclusive. Rich people get jealous of this and so created yacht clubs they can join without actually serving the country. These blue ensigns are defaced so as to highlight their fake status.

Not quite true.

You have to be a member of the Royal Naval Sailing Association or Hornet Services Sailing Club; and apply for a warrant.

You don't have to have served, or be serving, in the Royal Navy to become a member. For example, service in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a suitable qualification.

 

[dgadee]

Flags based on British ensigns - Wikimedia Commons

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Not quite true.

You have to be a member of the Royal Naval Sailing Association or Hornet Services Sailing Club; and apply for a warrant.

You don't have to have served, or be serving, in the Royal Navy to become a member. For example, service in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a suitable qualification.

Some of us are qualified in any number of ways, both of us in our case. Over a million currently living people in uk have served in HM forces. how do these axe grinders know who has, and who has not served, and in any case I for one am not jealous of the supposed status. If these people would like to join our club, they would find themselves welcome, and permitted by warrant to fly the blue ensign, undefaced.

 

[dgadee]

I could fly a blue one too. But I would be far too embarrassed to do it.

 

[Poignard]

I don't see what the fuss is about.

If you satisfy the membership requirements of an association whose members are entitled to fly a blue ensign, then you can join: and, if you wish to, apply for a warrant fly the ensign.

It is not compulsory to fly a blue ensign and, from my own observation, most do not: either from choice or other reason.

Some of you people are making a fuss about nothing.

Meanwhile, parents in Afghanistan are feeding their children sleeping pills to assuage the pangs of hunger. (Cue: Doug748)

 

[lustyd]

I could fly a blue one too. But I would be far too embarrassed to do it.

Why? If it’s a plain blue then nothing to be embarrassed about. If it’s a boys club paid for variety then I’d agree!

 

[ylop]

and, if you wish to, apply for a warrant fly the ensign.

We have confirmed who “can” fly a blue ensign. I don’t think anyone has explained why someone would want to nor why someone who could qualify in some circumstances would be reluctant to simply fly a red ensign. Additionally nobody has explained any benefit to mere mortals who can only fly the red ensign to some people being entitled to fly a different coloured ensign.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We have confirmed who “can” fly a blue ensign. I don’t think anyone has explained why someone would want to nor why someone who could qualify in some circumstances would be reluctant to simply fly a red ensign. Additionally nobody has explained any benefit to mere mortals who can only fly the red ensign to some people being entitled to fly a different coloured ensign.

Neither has anyone produced an explanation of why it matters if some people fly blue ones. Apart from ‘I’ve got this massive chip on my shoulder about supposedly posh people’. The general public probably view all of us as posh, over privileged rich buggers, and would laugh at this silly division.

 

[Poignard]

Neither has anyone produced an explanation of why it matters if some people fly blue ones. Apart from ‘I’ve got this massive chip on my shoulder about supposedly posh people’. The general public probably view all of us as posh, over privileged rich buggers, and would laugh at this silly division.

Exactly.

 

[Serin]

Neither has anyone produced an explanation of why it matters if some people fly blue ones. Apart from ‘I’ve got this massive chip on my shoulder about supposedly posh people’. The general public probably view all of us as posh, over privileged rich buggers, and would laugh at this silly division.

Bingo! Give that man a biscuit!

And, to Steve Yates, since you asked so courteously - long story, but it has to do with recognition given to certain clubs (ipso facto - old established clubs) for the enormous contribution their members made to the manning of coastal forces (dangerous work) in the two world wars. Other organisations (e.g Cruising Association, Little Ship Club) for contributions to our national security through services to small boat seamanship. The history of the different ensigns in general goes much further back, of course.

This dismal inverted snobbery pops up without fail on this forum whenever (and it is surprisingly often) the subject of ensigns is mentioned for any reason. I haven't seem the "fake" variant before, though. This codswallop seems to be a purely internet phenomen. Whatever the subject of the thread, mention a blue ensign and off we go!

 

[RunAgroundHard]

It's always been thus, societal differentiators and antagonists. A great book, that demonstrates how society became classified, the levels of differentiation and the impact on society is "The Book of Trespass: Crossing the Lines that Divide Us", Nick Hayes. Entitlement, perceived or otherwise, earned or granted, will always be challenged. British citizens have had issues with privilege for millennia. As far as I am concerned, it is irrelevant what colour of ensign is flown, more important are personal relationships, by far. It's great book, a really good read, I would recommend it.

This is a good thread, really informative. I never knew the reasons for the warrants issued to clubs, so thanks Serin.