desiderata
Active Member
We are in the Netherlands, Yesterday 4th May was Remembrance Day and national flags were lowered to half mast. Out of respect I lowered my courtesy flag. Any body know if this was correct?
Flag Etiquette
- Thread starter desiderata
- Start date
nonitoo
Well-Known Member
I may be wrong but I believe your courtesy flag should have remained at full mast and your ensign lowered to half mast.
Tom
Tom
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
I agree, I think it should have been your ensign. But, in the scheme of things you paid your respects, whatever you did, and remember that flag etiquette is mostly bolleaux perpetrated by blazered and grey moustached 'yot club' members.
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shmoo
Well-Known Member
RYA and Commander R.L.Hewitt MVO RN, 1969, Flags and Signals: A Guide to Flag Etiquette and Signaling for Yachtsmen
As has been suggested it is all essentially row-locks but in the scheme of things it is good row-locks.
VicS
Well-Known Member
For national mourning it is the Ensign that is half masted. If the owner of a vessel dies both the Ensign and the burgee are half masted.
When a flag is to be half masted it should first be fully hoisted and then lowered to the half mast position after a brief pause..
When a half masted flag is to be lowered it is first hoisted fully then lowered from there.
That's the etiquette and the correct ceremonial procedure, although to the ignorant and the arrogant its b*ll*cks.
When a flag is to be half masted it should first be fully hoisted and then lowered to the half mast position after a brief pause..
When a half masted flag is to be lowered it is first hoisted fully then lowered from there.
That's the etiquette and the correct ceremonial procedure, although to the ignorant and the arrogant its b*ll*cks.
TWINSCREW
Well-Known Member
Spot on VicS and particularly correct about the "arrogant" and "ignorant"
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
You called?
hlb
RIP
desiderata
Active Member
Thank you all, I stand corrected and know what to do in future.
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
Way to go mate, join the forum and make your first post a dig at some of the long standing members lol
I'm with hlb, my staff (it's a staff haydn, not a pole) is 800mm long, so no room to half mast the 3/4 yard ensign. Beside, it's cable tied to the staff. If i wanted to attempt to be Etiquettely correct the best i could do would be to take it down completely. I dare say that'd be wrong so i may have to join the Major in the ignorant corner
shmoo
Well-Known Member
May I suggest it is a bit more complicated than that.
To be ignorant I would have to not know the etiquette, but I do know it. Thus I can't be counted as ignorant. To be arrogant I would have to be aware of the the etiquette, but disregard it becuase I believed it was somehow beneath me. This is not true either; I am actually quite a stickler for correct flag etiquette: so much so that I keep a copy of A Guide to Flag Etiquette and Signaling for Yachtsmen (Op. cit.) on board.
Do I think it is all row-locks? Of course it is. I think a healthy sense of perspective is needed in these matters.
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Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Go on, as that was your first post, explain why my view is arrogant and ignorant.
But before you do, let me just say that I spent most of my life observing etiquette in the military but as a civilian as long as I do my best to observe the occasion, however I do it, overrides any petty and often pathetic civilian 'rules' and it is arrogant and ignorant to say that I or anyone is 'wrong'.
When standing at a cenotaph on remembrance Sunday I see all sorts of people wearing relatives medals on he wrong side, old comrades saluting without headdress and all sorts of other faux pas, but the fact they are there, the fact they observed the occasion, then as far as I am concerned they are the correct ones and it makes me proud that someone cares. That goes for desiderata. At least he made an effort.
The last thing I want is to be called out by some buffoon in a yacht club blazer just because I didn't dip the right flag (That'll wind you up) the correct way.
Now get back in your box and the next time you make a post make sure you have the cojones to introduce yourself with even the briefest details of who you are, you arrogant and ignorant person.
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Philiz
Well-Known Member
Listen Major, stop messin about, if this upstart has upset you, let him know about it and stop beating about the bush 
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Listen Major, stop messin about, if this upstart has upset you, let him know about it and stop beating about the bush
Ah yes Phil! You know about flag etiquette. If you don't like some ones ensign I hear you just wrench it and the pole right off the boat.
Tom was still quietly sobbing the last time I spoke to him.
blueglass
Well-Known Member
the main purpose of flag etiquette is to provide fuel for endless fun and frivolity and friendly bar room banter. To suggest otherwise would be arrogant and ignorant.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
If you don't like some ones ensign I hear you just wrench it and the pole right off the boat.
That's right, don't mess about, let 'em know what you think! Anyway, it's a staff not a pole, how ignorant
Tom'll get over it, it's character building. I broke James' hot water tap on Sunday
I'm coming on your boat next to test the fixtures and fittings.Incidentally, I've just noticed this is my 1000th post, what's my prize?
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Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
That's right, don't mess about, let 'em know what you think! Anyway, it's a staff not a pole, how ignorant
Tom'll get over it, it's character building. I broke James' hot water tap on Sunday
As you seem to be working your way along the dock, it'll be years before you get to me.
I wondered why James was also weeping.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Nah, I'm doing it alphabetically, the only K I know is Kwackers but if I start pulling at Briza gawd knows what'll happen, I 'don't know an L, but M is for Major.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Prize ??
With now over 1000 posts to your name you should be taking a step back and a long cool look at youself. How any one person can churn out enough to fill 1000 post is beyond my comprehension. Consider getting a life !
Philiz
Well-Known Member
Ah, so there's no prize then, never mind, at least I'm catching you. I'm up to 1002 already, only 12,977 to go.