Fly the Union Jack

[KenMcCulloch]

The brothers of the Flagiban have looked in their Holy Book and say if it was good enough for Nelson (blessings be upon his name) and is inscribed in the 1854 Merchant Shipping Act it is good enough for you. Anyone ignoring these edicts can expect to have their heads cut off by a bloke with a big sword. If anyone is thinking of having music or kite flying on their boat they are next.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

if it was good enough for Nelson... ...it is good enough for you.

Here is Victory's cutter:

No flag.

 

[TheBoatman]

You Beat Me to it?

Whats that bit in the corner of a Red Ensign with the funny little lines and crosses?

Jim
Having read all the posts I was starting to get a bit worried about some of the replies until I got to yours ~ Sanity at last!!!!!

We come from arguably the finest seafaring nation on earth and as such, have one thing that no other country on earth has, namely a special flag that can be flown by every proud member of that country ~ it is recognised worldwide and consists of a bit of red cloth "defaced" with a union jack (union flag whatever is your want) in the top corner. Whenever I've flown the red duster (ensign) I've never had any problems with the locals not understanding which country I came from???????

Peter.

 

[Merlyn]

Whats that bit in the corner of a Red Ensign with the funny little lines and crosses?

An amalgamation of the flags of the Patron Saints of England, Scotland and Ireland.

 

[snowleopard]

Did you not know that flying the Union flag in place of an ensign has a specific meaning established by custom? It means "I am a foreign national in command of a British-registered vessel".

The others have alternate meanings too. I won't quote the red or blue as those have been done to death here. The white ensign means "All persons are invited aboard for drinks at sunset" (aka gin pennant).

 

[snowleopard]

We come from arguably the finest seafaring nation on earth and as such, have one thing that no other country on earth has, namely a special flag that can be flown by every proud member of that country

Pretty well every country on earth has one of those. If however you meant a special flag for maritime use only, a quick search will reveal that quite a few countries have maritime ensigns. Go here and search for Civil Ensign.

 

[oceanfroggie]

I can see the point about the confusion the red duster causes over seas. It looks no more UK than the Ozzi or Kiwi national flags (ie small union jack in upper corner). Anyway, Bah humbug, flag ettequite is so boring, glorified tea towels stuck at the back of toy leisure boats.

 

[Cornishman]

Pretty well every country on earth has one of those. If however you meant a special flag for maritime use only, a quick search will reveal that quite a few countries have maritime ensigns. Go here and search for Civil Ensign.

I bet members of the Royal Western Yacht Club of England would be a bit peeved to note that they are not in that comprehensive list. Like the Royal Southampton, Royal Anglesey and Royal Torbay clubs RWYC have the privilege to wear an undefaced blue.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Whopee! Another ensign thread. I keep trying to work out how I can combine ensigns, colregs, modern anchors and politicians expenses in the same thread. If I succeed, I reckon I can put the forum into orbit!

Being British is all about understated patriotism. Not for us the hand on heart cheesy approach of the Yanks or the "which way is Poland" approach of the Germans. Which is why the St George flag has become associated with the sort of person who has tattoos, a shaven head and drinks Stella by the gallon. I wouldnt want to see the Union flag misused in the same sort of way.

It's for official buildings, the Queens birthday, coronations etc. Not to tell foreigners what they should know if they looked at the red ensign anyway.

 

[efitz]

Must say I'm quite enjoying this thread.

To pick up on an earlier comment, most countries do seem to fly their national flag as their ensign. However, in Ireland the situation is also slightly different, but for other reasons entirely.
The ensign is the national flag, with some exceptions. The main one being that if you are a member of a yacht club, the ensign can be the club's ensign. This is usually a navy flag (sometimes lighter blue or white) with the national flag in the top left corner, somewhat like the UK blue ensign.

My view of this practice is that it is nothing short of blatant snobbery. These flags are flown to let everyone know that a) I'm a member of a yacht club and b) my club is more prestigous than yours. If you are at anchor and flying a national flag as an ensign, you are certainly looked upon as the riff raff.
In the UK at least everyone appears equal (notwithstanding the Blue Ensign privelage).

So, I would much rather a standard maritime ensign that must be flown. In Ireland, the thought of some people having to fly their national flag rather than club flag would have them choking on their G&T's!

In summary, in Ireland it is snobbery and aspiration that dictate what flag you fly.

 

[Talbot]

The best part about wearing a red duster or blue ensgn is that it can wear a fair bit before it becomes obvious it needs to be replaced. If you were only wearing a union flag, then it would look shabby very quickly.

Watch the difference between the French and Dutch flags!

 

[Boathook]

I like the red ensign being worn at the stern of a British vessel. It represents our history (or are we history). I would like to fly the English flag from the crosstrees but I believe that it is reserved for admirals to indicate that they are on board. If I did fly it the admiralty could use it as part of their cost saving .....

 

[snooks]

Hurrah for flag etiquette!

Obviously no one has told T6, the blooming great big boat in Royal Clarence about all this, she has been flying a union flag as her courtesy flag for the past few months, within sight of Portsmouth naval base as well!

Anyway, here a a couple of ways around it

Paint a big union flag on the each side of your boat,

The get you crew all wearing these:

or these

Failing that, just buy one shirt and hang it off your backstay!

OK it's not a flag, but it's not illegal either

 

[Woodlouse]

They've printed the colours on those shirts upside down.

 

[andygc]

... the fact that Britain has not one, but three ensigns ...

Which fact is that? I make it four ... and there's one sailing association that can fly a defaced version.

 

[SimbaDog]

I would be very interested to know what sort of anchor the OP uses & also his views on global warming

 

[Otter]

I would be very interested to know what sort of anchor the OP uses & also his views on global warming

The OP reminded me of one of those teenagers who thinks it's cool to say something stupid.

 

[Sybaris]

The OP reminded me of one of those teenagers who thinks it's cool to say something stupid.

Agreed, other than to be controversial I can't see any reason for flying the Union Flag. And as Talbot pointed out the "Red Duster" lasts much longer, a win-win situation

 

[VicS]

Does anyone here wear this ensign:

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I would be very interested to know what sort of anchor the OP uses & also his views on global warming

The OP is a boring 50 year old who thinks that global warming is a combination of both man-made and natural environmental change. He/she also thinks that no-one really knows which one of these is the overriding influence and would really like politicians to stop using it as a platform until they had the faintest idea what they are talking about.

Anyway, back to sailing.

Anchors, a Delta, a CQR and a Fortress - you can never have too much of a good thing!

And, to suggest that it is controversial to want to fly your National flag when that is what the majority in the world do is like saying cows cause global warming!