Fly the Union Jack

[Clyde_Wanderer]

What am I proposing? - To start a campaign to allow us to fly our national flag (which to me is the Union Jack) on my boat.
Why? - bacause it is a supposedly free country and I want to.

Thank you for the lesson in baing pedantic, but I just want to know what law it is that says I cannot.

Not interested in tradition, not interested in etiquette, just want to tie a certain coloured bit of cloth to my boat without going to prison!

So you wont mind if I fly the Tri Colour on my boat in the Clyde?
Seeing as it is a "free country" and I am an Irishman living in Scotland.
Actually I chose the Saltire, because Scotland is also a free country.
C_W

 

[dulcibella]

Sybarite has hit the nail on the head. Wear an ensign if it entertains you but leave others free to follow their own leanings. Dulcibella's skipper Davies saw ensigns as nationalistic nonsense but acted like a patriot (even if his author ran guns for the IRA).

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Here is Victory's cutter:

No flag.

SHOT AwaY?!!

 

[binch]

ensigns

I'm afraid all you dissatisfied yotties will hve to go further back than you do to the times when there were very few yachts about.
Just after the WW2, when I was a young naval officer, all yachts seen by one of HM Ships in waters outside British territorial waters were boarded by an Officer of the Guard. The ship's papers, ensign warrant if any, and radio cert etc were checked and the the OOG would salute smartly and return to his ship.
In naval ports, such as Malta or Gibraltar, this duty was carried out by the King's Harbour Master, which job I held in Gibraltar.
Nobody ever explained why. We had always done it, just as all ships dipped their ensigns on sighting a British warship at sea. It always had been done. Presumably, at one time, if you didn't, you got sunk. Perhaps.
The last time I boarded a yacht on duty like this was to board the Motor Yacht of the Sieff family (M & S) in Napoli harbour. Quick check with the skipper in the wheelhouse, then a chat with the owner and a glass of champagne on the sundeck, while my captain waited for me to come back. (Sorry sir, it would have been rude to refuse.)
I think all this disappeared when there were more yachts about than warships, about 1955, I'd say, which was about the time when yotties stopped trying to pretend they were in the navy and acccepted that they no longer had paid hands, and were in effect playing with toys.
I'm fond of my toys. Still playing with them in my eighties.

 

[Sandyman]

I'm fond of my toys. Still playing with them in my eighties.

...................and long may you continue to do so. BZ

 

[NormanS]

I'm afraid all you dissatisfied yotties will hve to go further back than you do to the times when there were very few yachts about.
Just after the WW2, when I was a young naval officer, all yachts seen by one of HM Ships in waters outside British territorial waters were boarded by an Officer of the Guard. The ship's papers, ensign warrant if any, and radio cert etc were checked and the the OOG would salute smartly and return to his ship.
In naval ports, such as Malta or Gibraltar, this duty was carried out by the King's Harbour Master, which job I held in Gibraltar.
Nobody ever explained why. We had always done it, just as all ships dipped their ensigns on sighting a British warship at sea. It always had been done. Presumably, at one time, if you didn't, you got sunk. Perhaps.
The last time I boarded a yacht on duty like this was to board the Motor Yacht of the Sieff family (M & S) in Napoli harbour. Quick check with the skipper in the wheelhouse, then a chat with the owner and a glass of champagne on the sundeck, while my captain waited for me to come back. (Sorry sir, it would have been rude to refuse.)
I think all this disappeared when there were more yachts about than warships, about 1955, I'd say, which was about the time when yotties stopped trying to pretend they were in the navy and acccepted that they no longer had paid hands, and were in effect playing with toys.
I'm fond of my toys. Still playing with them in my eighties.

That's fascinating. I can just about understand boarding "all yachts..... outside British territorial waters" when Britain ruled the waves, but boarding a yacht, on duty, in Napoli harbour??

 

[P4Paul]

Why not just fly the St Piran cross

I do and will continue to do so.

 

[Boreades]

Did I miss something here? Why is sailing full of pedants?

The Union Flag Bill of 2008 (yes that is from our own parliament) says that you can call it the Union Jack or Union Flag - it's up to you.

Don't worry, it's the same on all websites with fora. (Stand by for pedantry on the use of the word fora).

 

[Boreades]

"Civil Jack

This was once the British pilot jack, but is now used as the jack of civilian vessels."

http://www.flags.net/UNKG.htm

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Sorry, I am really confused now. Can anyone tell me please under what circumstances, and where on my boat can I fly the civil jack shown above, without breaking the law or offending anyone?

 

[NorthUp]

To celebrate

150 replies, I decided to borrow a new avatar.....

 

[Fascadale]

Almost into a new decade of the first century of the new millenium.

The old flag needs to be hung in the cathederals and churches like the other proud colours whose days are past.

Time for the Union Jackists in the southern part of the main island of the Western European Isles to cast off their memories of imperial grandeur and embrace a new banner.

This is be the flag of your future. Stand proud.

Have a very happy new year...............Slàinte

 

[Ubergeekian]

I'm afraid all you dissatisfied yotties will hve to go further back than you do to the times when there were very few yachts about.
Just after the WW2, when I was a young naval officer, all yachts seen by one of HM Ships in waters outside British territorial waters were boarded by an Officer of the Guard.

Are you sure you meant outside British territorial waters? Would you have done it in New York harbour, say?