I hate to do this, but blue ensign question

Doesn't really mean they are unauthorised, more that they are not following correct etiquette.

I know lots of Mobo's that wear a blue, but they all belong to an appropriate club and are authorised to wear it.

Never met anyone who wears one because it matches anything else.
 
Any commissioned officers in the armed forces (regular or auxiliary) have the right to board a vesel to check its entitlement to fly whatever ensign it is displaying :)
 
Just checked my "Permit". Fine is indeed up to £1000, but no mention of who enforces. And the Permit is validated by the RYA with a little numbered sticker.
 
Muddy Paws said:
Any commissioned officers in the armed forces (regular or auxiliary) have the right to board a vesel to check its entitlement to fly whatever ensign it is displaying :)
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They have the right to board to remove an unauthorised ensign under Merchant Shipping Act 1.4.3 but there is nothing there saying they have the right to board in order to investigate the situation.
 
HoratioHB said:
Apparently one of the few duties left to me as a commisioned RN Officer (albeit retired) is the responsibility to ensure correct flag etiquette is followed and I have been relaibly informed I have powers of enforcement in this regard.
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And Liz is legally obliged to come to the front door to meet you and receive every flag you take!

Any colours seized under subsection (3) above shall be forfeited to Her Majesty.
 
Muddy Paws said:
Any commissioned officers in the armed forces (regular or auxiliary) have the right to board a vesel to check its entitlement to fly whatever ensign it is displaying :)
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Something best avoided! An octegenarian ex-Commander, RN, boarded my vessel in Cherbourg a few years ago (although not in connection with flag etiquette) and did not leave until he had drunk more than half a bottle of expensive scotch; by which time he was scarecely in a condition to distinguish daylight, let alone the colour of an ensign. :(
 
timbartlett said:
"only eligible club"
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What does an "only eligible club" wear?

As a retired army officer am I allowed to shoot at boats abusing a ensign?

Muddy Paws said:
Any commissioned officers in the armed forces (regular or auxiliary) have the right to board a vesel to check its entitlement to fly whatever ensign it is displaying :)
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Oops, I should have read the entire thread. Does that apply to retired officers? I could cause havoc the Menai Straits.
 
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Major Catastrophe said:
(snip)

Does that apply to retired officers? I could cause havoc the Menai Straits.
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I doubt it Major, I'd be surprised if many of the boats with blues are taking the pee, there are a few clubs in the area entitled to issue warrants. As already stated the big clue is the relevant club burgee which should be flown from the masthead.

I was once challenged by an unknown fellow club member asking "Where's your Burgee?" I was delighted to point out to him that it was where it should be at the masthead, rather than on the shroud like his!
 
Tranona said:
Just checked my "Permit". Fine is indeed up to £1000, but no mention of who enforces. And the Permit is validated by the RYA with a little numbered sticker.
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I have mentioned this before but why is it necessary to have Validation by the RYA?

This implies that the RYA (a commercial organisation) has some sort of authority over the Admiralty (or whatever the Government Department calls itself now).

Is it really that big an issue to require RYA man hours to administrate it by 'Validation'?
 
chinita said:
I have mentioned this before but why is it necessary to have Validation by the RYA?

This implies that the RYA (a commercial organisation) has some sort of authority over the Admiralty (or whatever the Government Department calls itself now).

Is it really that big an issue to require RYA man hours to administrate it by 'Validation'?
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As they are Royal Warrants (are they not?) mayhap Liz has asked her Yottie Assoc to manage it for her.
 
chinita said:
I have mentioned this before but why is it necessary to have Validation by the RYA?

This implies that the RYA (a commercial organisation) has some sort of authority over the Admiralty (or whatever the Government Department calls itself now).

Is it really that big an issue to require RYA man hours to administrate it by 'Validation'?
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Nothing as bureaucratic as that. The club office has a supply of numbered stickers about the size of a 10 pence piece which they stick on the little permit form. The Club has the warrant and issues permits to qualifying members - stickers show it is not a fake (as if anyone would!). As far as I know there is no central register - only the permit valid for 5 years cost £2.50
 
Tranona said:
Nothing as bureaucratic as that. The club office has a supply of numbered stickers about the size of a 10 pence piece which they stick on the little permit form. The Club has the warrant and issues permits to qualifying members - stickers show it is not a fake (as if anyone would!). As far as I know there is no central register - only the permit valid for 5 years cost £2.50
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Thanks, that clarifies it for me. I can let my blood pressure drop now.

I did not realise that it was the Club which stuck the stickers on. I rather assumed that my permit would need to be sent to the RYA for 'validation' and they would stick the sticker on by means of an RYA qualified Sticker On of Stickers.

I wonder if the Club Sticker On of RYA stickers needs to be vetted by the RYA or do they just allow any old stick as a Sticker On?

And......what sort of glue do people think should be used to stick the Stickers on?
 
chinita said:
Thanks, that clarifies it for me. I can let my blood pressure drop now.

I did not realise that it was the Club which stuck the stickers on. I rather assumed that my permit would need to be sent to the RYA for 'validation' and they would stick the sticker on by means of an RYA qualified Sticker On of Stickers.

I wonder if the Club Sticker On of RYA stickers needs to be vetted by the RYA or do they just allow any old stick as a Sticker On?
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I doubt it - there's probably a Stickermaster exam, and some Stickermaster Examiners, instructed by a Stickermaster Examiner Instructor, and examined by a Stickermaster Instructor Examiner. In the old days, there might have been separate Stickermaster (Foreign Going), err, Stickers, but only old Master Stickers (Unlimited) talk about that.....
 
Sybarite said:
Ban all flags.
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Will it be OK for my boat to wear an ensign then?

I find it slightly strange that the rules and regulations for the wearing of so called 'privilege ensigns' creates so much heat amongst UK boaters. We even get heated about whether to wear an ensign at all on our boats. Some people seem to think that its ok to put any old thing on the back end of their yacht.

In France, which prides itself on its equality and fraternity deeply imbued in its subconcious - yet remains an arguably very divisive nation (I have just been reading Lucy Wadhams, 'The Secret Life of France') a french boat-owner wouldn't dream of flying county flags as 'ensigns'. Even the Bretons usually put a Tricolour up as well as their Breton flag.

I suppose the county flag thing is a bit of thread drift - but it reminded me of the insights into the French psyche I have been reading about.
 
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So if you are a foreign yacht in British waters could you fly a blue ensign as a courtesy flag. I quite like the idea of matching flags. An Australian flag which is a defaced blue ensign on the back and a blue ensign at the crosstrees.
 
For heavens sake - all we need now is the appearance of Toad with some barrack room lawyer argument to make this thread complete.

Who but a poser would want to hoist an unauthorised blue ensign, but who would care if he did. Laugh at him maybe, but care - no.
 
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