nigelmercier
RIP
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2007
- Messages
- 16,234
- Location
- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
In the spirit of this thread, I suggest that an ensign is worn, not flown.
No ensign etiquette at Henely
- Thread starter Rascal Joe
- Start date
In the spirit of this thread, I suggest that an ensign is worn, not flown.
byron
RIP
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.... "CALVARY"
(Unless you are looking to crucify)
apollo
...
Very well put!
Elessar
Well-Known Member
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.... "CALVARY"
you can find another 3 errors in my grammar too if you like
byron
RIP
Nope! I apologise for the 'Calvary' dig, I just couldn't resist it. It tickled me how merely a couple of accidentally mistyped keys ended with a place of execution.you can find another 3 errors in my grammar too if you like
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have resisted it either. My excuse is I was typing on my iPhone which usually knows better than me. Progress you see. Terrible thing.
scotts_mist
Active Member
Surely, the whole point of etiquette, is that it's something people may choose to learn about and live by if they want to?
If holding a door open for a woman, or giving up a bus seat for the elderly is enshrined in law and regulation, rather than a voluntary thing people choose to do out of courtesy, respect, and perhaps observance of tradition, then something is lost.
At least if it's voluntary, others can then make a call on whether another person holds the same values as they do. At least by watching who struck their ensign one can easily identify the three people one's most likely to enjoy a beer, gin or pimms with whilst debating how the country has gone to the dogs!
My view is that regulations and training should focus on what keeps us all safe. Whilst I have a natural interest in learning beyond the syllabus of the various courses and enjoy trying to "fit in" at the marina and being neighbourly to the other marina and sea folk and their beliefs, proving knowledge of etiquette is best left as a pre-requisite for joining the yacht club rather than one of being able to go to sea.
If holding a door open for a woman, or giving up a bus seat for the elderly is enshrined in law and regulation, rather than a voluntary thing people choose to do out of courtesy, respect, and perhaps observance of tradition, then something is lost.
At least if it's voluntary, others can then make a call on whether another person holds the same values as they do. At least by watching who struck their ensign one can easily identify the three people one's most likely to enjoy a beer, gin or pimms with whilst debating how the country has gone to the dogs!
My view is that regulations and training should focus on what keeps us all safe. Whilst I have a natural interest in learning beyond the syllabus of the various courses and enjoy trying to "fit in" at the marina and being neighbourly to the other marina and sea folk and their beliefs, proving knowledge of etiquette is best left as a pre-requisite for joining the yacht club rather than one of being able to go to sea.
boatone
Well-Known Member
Probably, for me, the ones to stay away from - but then I noticed you have a Tomahawk which I had many happy days with on the Solent in a previous life. Don't suppose you've any knowledge of September Girl ?
scotts_mist
Active Member
Afraid not, but I've only had Scott's Mist for 6 months and so far, only met one other T25 owner. But if I do come across her, I'll let you know.
jecuk
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately the horse has bolted on this one (up Calvary Hill ?). Equally the Cross of St George is now flown everywhere generally in conjunction with a pirate flag. The traditions are nice and I try to observe them whenever possible but have certainly forgotten to strike my ensign once or twice.
?). Equally the Cross of St George is now flown everywhere generally in conjunction with a pirate flag. The traditions are nice and I try to observe them whenever possible but have certainly forgotten to strike my ensign once or twice.
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Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Its an interesting one this and put aside the underwear aspect of our flag etiquette when we used to go to Henley which was when we were all between 16 - 21 on several large boats (stoopid parents..) we always made sure we lowered the ensign, folded it and put it away till the morn. Its was just something we did that our folks always taught us.
They did not however teach us how to swim amongst the booms, party till dawn, hang underwear from the mast etc.
What I always used to like is surprising the many passenger (and private) boats who looked down on us kids by using the correct sound signals when navigating the course and the bridge which we had to take the centre arch due to height. That would always throw them.....
They did not however teach us how to swim amongst the booms, party till dawn, hang underwear from the mast etc.
What I always used to like is surprising the many passenger (and private) boats who looked down on us kids by using the correct sound signals when navigating the course and the bridge which we had to take the centre arch due to height. That would always throw them.....
dash300
Well-Known Member
I take mine down every time I leave the boat to stop it getting nicked. Should I go to confession!
Captain Coochie
Well-Known Member
In this heat I wear mine like a hanky on my head while I sit in my deck chair eating ice cream guvnor .
.Rigger Mortice
N/A
Strictly speaking should an ensign be worn at Henley?
AFAIK the requirements are for sea going vessels, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.
AFAIK the requirements are for sea going vessels, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Strictly speaking should an ensign be worn at Henley?
AFAIK the requirements are for sea going vessels, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.
I'm not quite so sure - the Merchant Shipping Acts, strange as it may seem, apply to inland waters as well as at Sea. That's why a serving Naval Officer or warranted office of HM Customs may seize your Ensign if you're naughty.
Not so long ago EA issued a warning to that effect.
I've had many interesting conversations whe wearing my correct Ensign and one not quite so correct. To my mind that's part of enjoying cruising on different widths of ditches.
So chaps,
don't lety this thread be a slanging match; life's too short. There are several members on these fora whose input I treasure and it would be a shame if anyone took offense and went off in a huff.
dash300
Well-Known Member
I just like flying/wearing the thing, just finishes off the back of the boat. However our cruises abroad and in particular in Holland the Red Ensign creates a very friendly reaction from local boaters.
Rigger Mortice
N/A
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
There are three types of people.
1/ Those who care
2/ Those who don't care
3/ those who just want to garnish their vessels with whatever they can.
Most Cruiser owners fall into group 1. You see an ensign being displayed on most private boats of most sizes up and down the Thames.
The Dayboat/ Rental scene covers group 2 on the whole.
Group 3 is the strangest. Their boats fly anything they can lay their hands on, and they usually care about their boats, but they don't care about the etiquette, so they'll fly anything: Examples this weekend include:-
1/ A cruiser with a normal ensign, and a smaller on a jackstaff on the pulpit. Clearly wrong!
2/ A QDJP boat, flying their purple Pageant flag ABOVE the red ensign. Clearly wrong!
3/ Cruiser seen wearing a Blue ensign, with no accompanying burgee. Clearly wrong!
The wrong 'uns are thankfully a minority...
1/ Those who care
2/ Those who don't care
3/ those who just want to garnish their vessels with whatever they can.
Most Cruiser owners fall into group 1. You see an ensign being displayed on most private boats of most sizes up and down the Thames.
The Dayboat/ Rental scene covers group 2 on the whole.
Group 3 is the strangest. Their boats fly anything they can lay their hands on, and they usually care about their boats, but they don't care about the etiquette, so they'll fly anything: Examples this weekend include:-
1/ A cruiser with a normal ensign, and a smaller on a jackstaff on the pulpit. Clearly wrong!
2/ A QDJP boat, flying their purple Pageant flag ABOVE the red ensign. Clearly wrong!
3/ Cruiser seen wearing a Blue ensign, with no accompanying burgee. Clearly wrong!
The wrong 'uns are thankfully a minority...
TimBennet
Well-Known Member
The only legal requirement in the Merchant Shipping act is for all vessels to wear an ensign when entering or leaving a foreign port and when required to do so by a competent authority (in time of war, etc).
There is no legal requirement for an ensign at any other time.
The inspection authority vested in certain specific people is only for misuse and abuse, including compliance with the use of warrants to fly blue and white ensigns. Not flying an ensign, leaving it up at night, etc does not count as either misuse or abuse.
Everything else is either 'tradition' or a requirement of membership of certain clubs.