Patriotic Yacht

[mjcoon]

In the US, I'd think it was a daft bit of fun - totally OTT, but not seriously divisive until they put up the MAGA ensign. Do the same thing here, the union flag has, unfortunately, been misappropriated by a fairly small, frequently zenophobic minority, so I think it would be unacceptable.

Just one question - AIUI, it's illegal to destroy a US flag; how are they going to dispose of the old one when they need new sails?

Perhaps there's an official shredding service like most countries have for tatty currency?

 

[jac]

I wonder what nationality her owner is

 

[Bajansailor]

It is called 'Tigress' and sails on charters out of Martha's Vinyard.

Here is a link to her website - Tigress is now 96 years old, and she had a major re-fit in 2016.
In the Bio about her skipper, it notes that he hand painted the sail in the colours (not colors!) of the American flag.
Catboat Charters – Private Sailing Charters in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard

 

[capnsensible]

Nice link. Perhaps some of the more 'outspoken' posters might gain from it.......

 

[jamie N]

Yup, and some would only 2 of those colo(u)rs.

 

[Slowtack]

Spinnakers are often in national colours..........

 

[Uricanejack]

I have often thought of ordering a Whiskey with an anchor for my spinnaker.

 

[Resolution]

I have often thought of ordering a Whiskey with an anchor for my spinnaker.

When I worked for a company whose proud logo was a big "W" our shipping department had ties made with the "W" followed by a neat little anchor. The group chairman was not amused...

 

[crewman]

It is not illegal to destroy the American flag, the ruling is that you must not fly a tatty one. I believe that the Boy Scouts of America burn several US flags every year as it is the best way to destroy one once it becomes too worn. (I heard this on QI so it must be true)

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We used to have a red, white and blue spinnaker. Back in the 1990s we used to be complimented on it. Being ex forces was reckoned to be a good thing them too. Odd how times change.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I think that national attitudes towards their flag differ a lot and it may be that projecting our own thoughts onto this picture may be misleading. In my youth the Union Jack was much respected following its use as a national symbol in the war but when Carnaby Street started making boxer shorts out of the flag and it was used for whatever people wished its use as a national symbol became embarrassing. This got worse after the National Front adopted it and it is only in recent years that we have recovered general respect for the flag. I don’t think the Americans went through quite the same process and perhaps their more personal relationship allows them to use it for things such as sails. I am pleased that both countries are sufficiently tolerant to accept such examples of lese majeste without clapping people into jail or worse.

In my childhood, the Republic of Ireland was a newly achieved ideal, and the Tricolour was held in high regard, but in the latter three decades of the last century it had become hijacked by the forces of terror in Northern Ireland, who also attempted to destabilise the southern State. After the Good Friday Agreement the national flag became rehabilitated, but unfortunately, with the growth of immigration, the phenomenon has emerged, of taxis with Tricolour stickers on their transom, whose drivers will inevitably have adverse opinions regarding the " New Irish".

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

When I worked for a company whose proud logo was a big "W" our shipping department had ties made with the "W" followed by a neat little anchor. The group chairman was not amused...

Took me a minute or two to work that out?

 

[PlankWalker]

Shouldn't it be flown from the stern, rather than the bow.