Red Ensign flown from a Back Stay - How best to?

[cashinone]

A relatively small and insignificant issue where I would appreciate the benefit of your thoughts and advice.

Had the misfortune to lose our pole and red duster last weekend. No idea when or how it went but it was there when we cast off and as the socket still contains 2 inches of the wooden pole I imagine I'd leant on it or something and snapped the pole whilst lounging behind the helm.

I've seen several folk flying the flag from a back stay and am thinking this might be a better option. Would certainly be difficult to stand on it there.

I would want it to be easily removable yet secure in use. What does the team think might be the best method of achieving this?

Some form of Shroud cleat at the top and a suitable knot at the bottom or what?

 

[Norman_E]

A lot of people in Turkey just tie it on and leave it. Shroud cleats fit wire up to about 8mm, so if you can fit them, try two, and hook the loop sewn into the ensign to the top one and tie it to the bottom one. As an aside you want to get it high enough to avoid it flapping round your ears whilst you are standing at the helm, which probably explains why most people who do this simply tie it on and leave it up. You could try tying a small block to the back stay so that you could haul the ensign up, and then tie it off.

 

[sailorman]

Rolling Hitch

 

[ShipsWoofy]

We used to fly it on the stay, I had attached two strings to the stay giving a loop top and bottom, the toggle slipping through the top loop and tension with the string feeding through the bottom loop.

No particular string, just a couple of pieces from the string bag, but heavier than kite type string if you get my meaning.

I used a few hitches either side of the loop and they didn't slip in the many years we had it like this.

 

[Salty John]

Yes, that's how we wore our ensign. A loop at the top for the toggle and a rolling hitch at the lower end.
If you want to go all modern you can get a couple of Staygrips: www.staygrip.com

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
Rolling Hitch

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. It's what we've done for years. A rolling hitch with a small hanging loop at the top (put the ensigns wooden peg through this) and a another rolling hitch at the bottom with a length of line left sufficient to feed through the ensigns loop.

So, peg through the top, line through the bottom, draw tight and tie off. No need for cleats or anything like that. It's amazing how effective a rolling hitch is on s/s rigging. Ours hasn't moved in years!!

 

[Ecosse120]

As SaltyJohn recommended, I use the stay sail and the Ensign has always stayed on, well until the knot came undown and I found it flying upside down (probably end up in the tower for that sort of thing !!) Got mine on ebay but can't see anybody selling them at the moment

 

[Abigail]

If you really want to be able to take it down, then put an extra little block on something at the top of the mast, and run a small line through that to the end of the boom (paralleling the topping lift, and then hoist the ensign on that. We do this on the mizzen as has a triatic stay and shrouds but no seperate back stay.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

the knot came undown and I found it flying upside down (probably end up in the tower for that sort of thing !!)

Nah, you just get rescued, cos you are in distress- were you wondering why that Lifeboat and Budgie were following you about? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Second that vote for the staygrip. Fantastic little bit of kit.

 

[cashinone]

Thanks All - We'll give it a try this weekend.