RED ENSIGN - LAW, ETIQUETTE, CUSTOM AND PRACTICE

[fronksr]

I have flown a Red Ensign and observed routine etiquette when sailing my 18 foot sailing cruiser for many years but I still remain unsure of the actual rules or law that apply. Researching on the net has only reinforced uncertainty. Should a small craft actually be registered before flying the Red Ensign or may it be voluntarily flown by any small craft owner - as I have done? Is there any limitation on the smallest size of craft that can fly the ensign? Finally can or should the Red Ensign be flown on inland waterways and landlocked lakes (such as Windermere)? Any legal (sea) eagles out there who can help?

 

[Joe_Cole]

Fly it. Don't worry about the etiquette.
If you really want to find out the RYA do a good little booklet of the use of flags.

 

[Lakesailor]

You can spot 2 Red Ensigns on visiting steamboats here......

and captain Pugwash has one..........

2 more here....

and here

On the lake people seem to fly all sorts. Ensigns galore, Union Jack, Jolly Roger. This site seems to have all the info on it.

 

[bobgosling]

AFAIK there is no *law* regarding Red ensigns on private vessels , however you cannot fly a Blue one if you don't hold the appropriate warrant from the Admiralty and White one is Royal Navy only ( or retired Admiral ? ).

The RYA book is good !

If you look at the "benefits of a blue ensign" thread in the scuttlebut forum I recently posted a list of authorised clubs there.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
White one is Royal Navy only ( or retired Admiral ? ).


[/ QUOTE ] Or the Royal Yacht (ha!) and the Royal Yacht Squadron (don't 'y know)

 

[Mirelle]

Answers:

Q 1. Should a small craft actually be registered before flying the Red Ensign or may it be voluntarily flown by any small craft owner - as I have done?

A: Any British vessel may fly it. There is no requirement for a vessel to be registered in order to do so, so long as the vessel's owner is British the vessel is British.

Q 2.Is there any limitation on the smallest size of craft that can fly the ensign?

A: No. Fly it on a pram dinghy if you like.

Q 3. Finally can or should the Red Ensign be flown on inland waterways and landlocked lakes (such as Windermere)?

A: It can be, but there is no need to do so, since the purpose of the ensign is to identify the nationality of the vessel wearing it.

In terms of etiquette, however, your vessel should probably wear the ensign between sunrise and sunset or 18.00, unless you are in sight of a warship in which case you take your time for colours from the warship.

Personally, I don't bother with one.

 

[Duncantaz]

Re: Answers:

Sorry to hijack this thread but I have a related question:

I am an Aussie and have lived in the UK for 15 years, I am about to become the proud owner of a british registered yacht (SSR). Can I/should I fly the red one or an Aussie one?

 

[bobgosling]

Re: Answers:

Um ... don't think you can register it on the SSR unless you are British. See this link MCA web page
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

On the lake people seem to fly all sorts. Ensigns galore, Union Jack, Jolly Roger.

On the subject of Flags and Ensigns. The Union Jack is only worn on the Jack Staff of HM ships. Otherwise it is a Union Flag.

 

[MedMan]

Re: Answers:

I have followed the Link and looks as if you are OK. It says:

3) Who may register a small ship?

A small ship may be registered if it is owned by one or more of the following persons who are 'ordinarily resident' in the UK:-

British citizens

Persons who are nationals of a European Union or European Economic Area country other than the United Kingdom and are established in the UK

British Dependant Territories citizens; British Overseas citizens; persons who under the British Nationality Act 1991 are British subjects; persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order are British Nationals Overseas, and

Commonwealth citizens not falling within those paragraphs.

It may be that you do not see Oz as a 'Dependant Territory' /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but, if not, you would come under 'Commonwealth Citizen.'

If the vessel is British you must fly the Red Ensign. The Ensign denotes the nationality of the ship - not the owner. However, it has become established practice to fly a small version of the ensign of the owner/skipper from the port spreader though you might want to wait until after the fifth test before doing so. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Answers:

[ QUOTE ]
I am an Aussie and have lived in the UK for 15 years

[/ QUOTE ]But the real question is 'What nationality are you? Do you hold an Australian or British Passport?
If you have changed nationality and taken a British Passport - wear a Red Ensign on your boat. Otherwise why not wear the Ozzie one with pride? The Ensign indicates the nationality of the boat - which comes from the nationality of the owner as I understand these things.

Don't expect you'll get boarded and inspected though...

 

[Kilter]

[ QUOTE ]
and captain Pugwash has one..........

[/ QUOTE ]

But does Pug have a 'wash' problem? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Best tell him to slow down then! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif [runs for cover]

 

[pappaecho]

Re: Answers:

White Ensigns is for certain Yacht clubs. The Oldest is the Royal Engineers Yacht club which was establised some 30 year before Royal Yacht Squadron( who think they have exclusive rights but dont ) . There may be others who are entitled to fly it as well. Question, why do not other countries have similar flags, as most only have a single flag to denote county of origin?

 

[absit_omen]

Re: Answers:

Dont think it matters. Saddam, or even George W Bush could fly the red ensign as there does not appear to be any policing of the 'rules'

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Answers:

I've seen mention of foreign countries getting shirty (foreign to us Brits, that is) but I don't know that anyone in the UK has had any legal problem, but no doubt someone will tell us now that a guy is tied up at traitor's gate awaiting spring highs (Yes, I know it's bricked up).

 

[MASH]

George Bush may certainly fly a red ensign provided the boat concerned is British registered, that was quite clearly explained above. In fact he must wear it if the boat is british registered, and equally must not wear any other. Displaying another country's national ensign is tantamount to piracy in that you are understood to be impersonating a ship of a different nationality and there is only one reason to do that - you are up to no good. It is essentially the same as using another nation's passport, the Ensign is there to inform everyone else where your vessel is registered andwhich nation's laws it abides by so when the French official comes on board and demands to see your skipper's ticket you can (or you should be able to) point to the ensign and say, "no, we don't have to have one" and there aint nothin he can do about it.

I had always understood that an Ensign is a specifically maritime flag and should not be worn (incedentally a boat "wears" an Ensign, not "flies" it) in non tidal waters.

Flag etiquette may not be well policed here, more's the pity, in these self denigrating times, but watch your step abroad. I have been approached in Turkey and warned that my courtesy flag was "not the correct red" as it had faded in the sun!

Get flag etiquette wrong in the US (like allowing Old Glory to touch the ground) and you'll be yelled at at the very least. There are places where disrespect to the national flag is a serious offense.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: Answers:

What is your reference for the Royal Engineers Y.C. being entitled to wear a white ensign! The list posted on the blue ensign thread mentioned above says blue. I quoted you from a previous thread and was told NO!

 

[absit_omen]

Re: Answers:

Flag geeks (or wannabee geeks) can look at www.flags.net for all the pretty pictures. Click on U for UK, then scroll down to 'yacht clubs'

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: Answers:

My point exactly, that particular reference says Blue not White.

 

[bobfrost]

Re: Answers:

[ QUOTE ]
I am an Aussie and have lived in the UK for 15 years

[/ QUOTE ]

Try the Tebbit cricket test. This should indicate which flag to fly.