Red Ensign

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David of Essex

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Just had a light hearted remark made to me today, about I will have to buy everyone a drink in the marina for leaving the red ensign raised outside of hours. The boat is out of the water at moment.
Are there hours that it should be raised?.
David
 
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Hoist at 8 am and drop at 9 in summer or 8 in winter, i seem to recasll

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Aye Aye Cap,n.
Near enough.
Bad Etiquette.
Dunna leave the Duster flying whilst the Vessel is unattended for a day or two! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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sunset/sunrise thing a bit nerdy IMHO

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Why bother to raise it or lower it at all then? In fact if it is 'nerdy' to keep to sunrise/sunset surely it must be even more 'nerdy' to bother to wear an ensign at all!
If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well, and if you can't be arsed to try, then don't!

Mal
 
[quote
Why bother to raise it or lower it at all then? In fact if it is 'nerdy' to keep to sunrise/sunset surely it must be even more 'nerdy' to bother to wear an ensign at all!


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Nerdy perhaps, but still technically a requirement (I believe) on a British registered boat
 
Might be nerdy to raise and lower, but it is not a legal requirement, the wearing of one is.
I did think it was a requirement to wear an ensign at ALL times when in a foriegn port.
The one man I know who does know all this kind of thing, is on the thames forum.
 
Lowering the Ensign at night was an economy measure (introduced by Sam Pepys?) It at least doubles the life of an ensign. When you have lots of ships wearing them (like Mrs Queen does) then you can save quite a bit.

I must admit I didn't do it with my Nuaticalia Red - which is why it became a pink ensign, but I do with my defaced blue as it costs a fortune to replace!
 
I've got a bit of a hang-up with traditions and think the whole thing's a bit nerdy really. OK so it makes the marina a bit of a spectacle with all Johhny foreigner's flags a flutter, but then a used car lot looks similar with the bunting that many of them seem to adore these days! That said, I've just dressed Lady Loiuse with a new red ensign. OK - guilty as charged - take me down melud.
 
so basically the tradition was introduced as a a costcutter (Thanks searush) the reasoning being - why waste flag life by flying it when nobody can see it. I can afford a new flag evry 10 years or so (thats how long the last one lasted for) so I will luxuriate in not being arsed to take it down every night.
as regards the retort: " why bother to fly it at all"
a) because I am required to.
b) because I actually like the flag.
 
The idea that it was a cost cutter is nice but does not fit the present practice of a warship wearing her ensign 24/24 at sea when wear and tear are greatest.
When foreign, follow local practice. For instance if the local warships hoist and lower at nine o'clock, then do the same.
RN hoist at 0800 local time and lower at sunset or 2100 whichever is earlier.
Nowadays the RN has got so sloppy that you can expect anything and they do not want yobbos like us dipping our rags as we sail past as some poor matloe has to get up and do likewise.
Continental yacht practice is to lash the ensign to somewhere conspic and leave it there until it rots.
But the rule does say that you must show the ensign on arrival and departure from aforeign port, or if requested.
An interesting feature is that if you carry bonded stores (and we do) then if returning to UK with open bottles on board tie a knot in the red ensign and wait (and wait (and wait) for customs to arrive . I was once told off for not doing this. They wanted £1 duty having driven ten miles to Orford to collect it.
 
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They wanted £1 duty having driven ten miles to Orford to collect it.

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and there lies the rub, Her Majesty's revenue and customs, WILL spend £200 of OUR money to collect £1 just to keep everyone else in the fear zone.

it's the tale of The Sheriff of Nottingham but set in the 21st century.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
sunset/sunrise thing a bit nerdy IMHO

[/ QUOTE ]
Why bother to raise it or lower it at all then? In fact if it is 'nerdy' to keep to sunrise/sunset surely it must be even more 'nerdy' to bother to wear an ensign at all!
If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well, and if you can't be arsed to try, then don't!

Mal

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here here..!!!
 
"and there lies the rub, Her Majesty's revenue and customs, WILL spend £200 of OUR money to collect £1 just to keep everyone else in the fear zone."

I dunno, I keep telling you lot, it aint your money, it's government money, it's only your money when you has got it, and seeing has how you hasn't got it, and they have, it's the governments money, not yours!

Got it? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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