Red Ensign

Our local market on a thursday sells union flag quilt covers, one of these and a red sheet may be a little large but hoisted right up the back stay will certainly impress the french.
 
A yard is what I was going to say. However, we at 38', fly a yard and a half and bloody good it looks, too. And please get a sewed one not one of those ghastly printed jobbies.
 
Strangely enough I too hate flag waving and tend to see it as an indicator of national insecurity, however, I don't seem to apply this logic to ensigns. Possibly because my observations regarding ensign size are purely a matter of aesthetics and not born of any known jingoistic tendency.

Should we ever adopt a euro ensign I will happily fly the biggest that I can get away with.
 
Agree about nationalistic tendencies but I don't see a problem with being proud of one's own turf whilst embracing the values and ideas of others. With the possible exception of the French, of course :-)
 
You can get really good quality proper (sewn, not printed) ensigns on the web from www.flagmakers.com at sensible prices

Delivery is quick. They do a huge range of other flags too, and will make up custom flags/burgees as well.

They say size doesn't matter, but if your boat's going to wear an ensign, it might as well wear decent sized one. Mine only drags in the briny when the wind drops!
 
I have some sympathy with Davies, the owner of Dulcibella in Childers' book, who wouldn't carry a red ensign as he regarded it as nationalistic rubbish. Not much progress in the intervening 100 years!
 
not quite. only americans that voted for George Bush have ensigns so long they trail in the water! The rest refuse to be associated with their leader and don't fly a US ensign at all.
 
Its not very relevant, but I have a patriotic sailing friend from Yorkshire who hoists the Cross of St George outside his house to commemorate every English victory over the French, and leaves it up for a week. By and large it stays up from the beginning of April to the end of October!
 
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