Saltire as ensign

There is a Scots red ensign:

450px-Scottish_Red_Ensign.svg.png


This was flown by the Royal Scots Navy (or Old Scots Navy), which vanished with the Act of Union in 1707. I've never seen a boat flying this however, whereas lots of Scots boats fly the Saltire as an ensign.

- W

The Jean de la Lune always did...
 
I asked a question chinita. We're not all glued to this forum night and day. Should I have trawled through it to see if the topic had been brought up in the past? I'm actually finding it quite interesting and BTW, would never be that rude.
 
There is a Scots red ensign:

450px-Scottish_Red_Ensign.svg.png


This was flown by the Royal Scots Navy (or Old Scots Navy), which vanished with the Act of Union in 1707. I've never seen a boat flying this however, whereas lots of Scots boats fly the Saltire as an ensign.

- W

I have one. You may well see it next year!!!
 
I asked a question chinita. We're not all glued to this forum night and day. Should I have trawled through it to see if the topic had been brought up in the past? I'm actually finding it quite interesting and BTW, would never be that rude.

Ah, I see now.

You did ask a question:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?403190-What-flag-to-fly-if-Scotland-becomes-independent

BUT, I did not see that question as it was a different thread on a different forum.

So, don't castigate please.
 
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To celebrate Scotland's political coming of age we have decided to fly a Saltire in place of the Red Duster. Do any forumites know where we can purchase a suitably robust and correctly coloured flag for this purpose?

- W

No reason why not. They fly a black cross thing down in Cornwall and I dont hink anyone would even try to argue that Cornwall is a country. I reckon Scotland isnt a country at the moment but I do accept that some people argue it is.

I often fly the dragon but only when the boat is in england.

Incidentally Webbie - the saltire being the colour it is, how on earth are you going to get a blue ensign after independance or do you take the view that all scots ensigns will be blue. If so how will that go down with the typical scots socialist voter?
 
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OK, I should have asked this years ago, but to honest am barely interested in the subject.
What is the deal with a blue ensign? Can't I hang any old tablecloth off the back of my boat... it's my boat after all...
 
Yep, you can do as you wish.

I can walk around in my underpants, barefoot, half my hair shaved off and snot dribbling down my chin.

It's my life after all...
 
OK, I should have asked this years ago, but to honest am barely interested in the subject.
What is the deal with a blue ensign? Can't I hang any old tablecloth off the back of my boat... it's my boat after all...
Of course, you can fly anything you like off the back of your boat, assuming that it's one of the hundreds of thousands of AWBs or similar. If however it's a British registered vessel you are obliged by law to fly the red ensign. If you belong to a club that is entitled to fly a blue ensign, and it's a registered vessel then you can fly the club blue instead of the red if you have a warrant to do so, and if you wish to. It has nothing to do with the competence or experience of the boat owner.
I see that you say you are barely interested in the subject and I am barely interested in answering you, but it might be of interest to someone.
Anyone can fly a blue ensign if they have a British registered vessel and belong to one of the many clubs entitled to, most of which are not in the least bit exclusive.
 
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I'm not obliged to fly anything, unless I'm sailing in an area that requires the nationality of my yacht to be identified. :)
"A UK flagged vessel must wear her ensign as required by the Merchant Shipping Act, which includes when entering or leaving a foreign port and on demand."
Applies to registered vessels.
 
"A UK flagged vessel must wear her ensign as required by the Merchant Shipping Act, which includes when entering or leaving a foreign port and on demand."
Applies to registered vessels.

So let's have a looksee at the Merchant Shipping Act...
5 Duty to show British flag.

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a British ship, other than a fishing vessel, shall hoist the red ensign or other proper national colours—

(a)on a signal being made to the ship by one of Her Majesty’s ships (including any ship under the command of a commissioned naval officer); and

(b)on entering or leaving any foreign port; and

(c)in the case of ships of 50 or more tons gross tonnage, on entering or leaving any British port.

(2)Subsection (1)(c) above does not apply to a small ship (as defined in section 1(2)) registered under Part II.

And small ship....

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(d) above—

“qualified owners” means persons of such description qualified to own British ships as is prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of that paragraph; and
“small ship” means a ship less than 24 metres in length (“length” having the same meaning as in the tonnage regulations).
From http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/21

I'm quite flattered you believe I own a vessel over 24 metres, but I doin't

As I said....
I'm not obliged to fly anything, unless I'm sailing in an area that requires the nationality of my yacht to be identified.

Which is entering or leaving a foreign port, or in the vicinity of a vessel under command by a British naval officer... The rest of the time I'm not obliged to fly anything.

And your point was ? :)
 
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....I'm quite flattered you believe I own a vessel over 24 metres, but I doin't ....
I do. What would be the point of registering anything smaller?
My point? Not sure now. We are obviously at cross purposes.
Anyway, even if you only have a small boat, if it's registered why not observe the old traditions and do the right thing?
Quite understand if you're not interested; so many people aren't these days.
 
I do. What would be the point of registering anything smaller?
My point? Not sure now. We are obviously at cross purposes.
Anyway, even if you only have a small boat, if it's registered why not observe the old traditions and do the right thing?
Quite understand if you're not interested; so many people aren't these days.

I do fly my red ensign when I remember, I don't observe the tradition of taking it down at 8 or dusk whichever is sooner, that was brought in to save the navy spending money on flags, we don't have that problem so if we're on a cruise it stays up. But I'm not breaking the law if I forget (or don't wish to) put it up - Which I thought was the meaning behind your post...I.e. I'd be breaking the law if I wasn't flying one.

One reason I never felt the urge to fly a defaced blue (I was a member of a club where I could) was that I see so many other people flying the wrong bits of bunting or the defaced ensign without the burgee. I too would forget the burgee was still atop the mast, or in a locker when it shouldn't be, I'd hate to upset anyone by accident. So I happily stick to my red duster...when I remember :)
 
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