What is the correct size of ensign for your boat???

[PeterGibbs]

If you have any Dutch blood in your veins, your ensign's length will be calculated to allow the lowest folds to just kiss the water as you advance.

I never see ensigns of the parsimonious UK dimensions on Dutch or any other nationalities' boats - probably reflecting the general low esteem in which we seem to hold our motherland! (don't kid yourselves it's modesty!)

Buy it as big as you can, and fly it with pride (red please - not that phoney blue thing!)

PWG

 

[charles_reed]

Reefing? I never take it down.

Strains (in background) of Land of Hope & Glory, played on a wind-up gramophone.

 

[Athene V30]

Shocking I know but have to furl the ensign at sea on port tack as it fouls the steering gear.

Maybe I should paint the vane blue?

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Perhaps in harbour I should raise the ensign staff and have a bigger ensign too.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[lw395]

Short enough to stay clear of the sternlight.
Better still, flown up the backstay clear of the helm's line of sight.
On a proper minimalist boat it should be able to double up as a tea towel.

 

[30boat]

Well, I buy a courtesy flag and leave it on until one can barely identify it as a flag.Big ensigns irritate the hell out of me when I'm sailing downwind because they tickle me in the neck and get in the way.And they're pretensious.And this way I get to irritate my patriotic sailing friends wich is a bonus.And, top of all,they're cheap.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Slightly different question - what's the etiquette for when you fly one??? Only when you're aboard, or all the time???

I only ask as I forgot to take mine down last weekend... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[colingr]

Too big

One for the blue ensign crowd

Defaced white

 

[Koeketiene]

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How rude /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
(I can lip read /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

 

[maxi77]

I would suggest that one needs at least two ensigns, one for sea which will be reasonable small, and affordable to replace regularly, but big enough to be clearly identified with ease, so probably between 2/3 and 1 yard.

For showing of and harbour then the almost touching the water rule seems as good as any, it certainly needs to be very noticable, you are proud to fly it aren't you

 

[Kilter]

I always thought you to be a right sewn so! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



Off fer me coat then! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Krusty]

[ QUOTE ]
I would suggest that one needs at least two ensigns, ...

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Proposition seconded. Adopted years ago!

I have a cord haliard through a small block halfway up the backstay where PIOTA wears the passage-ensign (printed, for durability!) but only large enough to be recognisable.
Before entry to the kind of harbour or marina where it might matter, the passage ensign is removed and the ensign staff set in its socket abaft the self-steering and its clean, almost surface-kissing one (sewn!) unfurled.
Can't please everyone, of course.
Does it matter? Not a lot!

 

[Koeketiene]

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I always thought you to be a right sewn so! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Glad I can live up to your expectations /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Excellent response . Thank you team. !!
As is often the case I am none the wiser at the end of the thread than when I made the OP but most entertaining.

 

[rich]

Is this big enough then.

 

[Koeketiene]

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Is this big enough then.

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Boat's too small /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[aquaplane]

FWIW, I inherited one off the old folks 35'Yat, it was a bit tattered and damned good looking on my 18 footer. It did tend to get manky off the outboard though, but got a bit of a wash when it dangled in the water.

I eventually swapped it far a smaller one which was smarter and needed the newness wearing off.

 

[Colvic Watson]

I fitted the biggest ensign I could find on ebay - 5 foot.

 

[wotayottie]

Not a very British thread at all.

In the UK you always fly a small ensign - to fly something large would be the sort of thing a foreigner (or even worse, an American) would do and therefore bad form.

What matters in the UK is the colour of ensign, and white is best. Old money in sailing terms. Blue is "social climbing" whilst red is for the shopkeepers and tradesmen of this world. The ensign your gardener flies.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bejasus]

[ QUOTE ]
In the UK you always fly a small ensign - to fly something large would be the sort of thing a foreigner (or even worse, an American) would do and therefore bad form

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I think that you will find that the Americans are just as proud of their naval traditions as the Brits are. I have seen no real evidence of huge vulgar ensigns there in the past 3 years we have been there. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif