When is it time to retire the ensign

dancrane said:
Maybe it's possible to get an empty one of those code-flag pouches, to put the overflow of books in? :confused:
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Sad I know, but I actually want a proper set of code flags, not that rubbish that is made up in the correct sequence for dressing ship. I have only ever used Q and can see limited opportunity for Code B (unless a particularly strong curry the night before) but I still really fancy one!!

And sorry for Fred drift
 
SamanthaTabs said:
Just one question, how has your red ensign faded so much that its turned blue? Australian is blue
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No, it isn't

au~red.gif
 
jac said:
I actually want a proper set of code flags, not that rubbish that is made up in the correct sequence for dressing ship.
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Can't think why anyone would buy those hooked-together ones. No point having the flags unless they're separate and ready for real communication purposes, and familiar to the user! Anything else is so much Christmas tree tinsel.
 
dancrane said:
What do you use to prevent books from flopping about on the half-empty shelves, in rough conditions?
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More books.

During refit, I have a notebook (actually as of this year a note app in my phone) in which I write down everything that needs to go from the house to the boat on the next trip, or vice versa. On one occasion as the cabin was being returned to habitability, the list included "5 inches of books". Didn't matter what they were, but I had put all the important navigational books on the shelf, and a few others for entertainment, but still had a five inch gap at the end which needed filling. I took a selection from the living room bookcase that would take up the space.

Actually most of the required thickness was taken up by only two books: a copy of the New Glénans Sailing Manual and an anthology of the eight sailing Tilman books.

Pete
 
dancrane said:
Can't think why anyone would buy those hooked-together ones. No point having the flags unless they're separate and ready for real communication purposes, and familiar to the user! Anything else is so much Christmas tree tinsel.
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You'd like my set, then. Inherited from (and largely made by) my great aunt who sailed around the Channel in a Vertue from the 1950s onwards. Unfortunately I don't keep them on the boat, though, as I think the signalling set are natural fibre and so susceptible to damp. I do use her courtesy flags, again mostly home-made except for the Normandy lions which were clearly a little beyond her embroidery capabilities!

Other slight issue is that my signal halyards have Inglefield clips on the ends to fit the courtesy flags as inherited (and I've sewn clips onto the flags I've provided such as the forum burgee) - but for some reason (probably the cost of clips) the signal set use the old toggles and loops. Obviously they can still be used together if required, though.

Pete
 
dancrane said:
One hardly needs to sail anywhere, particularly in unappealing weather...go aboard at the mooring, pour whisky, open Tilman volume 1... :)
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Sadly I don't like whisky (I'd like to like it, if you see what I mean) - but otherwise you're spot on. Many an hour of refit work has been lost that way :)

Pete
 
prv said:
I don't keep them on the boat, as I think the signalling set are natural fibre and so susceptible to damp.
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When I'm whining about the condition of my sails, I'm forgetful of the endless labours which our sailing forebears must have put in, just to keep their sails, covers, dodgers, canopies and even flags in anything like acceptable condition.
 
Just making the point we fly a ensign and most other countries don't even know what it is... Then again I have recently seen numerous ensigns, some red, some blue, all with union jacks. They are from various different countries, not the UK, but the ensigns look similar to the UK's. The Australian boat in front has a blue ensign by the way.
 
Nostrodamus said:
Then again I have recently seen numerous ensigns, some red, some blue, all with union jacks. They are from various different countries, not the UK, but the ensigns look similar to the UK's.
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That's because they generally copied it from the Royal Navy squadron that patrolled their part of the world in Imperial days.

Pete
 
Aussie private pleasure craft can either fly the red ensign or the national flag, I'm always too quick to think I was wrong. Cruised with a lovely couple 3 years ago, Aussies and blue flag (fountaine pajot called Whiskers if anyone knows them?)

On another note, a good 70 ft (possibly plus) warren has just sailed in - don't see many of those! German ensign, standard. And another leopard (newer than us, fly bridge) truly don't see many around these parts :)
 
dancrane said:
Can't think why anyone would buy those hooked-together ones. No point having the flags unless they're separate and ready for real communication purposes, and familiar to the user! Anything else is so much Christmas tree tinsel.
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The only point in buying those 'hooked together ones' is to dress overall and have a bit of fun!
As far as using them for 'real' communication purposes. In the unlikely event that you felt inclined to use them 'for real' even if you knew how to use them properly, it is unlikely that anyone else would be able to read it!
 
SamanthaTabs said:
The learning code of life! Had never seen an Australian ensign and honestly one has just sailed in the bay with hometown of Brisbane :)

On NZ though there are various.. We've cruised 2 years with kiwis and their ensign was definitely blue.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=g...0a&biw=1024&bih=672&biv=i|1;d|7dIFDPCid0tuNM:
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Fret not. I have seen at least half a dozen Oz and NZ yachts in Portugal over the past year - all with blues. Next one I see I shall ask them.

I knew a kiwi once who wore a red. He told me that this was their 'privileged'' ensign.
 
chinita said:
Fret not. I have seen at least half a dozen Oz and NZ yachts in Portugal over the past year - all with blues. Next one I see I shall ask them.

I knew a kiwi once who wore a red. He told me that this was their 'privileged'' ensign.
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They have only a couple of variants ... imagine the confusion all our ensigns cause to other nationalities.

So far I have only seen blue Aussie flags.
 
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