White ensign on a "ordinary" yacht

[absit_omen]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

I presume that was a serious question. Although my four year old is shaking his head.

I am between Lagos and Sagres. Bit cloudy today but it has been beautiful. High 20's but with welcome Northerly winds which are both cooling and offshore for those lucky people sailing out of the Algarve.

Having had six years in the Med I think that this is by far the nicest climate. Baking heat in the Eastern Algarve if you want it. Changing, raw, Atlantic influence on the West coast if you don't.

 

[davidfox]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Sounds wonderful! - I am hiding today, the house is full of my daughters friends, its her 5th Birthday party and it sounds chaotic.

 

[narooma]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

wear a scttish saltire instead.you,ll get no problems from anyone,just admiring glances

You would do better flying your underwear ...now that really is pants /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[LadyJessie]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

The Red Ensign is the only legal ensign outside of British Waters.

I would have thought that the people who think the rules and colours of your ensign are important ought to know that. Obviously not. I meet blue and white ensigns all the time in the Med. And they are sticklers to the time they have to be taken down in the evening; to the minute. Why this very strict adherence to some rules and not others? Very strange to me, not being a British subject, You guys are truly different.

 

[HoratioHB]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Rubbish - the Blue Ensign (or white for that matter) when worn with a valid warrant is as legal as the Red.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

If you read the merchant shipping act part 1, section 2,para 3, you will find that your statement that 'the red ensign is the only legal ensign outside of British Waters' is completely wrong.
Whilst not a stickler for lowering ensign times (which is actually a naval convention brought in by Samuel Pepys to save money and not a law) I enjoy the fact that the different ensigns are a reminder of our colourful and varied maritime heritage. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AlJones]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Here, here!

 

[absit_omen]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Here here here here!!

Who does this Jonny foreigner think he is!! - telling us our own regulations - incorrectly.

Something of a sweeping statement about hoisting and lowering. Berthed opposite me are Bill and Laurel Cooper, authors of Sell up and Sail, ex RN, ex Gib Harbourmaster and their Blue flies 24/7 (as does mine).

Get your facts right Lady J.

 

[LadyJessie]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

[ QUOTE ]
If you read the merchant shipping act part 1, section 2,para 3, you will find that your statement that 'the red ensign is the only legal ensign outside of British Waters' is completely wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]I stand corrected. I had my information from a fellow British cruiser that I had no reason to doubt, but when I now check the data I find that I was wrong and you were right.

That doesn't take away my fascination with your strange British rules with multiple ensigns, national and regional. Many other of the main European nations are now using the EU flag as their ensign. My guess is that the British will first evolve through a period of regional English, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, etcetera, (which has clearly already started) before following the rest of Europe with the EU flag. You are always the last to join, but you usually do. Might take a hundred years, though.....

 

[Searush]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

[ QUOTE ]
The Red Ensign is the only legal ensign outside of British Waters.
(cut)

[/ QUOTE ]

Where do you all get this nonsense from?

Some clubs/organisations have been granted the priviledge of flying a specified ensign. It is a valid alternative to the Merchant fleet Red Ensign, wherever you are. There are certain conditions applied to the warrant. It must be on board as must the person holding the warrant. The relevant club burgee should also be flown, normally in a "superior" position to other burgees/ courtesy flags or house flags. Finally, thanks to Samuel Pepys, the Ensign should be lowered overnight.

It's not that hard really is it? In addition, there is a large fine possible for those flying unauthorised Ensigns.

 

[absit_omen]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

[ QUOTE ]
You are always the last to join

[/ QUOTE ]

Apart from the last two World Wars - when it mattered.

 

[HoratioHB]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Just out of interest (and keeping the controversy going), I fly the Blue for two reasons:

1. To meet like minded drunks and drink with them - sort of kindred spirits attitude.

2. Security - bearing in mind I am in the Caribbean and don't blame me for this as I got it from other yachties. The US ensign is 'not liked' by many (can't think why) even though it probably means they are carrying a complete arsenal of weapons. This is followed by the red ensign which everyone knows is flown by the country which likes the Americans. Whereas just about nobody understand the blue (as this forum shows) so I am usualy accused of being and Ozzie or from NZ or something all of which suits me!

Oh and I'm actually rather proud of being ex RN.

Oh Oh and hell will freeze over before I put an EU flag on my boat.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

actually, many of the other european nations are not using the blue european flag... In home waters, a vessel can use pretty much any flag it wants - so maybe they were in their home waters, but when going into foreign waters they still are legally required to use the official maritime ensign of their vessels country of registration as lodged with the IMO.
The USA can be quite particular about such things. Failure to use the correct ensign can cause a lot of additional hassle in foriegn waters because the nationality of the vessel is less readily apparent to security and law enforcement agencies. The Australians can also be quite shirty about the absence of the correct ensign, especially on the northern coasts where they have problems with waterborne illegal immigration.
We are not the only nation to have special maritime ensigns, rather than just the national flag. It is purely a reflection of our nations development and maritime heritage. I too fail to understand why some people apparently seem to get so hot under the collar about it... but more often than not, it is tongue in cheek trolling.

 

[AlJones]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

[ QUOTE ]
Just out of interest (and keeping the controversy going), I fly the Blue for two reasons:

1. To meet like minded drunks and drink with them - sort of kindred spirits attitude.

2. Security - bearing in mind I am in the Caribbean and don't blame me for this as I got it from other yachties. The US ensign is 'not liked' by many (can't think why) even though it probably means they are carrying a complete arsenal of weapons. This is followed by the red ensign which everyone knows is flown by the country which likes the Americans. Whereas just about nobody understand the blue (as this forum shows) so I am usually accused of being and Ozzie or from NZ or something all of which suits me!

Oh and I'm actually rather proud of being ex RN.

Oh Oh and hell will freeze over before I put an EU flag on my boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I concur!!

I fly it proudly and my RNSA Burgee!!

Snob? Me? Yeah I bloody am, And I point out it's un-defaced!!

I have been asked if I am Kiwi also!

Al.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Moi aussi -- with the added bonus that in the USA I find I am treated with utmost courtesy and all investigations stop immediately they sight the MOD permit prominently displayed in the 'ship's papers' file.
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[bryantee]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

fair play to anteak. im sat at the keyboard sans wife ,shes on the beach at lefkada. the rain here is welding rods, middle of the monsoon./its 3.30 0n sunday morn 1/2 pissed ? (or more) Kingfisher is only 1 euro a pint the craic is good in cochin if you speak malayalam
hamdu laylay

 

[davidfox]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Surely the reason for the ensign be it red, blue or white is to tell the officials of the country that you are in where you are from/registered, the colour of the the flag doesnt matter its the little union flag in the corner that they are looking for, the ensign colour as we have been told, ad nauseam means something else.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

'the colour of the the flag doesnt matter its the little union flag in the corner that they are looking for, the ensign colour as we have been told, ad nauseam means something else.'

that's alright then... I'll fly the state flag of Hawaii and see how the USCG respond.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Athene V30]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

Agree totally with Horatio HB and Al Jones re EU 'ensign' - It would be an absolute disgrace to give up our maritime heritage. Undefaced Blue for me with RNSA bugee at masthead.

 

[wotayottie]

Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht

[ QUOTE ]
Surely the reason for the ensign be it red, blue or white is to tell the officials of the country that you are in where you are from/registered, the colour of the the flag doesnt matter its the little union flag in the corner that they are looking for, the ensign colour as we have been told, ad nauseam means something else.

[/ QUOTE ]

Must admit that I find these endless debates about ensigns deeply depressing. I had thought that finally the British had put class distinction and snobbery behind them, but the number of posts on ensign issues gives lie to this idea. We are still split into factions and we still like to try and create silly distinctions. Its the national Mrs Bucket syndrome.

Until this country gets rid of all the fatuous pomp and pageantry, others will laugh at our fixation with the past and the UK will continue to decline and fade away.