Lizzie_B
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
sorry hadn't read yr post before posting mine.. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
sorry hadn't read yr post before posting mine.. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
White ensign on a "ordinary" yacht
- Thread starter tudorsailor
- Start date
Fletcher14
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
Yes, I remember that the Royal Yacht was 'supposed' to be a hospital ship but when the Falklands kicked off it wasn't used as one and the 'Uganda' (I think) ended up being the hospital ship. It wasn't long after that that it ceased to be the Royal Yacht anymore and I wonder if it was due to the Royal family not letting the RN use it as a hospital ship during the Falklands. It certainly was strange that it wasn't used as this was the main defence of it being there for the Royal family at the tax payers expense and manned by RN crew. Admittedly though I'm filling in the blanks with guesses. But it is a fact that the defence of it being paid for by us was that it would be a hospital ship if war began and fact that when war did break out it wasn't used as a hospital ship and not long after that it was de-commissioned.
Yes, I remember that the Royal Yacht was 'supposed' to be a hospital ship but when the Falklands kicked off it wasn't used as one and the 'Uganda' (I think) ended up being the hospital ship. It wasn't long after that that it ceased to be the Royal Yacht anymore and I wonder if it was due to the Royal family not letting the RN use it as a hospital ship during the Falklands. It certainly was strange that it wasn't used as this was the main defence of it being there for the Royal family at the tax payers expense and manned by RN crew. Admittedly though I'm filling in the blanks with guesses. But it is a fact that the defence of it being paid for by us was that it would be a hospital ship if war began and fact that when war did break out it wasn't used as a hospital ship and not long after that it was de-commissioned.
Lizzie_B
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
It was noting to do with the Royal Family 'not letting' it be used for the Falklands Campaign. It was never HM's property and HM would never in effect be in a position to say no if the RN wanted to take it.
She didn't go as I recall at the time because technology had moved on and her boilers used a type of fuel that none of the other ships used - so it would have meant having to take her own personal fuel supply 1000's of miles to keep her on station for only a limited patient carrying capacity benefit.
She was also in need of a refit which probably had more to do with the decision to pension her off.
It was noting to do with the Royal Family 'not letting' it be used for the Falklands Campaign. It was never HM's property and HM would never in effect be in a position to say no if the RN wanted to take it.
She didn't go as I recall at the time because technology had moved on and her boilers used a type of fuel that none of the other ships used - so it would have meant having to take her own personal fuel supply 1000's of miles to keep her on station for only a limited patient carrying capacity benefit.
She was also in need of a refit which probably had more to do with the decision to pension her off.
alan_d
Well-known member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
The ex-Royal 'Yacht' Britannia (actually a RN Hospital Ship for naval purposes) did fly the white ensign, She is now a tourist attraction on Clydeside and probably flies the McDonalds logo
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Wrong side of the country. Britannia is berthed at Leith (by Edinburgh) on the Firth of Forth.
[ QUOTE ]
The ex-Royal 'Yacht' Britannia (actually a RN Hospital Ship for naval purposes) did fly the white ensign, She is now a tourist attraction on Clydeside and probably flies the McDonalds logo
[/ QUOTE ]
Wrong side of the country. Britannia is berthed at Leith (by Edinburgh) on the Firth of Forth.
Lizzie_B
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
'It wasn't long after that that it ceased to be the Royal Yacht anymore '
She actually saw a further 15 years service as a Royal Yacht before being decommisioned.... that is actually quite a long period of time by navy ship standards, longer than some of the later designs of warship built for the navy's total service lives. She was converted to burn deisel fuel in her 1984 refit and between 1991 -95 alone she earned an estimated £3 billion for the exchequer via commercial days hosted aboard her, so she wasn't quite as bad for the public purse as some would like to make out.
[ QUOTE ]
'It wasn't long after that that it ceased to be the Royal Yacht anymore '
She actually saw a further 15 years service as a Royal Yacht before being decommisioned.... that is actually quite a long period of time by navy ship standards, longer than some of the later designs of warship built for the navy's total service lives. She was converted to burn deisel fuel in her 1984 refit and between 1991 -95 alone she earned an estimated £3 billion for the exchequer via commercial days hosted aboard her, so she wasn't quite as bad for the public purse as some would like to make out.
Fletcher14
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
She was certainly magnificent. I visited an MEM friend onboard in 1980 and he showed me the engine room which was gleaming. Pity for such a ship to be pensioned off. Interesting stuff about the fuel. What sort of fuel was it?
She was certainly magnificent. I visited an MEM friend onboard in 1980 and he showed me the engine room which was gleaming. Pity for such a ship to be pensioned off. Interesting stuff about the fuel. What sort of fuel was it?
DaveS
Well-known member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
the Jubilee Sailing Truss.
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Is this a bit like these harnesses that hard dinghying types use?
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the Jubilee Sailing Truss.
[/ QUOTE ]
Is this a bit like these harnesses that hard dinghying types use?
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
I set'em up, you knock'em down!
I set'em up, you knock'em down!
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
Without wishing to throw petrol on the flames, does anyone know what sort of ensign is worn by the pleasure yacht sailed by HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, the well known pharologist, yachtswoman and badger disliker, and her husband Admiral Timothy Laurence?
One might imagine they would be rather spoilt for choice.
[/ QUOTE ]I can confirm that they still have their yacht. From memory they fly a blue ensign. I am afraid I can't remember if it is a defaced blue or not.
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign. It’s not hard to understand what to wear and why. Furthermore, I can't understand why people have a further hang up over Blue ensigns etc. We fly a blue ensign because I am in the RNSA. It’s nothing to do with snobbery, but a privilege that I am proud of.
If you think the ensign is unimportant, try telling a French sailor that his Tricolour is dated and passé... Even the lowliest French boat wears a Tricolour (usually old and faded), and I was told that it’s a legal requirement but can't quote chapter and verse of French law on the subject.
[ QUOTE ]
Without wishing to throw petrol on the flames, does anyone know what sort of ensign is worn by the pleasure yacht sailed by HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, the well known pharologist, yachtswoman and badger disliker, and her husband Admiral Timothy Laurence?
One might imagine they would be rather spoilt for choice.
[/ QUOTE ]I can confirm that they still have their yacht. From memory they fly a blue ensign. I am afraid I can't remember if it is a defaced blue or not.
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign. It’s not hard to understand what to wear and why. Furthermore, I can't understand why people have a further hang up over Blue ensigns etc. We fly a blue ensign because I am in the RNSA. It’s nothing to do with snobbery, but a privilege that I am proud of.
If you think the ensign is unimportant, try telling a French sailor that his Tricolour is dated and passé... Even the lowliest French boat wears a Tricolour (usually old and faded), and I was told that it’s a legal requirement but can't quote chapter and verse of French law on the subject.
tomdroyal1980
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign.
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Because they're insecure about their (lack of) talent for sailing and use flag etiquette pedantry to compensate?
(Typo sorted)
[ QUOTE ]
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign.
[/ QUOTE ]
Because they're insecure about their (lack of) talent for sailing and use flag etiquette pedantry to compensate?
(Typo sorted)
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign.
[/ QUOTE ]
Because they're insecure about their (lack of) talent for sailing and use flag ettiquet pedantry to compensate?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think you've reversed my meaning - my apologies if I was ambiguous. What I meant was 'I can't understand why people can't simply follow flag etiquette and wear the correct ensign on their boat?' Its not pedantry to use the correct etiquette.
It would be pedantic of me to suggest that users try and spell correctly?
It’s not a question of pedantry to both try and obey the law and follow the traditions of the sea.
There seems to be a reverse snobbery on these forums at times, in which people who have the honour to be allowed to wear a blue ensign are denigrated and considered targets for snide remarks. People rejoice when we make mistakes and lampoon our efforts. The reality is that we are all sailors just like anyone else. Those of us who have blue ensigns sometimes make mistakes and sometimes we sail well. Just the same as those who sail with red ensigns or any other.
Anyway, this is beginning to sound pompous and God forbid that I should start sounding like a pompous old so and so! As I tried to say in the first place, I just don't understand why people can't get the ensign thing right and be proud of our maritime heritage with all its rights and privileges and variations.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I can't get my mind round why people get such a hang up over boats wearing the correct ensign.
[/ QUOTE ]
Because they're insecure about their (lack of) talent for sailing and use flag ettiquet pedantry to compensate?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think you've reversed my meaning - my apologies if I was ambiguous. What I meant was 'I can't understand why people can't simply follow flag etiquette and wear the correct ensign on their boat?' Its not pedantry to use the correct etiquette.
It would be pedantic of me to suggest that users try and spell correctly?
It’s not a question of pedantry to both try and obey the law and follow the traditions of the sea.
There seems to be a reverse snobbery on these forums at times, in which people who have the honour to be allowed to wear a blue ensign are denigrated and considered targets for snide remarks. People rejoice when we make mistakes and lampoon our efforts. The reality is that we are all sailors just like anyone else. Those of us who have blue ensigns sometimes make mistakes and sometimes we sail well. Just the same as those who sail with red ensigns or any other.
Anyway, this is beginning to sound pompous and God forbid that I should start sounding like a pompous old so and so! As I tried to say in the first place, I just don't understand why people can't get the ensign thing right and be proud of our maritime heritage with all its rights and privileges and variations.
tomdroyal1980
New member
Re: White ensign on a \"ordinary\" yacht
[ QUOTE ]
What I meant was 'I can't understand why people can't simply follow flag etiquette and wear the correct ensign on their boat?'
[/ QUOTE ]
Personally it's rare I see a boat that doesn't display the right flag, maybe you're oversensitive to it? (In fact the biggest flag transgressors are the many blue flaggies who view their club flags as optional.)
If there are people who can't be bothered with their Ensigns I suspect it's for the same reason that they don't obey other laws and other traditions.
Or maybe they're so used to people making up laws on the internet that they assume all legislation is fiction.
[ QUOTE ]
What I meant was 'I can't understand why people can't simply follow flag etiquette and wear the correct ensign on their boat?'
[/ QUOTE ]
Personally it's rare I see a boat that doesn't display the right flag, maybe you're oversensitive to it? (In fact the biggest flag transgressors are the many blue flaggies who view their club flags as optional.)
If there are people who can't be bothered with their Ensigns I suspect it's for the same reason that they don't obey other laws and other traditions.
Or maybe they're so used to people making up laws on the internet that they assume all legislation is fiction.
Walther
Member
WoodyP
Well-known member
That's been a bit of a sleeper. Fourteen years for the reply 
scottie
Well-known member
Perhaps the sailing community is more likely to leave HRH peace. To enjoy her sailing !
Minchsailor
Well-known member
When I have seen her it has been the ensign for the RYS - white.
The Q
Well-known member
it's unfortunately becoming more and more common to see the White Ensign and the RAF Ensign 
being flown on Broads Hire boats.
Only once have I seen the RAF ensign being flown correctly on the Broads as IIRC a retired Air Commodore (or above) can fly the Ensign.. and there was one for a while on the broads..
Both the white and RAF are often being flown by junior ranks , with a large amount of alcohol involved..
I find it a shame you can buy these ensigns on Ebay when they mean so much more to many...
being flown on Broads Hire boats.
Only once have I seen the RAF ensign being flown correctly on the Broads as IIRC a retired Air Commodore (or above) can fly the Ensign.. and there was one for a while on the broads..
Both the white and RAF are often being flown by junior ranks , with a large amount of alcohol involved..
I find it a shame you can buy these ensigns on Ebay when they mean so much more to many...
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-known member
There is a large quantity of worms in this can?
creeks
Active member
I used to crew for a vice-commodore of the RYS and I'm sure we flew the Red Ensign. It was only used though on the few occasions when we had to retire from a race. Maybe the White would have been inappropriate when used for that purpose?
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-known member
I wonder if there are any other countries with this entertaining multiplicity of of flags which might possibly be worn on their yachts?