White ensign on a "ordinary" yacht

Porthandbuoy

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Red, White or Blue, when do you replace your ensign? Do you fly it until it is a faded, tattered rag informing everyone of the '000s of miles you've sailed? Or do you swap it out for a new one at the first sign of decrepitude (the ensign that is) to show everyone how smart you keep your boat?
 

dunedin

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Red, White or Blue, when do you replace your ensign? Do you fly it until it is a faded, tattered rag informing everyone of the '000s of miles you've sailed? Or do you swap it out for a new one at the first sign of decrepitude (the ensign that is) to show everyone how smart you keep your boat?
Perhaps like fashion jeans, you can buy them pre-faded to appear less of a novice voyager?
(PS I noted that Concerto's ensign is showing excellent battle scars)
 

Chiara’s slave

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Red, White or Blue, when do you replace your ensign? Do you fly it until it is a faded, tattered rag informing everyone of the '000s of miles you've sailed? Or do you swap it out for a new one at the first sign of decrepitude (the ensign that is) to show everyone how smart you keep your boat?
Ours is absurdly smart. OH has a seagoing ensign and a Solent/harbour ensign.
 

jamie N

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At Inverness marina, I'd say that at least a quarter of the boats fly this, or the Saltire.
The majority of visiting yachts wear the Saltire, not anything like a red ensin.
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MADRIGAL

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If I were Scottish, I think I’d go with the saltire inshore and in harbour. That Scots red ensign is hideous. Dunno why.
It has a long history at sea, though before 1707. If I were a Scot, I'd be tempted for that reason alone, and would find somewhere aboard to fly it, depending upon how concerned I was about the Merchant Shipping Act. :)
 

The Q

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The Shetlander I know has an aversion to the Saltire at least as great as some of you guys have to the union flag. Seems odd to me, but what do I know.
Because a true Shetlander will tell you he's not a Scot, but have been "owned" by Scotland since 20th Feb 1472, therefore having been part of Scotland alone, less time than they have been part of the UK as a whole. They have more affinity to Norway and are closer in distance to Norway than Mainland Scotland.
 

Chiara’s slave

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Because a true Shetlander will tell you he's not a Scot, but have been "owned" by Scotland since 20th Feb 1472, therefore having been part of Scotland alone, less time than they have been part of the UK as a whole. They have more affinity to Norway and are closer in distance to Norway than Mainland Scotland.
He is certainly a true Shetlander. Nearly 80 and still hard as nails. He cruises in a 16ft RIB.
 

bluerm166

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Our enthusiastic house neighbour currently flies a v.large white ensign in the garden òn flagpole over the rustic bar /elevated chicken coop ? ( daughter is in the navy).A change from the Australian flag or the Stars and Stripes.We're away at present but expect to see the Union Jack at half mast on return.
 

Walther

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Nova_Scotia.jpg
 

dgadee

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When you go abroad, fly what you want. Overseas Johnnies are used to the bizarre range of ensign flown by Brits. They do not give a toss.
 

Norman_E

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In my years sailing in Turkish & Greek waters I only saw a white ensign on a yacht once. I was moored stern too on the Tee end of a jetty in Fethiye. It was a day with a little wind and the white ensign yacht was the only one anchored in the harbour to drag its anchor. It came to my bows and its owner ran through my boat to get to his, and never even apologised. I had actually seen the boat coming and used a boathook to hold it clear of my anchor. Probably should not have bothered.
 

Frank Holden

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Its a long time since I have seen as much bunting as I have seen on this thread.

Interesting bit.
Up until about 1981 there was no such thing as an 'Australian ship'. Only 'British ships registered in Australia'. These ships flew not an australian flag but a 'defaced red ensign'.
Then Australia got her own shipping register - a few years after they removed 'british subject' from the passports.

And then Australian ships could fly an Australian red ensign although some insisted on flying the ANF - Australian National Flag - as is the right of any Australian.

The red/blue ensign issue in Australia is interesting - the original ANF was in fact red and did not turn blue until 1954.
History Of The Red Duster, The Peoples Commonwealth of Australia Flag.
 
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