White ensign on a "ordinary" yacht
- Thread starter tudorsailor
- Start date
PWLS08
Active Member
And of course the Indian Navy have just announced that they are going away from the White Ensign format.
Porthandbuoy
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
Ours is absurdly smart. OH has a seagoing ensign and a Solent/harbour ensign.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
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.
The majority of visiting yachts wear the Saltire, not anything like a red ensin.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
If I were Scottish, I think I’d go with the saltire inshore and in harbour. That Scots red ensign is hideous. Dunno why.
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Lots of Bretons fly the Breton flag rather than the tricolor.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
It's fairly common here to see a Shetland or Orkney boat flying their individual Island flags.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
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.
MADRIGAL
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
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.
clyst
Well-Known Member
......... hope you also fly the pennant ?
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
He is certainly a true Shetlander. Nearly 80 and still hard as nails. He cruises in a 16ft RIB.
bluerm166
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
dgadee
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
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.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
Post #136 was confusing for me at 1st, eh! 
I hope that I'm right???
I hope that I'm right???
Frank Holden
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
