[Will the waterways charity work?]

I hate to say it, but it is not going to work. The question is "what next"

Norman

[Shropshire union]

You could try the Nantwich & Border Counties Yacht Club at Nantwich. I think you will find a mooring there for a 26 ft boat.

Norman

[From our friends across the pond]

I might have an odd sense of humour but that picture made my day.

Norman

[MV Wincham Scrapped]

I have known about this for some weeks now and personally feel sad and bitter about the way things developed. For some time during 2003 and4 I was part of the group that worked on her and she was in full working order.

The Wincham was owned and preserved by The Wincham Preservation Society which was part of the Friends of the Maritime Museum and was financially supported by National Museums Liverpool. A dispute developed between the Friends and the Museum over the direction of the museum's policy which resulted in the disbandment of the Friends and now puts into question the future of The Preservation Society.

The scrapping of Wincham seemed to be rushed and kept very quiet and there is still mystery over the whether it was the only alternative

Norman

[Bad news for canal pub]

I'm going to take the subject back to the "Star" at Acton and say that I have met the the two people involved and know that they have done everything to make the place work. One of my daughters and her partner operate a pub also owned by Enterprise Inns and the firm just operates a policy of getting as much as possible from their tenants without regard to the future success of the business. The company recently put their pub up for sale and without consultation with any one of the family. My daughter's partner decided to make an offer for the business but Enterprise Inns would not discuss it with him and subsequently took the pub back of the market.

It seems to me that these so called Pubcos are a busted flush and soon with any luck go the same way as so many other enterprises that have no real meaning for being, apart from making money for themselves. We used to criticise the breweries for the way they ran their pubs but at least they had a reason for being in the business.

Any way I've had my rant and not much good it will do.

Norman

[Widebeam in Chester?]

With a 10ft beam you have free range from Ellesmere Port to Nantwich on the Shropshire Union. Forget the Llangollen or the Middlewich Arm.

Norman

[displacement = weight?]

Displacement is in fact volume of water displaced by a vessel when it is freely floating and is the actual weight of the vessel as represented by the weight of the water displaced.

Norman

[Midfest]

The Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival has been going on for years and is a very popular event. If going by boat you need to be there handy to get a decent mooring.

Norman

[Easter gathering of boats at Ellesmere Port]

Hi Sue

The boats are normally gathered at the Port by Friday though a few may still be arriving . It is usually a good experience although a bit earlier than normal this year.

Norman

[British Waterways funding for 2008-9]

I feel a sense of relief that the "Guardian" appears to have misinterpreted the figures. I could not see the situation getting any worse than it is.

Norman

[British Waterways funding for 2008-9]

In this mornings "Guardian" it reports on considerable spending cuts in canals amongst other departments. It states that the British Waterways funding has been cut yet again from £48.5m to £34.1m.

It makes the future look very bleak.

Norman

[Using the ladder in a lock]

This subject has rightly aroused much interest. The fact remains that as with everything else on the canals the use of the brain before doing anything particularly around locks needs to be carefully weighed up before doing anything. I have no hesitation in using lock ladders where necessary but I certainly think before doing so.

Norman

[WATER POINT AT HURLESTON JUNCTION]

Just a quick point which may be useful, there are two water points at Audlem, one above the lock and one below

Norman

[Avast Avast it's got a mast]

Hi Norman

So can you tell us which courtesy flag a foreign vessel would fly when visiting a British Port? It's certainly not an ensign as they are always flown at the stern and not the mainmast. When I was in the Navy (Merchant Red Ensign) we always flew the national flag of the country we were visiting from just below the portside crosstree of the Mainmast as a courtesy. The starboard side just below the crosstree was reserved for signal flags ie Quaranteen flag ( yellow) meaning I request the services of a doctor to give the vessel a clean bill of health (or not) Blue Peter (White square on dark blue background) meaning the vessel will be sailing within 24hrs. etc etc............................

 

Yar Well ( ignorance is bliss!!)

 

Hang on a minute whats this

 

BLIMEY even Nelson got it wrong

 

Shot at 2007-06-26

 

At the risk of boring our fellow canal enthusiasts, I checked up on the protocol for the courtesy flag to be flown by a foreign vessel in a British port and it is the Red Ensign. Admiralty Manual of Seamanship Vol 1.

I was merchant navy also.

Norman

[Avast Avast it's got a mast]

Heres the reply from Piggots:

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

From my personnel experience I would say the Red Ensign - BUT would suggest

you make contact with the Flag Institute to clarify.

 

www.flaginstitute.org

 

Sorry I could not be of any further assistance.

 

Best regards

 

Kelly

 

So follow Gibbo's link!

 

 

Speaking from many years experience as a ship's officer I can confirm that the Red Ensign is the correct flag to fly.

The Union Jack with a white surround can be carried on a jack staff at the fore end of the boat.

As for the flying of the Union Jack by foreign vessels this is down to ignorance.

Hope this helps

Norman

[Ellesmere to Ellesmere]

Hi Mrs Panda,

A good place to stop is below Beeston Iron Lock. Handy for the Beeston Castle Hotel, good food and proper beer.

There is also a small general shop that sells practically anything you might need.

Norman