Friday flag fun

[howardang]

 

had forgotten about the RMAS being disbanded! I know that SERCO runs a lot of the harbour craft that have taken over the RMAS role, do they wear blue or fly the Red Duster instead?

 

Perhaps the Warships are after the pirates that we see around the system instead...? Having been in piracy infested waters (see Capt Philips to get a good idea...) and been shot at in various parts of the world I don't quite see the funny amusing side of dressing up as pirates as well as other people...

I understand that all Serco vessels fly the Red Ensign. Apparently they have taken over around a hundred vessels from the RMAS fleet.

 

I completely agree with your comments about pirates on the canal; it is a shame that people think it is funny but spending a couple of watches around Guardafui might change their attitude:-).

 

I have the Captain Phillips DVD but I am saving it to watch it on our next canal trip.

 

Howard

[Dharl]

Saw Captain Phillips in the cinema organised by a law firm specialising in Marine Law, couple of my seafaring colleagues with me. At some points I nearly got up and left, as the hairs was standing up on the back of my neck as it was so true to life it was making it uncomfortable to sit there and watch it! most of colleagues who have sailed in that region and had similar first hand experience agreed with me and said they nearly did the same!

 

Never had a film effect me like that before.

[larryjc]

In the cruising yotting world abroad a skull and crossbones is often flown at anchor to say that they have children on board - so other boats with kids can come over and play.

The skull and crossbones is also flown by HM submarines returning from patrol when they have had some success - like Conqueror coming home from the Falklands (please no debate about the right and wrongs of that!!)

When I was yotting we flew the blue ensign as I am a member of the Royal Naval Sailing Association. Did it for one main reason - meeting like minded people. Every time we met another RNSA boat it ended up in a hangover which proves the point. Also almost noone knew who we were. We were regularly accused of being from New Zealand.

I've seen one RNSA narrow boat but frankly don't see the point on inland waterways but if peeps want to fly something why not - the previous owner of my boat used to fly the flag of Manchester City FC - something I would do over my dead body!!

[Dalesman]

 

nearly correct; Plain Blue Ensign are worn by yachts when the Owner is a member of (and has the correct warrant) a yacht club with prefix of 'Royal', ie Royal Motor Yacht Club (Poole), Royal Solent Yacht Club (Yarmouth) etc. Defaced Blue Ensigns belong to other yacht clubs who have applied for the appropriate warrant, no other Royal connection needed. In all cases the yacht club has to have a warrant and so does the Owner of the vessel in question, the house flag or the burgee HAS to be worn at same time. If the owner is not on board the vessel then the defaced flag has to be replaced with a Red Ensign.

 

Govt Vessels (RFA, RMAS etc) wear a Defaced Blue Ensign.

 

A Red Ensign would be appropriate for a canal boat to fly.

Like this one

 

[Alan Saunders]

Aside from the etiquette of flying a flag on an inland boat I lke to see national ensigns displayed by visitors.

(If they are from American, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc. I can get by in their language, otherwise they will have to speak English.)

 

Maybe 'improvers' at the helm should fly a suitable pennant; like an 'L' or 'P' plate on a car?

 

Somehow I missed the significance of a teapot on roof or flag - I guess, like 'come in for coffee' after escorting a date home it implies something more intimate than a hot beverage.

 

Alan.

[Barry]

Somehow I missed the significance of a teapot on roof or flag - I guess, like 'come in for coffee' after escorting a date home it implies something more intimate than a hot beverage.

 

Alan.

 

No Sir - your guess is wrong. The tea pot on the roof is NOT an invitation for men to try their luck.

[Dharl]

Like this one

 

 

 

[Giant]

The Navy have a tradition of a "Gin Pennant", which is hoisted to invite officers from other ships to join them aboard for drinks:

 

 

In the same manner, might I propose that the following new flag would be found useful by members of this forum:

 

[Dar Kuma]

I would fly a yellow flag.

[John V]

I would fly a yellow flag.

 

Ebola?

[Peter X]

So why does the Navy's "Gin Pennant" show a champagne glass? I just looked it up and learned that gin is customarily drunk from a round glass, rather similar to a wine or brandy glass.

 

Also, our teapot flag won't need to be bigger; the Navy have some very large ships which will be moored further apart, although of course they're much more likely to possess some high powered binoculars for spotting flags.

[OldGoat]

This might set the tone:-

 

 

[Giant]

So why does the Navy's "Gin Pennant" show a champagne glass? I just looked it up and learned that gin is customarily drunk from a round glass, rather similar to a wine or brandy glass.

 

The Gin Pennant seems to vary a lot in design, which is not surprising since it is very much unofficial, and reportedly usually bodged up from an old starboard pennant. There are even images around of a Gordon's branded design which they apparently gave out free to sailors at some point.

 

Anyway isn't that a cocktail glass? I thought champagne was drunk from those tall skinny glasses. Champagne flutes?

 

Also, our teapot flag won't need to be bigger; the Navy have some very large ships which will be moored further apart, although of course they're much more likely to possess some high powered binoculars for spotting flags.

 

It wasn't intended to be to scale, but if it makes you feel better:

 

[Giant]

Ebola?

 

Barely knew 'er!

[Peter Reed]

I would fly a yellow flag.

Budweiser?

[Dar Kuma]

Budweiser?

[larryjc]

Originally a yellow flag meant there was plague aboard!! It got changed to mean that you were asking the port authorities for 'free pratique' which means clearance to come ashore. Nowadays it means you haven't cleared customs. So either way flying it would be a bad idea...........

[londonron]

May I make a tea pennant? I like your design.

[bigcol]

I for one, are finding Jaynes toynes blog a great read.

Thank you for a good read, bringing back sea stuff memories, to my earliest days spending time in Poole Harbour, before Poole harbour marina, sun seekers flagship boat being 30ft and b/q on brownsea, and of course days taking part a sea toilet!

 

http://www.boogie-nights.org/

 

Col

Edited May 13, 2015 by bigcol

[Giant]

May I make a tea pennant? I like your design.

 

Please do!