Thanks everyone for your answers. I think I will probably remove the
block altogether. A flag staff on the starboard side of the transom is
a better solution -- and more in line with flag etiquette as well.

True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks everyone for your answers. I think I will probably remove the
block altogether. A flag staff on the starboard side of the transom is
a better solution -- and more in line with flag etiquette as well.

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message ...
True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug


You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of the way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.

A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on modern sloops.

CN

Capt. Neal® wrote:

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...

True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug



You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when
motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of
the way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is
incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the
starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.
A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on modern
sloops.

CN


Proper is not proper if it is not functional. Besides, what about the
term stern staff don't you understand?

CN

Flagstaff or stern staff? It looks like neallie cannot even agree with
himself.
JR

"JR Gilbreath" wrote in message ...
Capt. Neal® wrote:

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message ...

True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug



You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of the way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.
A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on modern sloops.

CN


Proper is not proper if it is not functional. Besides, what about the
term stern staff don't you understand?

CN

Flagstaff or stern staff? It looks like neallie cannot even agree with himself.
JR

A flag staff at the stern = a stern staff. Keep grasping at those straws,
why don't you.

CN

Capt. Neal® wrote:


"JR Gilbreath" wrote in message
...

Capt. Neal® wrote:


"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...

True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug




You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when
motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of
the way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is
incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the
starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.
A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on
modern sloops.

CN


Proper is not proper if it is not functional. Besides, what about the
term stern staff don't you understand?

CN

Flagstaff or stern staff? It looks like neallie cannot even agree
with himself.
JR


A flag staff at the stern = a stern staff. Keep grasping at those straws,
why don't you.

CN
I don't have to grasp at straws to show what an idiot you are. Just
quote you.
JR

"JR Gilbreath" wrote in message t...
Capt. Neal® wrote:


"JR Gilbreath" wrote in message ...

Capt. Neal® wrote:


"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message ...

True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug




You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of the way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.
A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on modern sloops.

CN


Proper is not proper if it is not functional. Besides, what about the
term stern staff don't you understand?

CN

Flagstaff or stern staff? It looks like neallie cannot even agree with himself.
JR


A flag staff at the stern = a stern staff. Keep grasping at those straws,
why don't you.

CN
I don't have to grasp at straws to show what an idiot you are. Just quote you.
JR

But, you should at least endeavor to make a modicum of sense when
doing so.

CN

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...
True on a powerboat, not for sail. Proper place to fly the ensign is
off of the luff of the mainsail. Next best place is off the backstay as
per your original post. Going up the backstay isn't a big deal.

Doug


You are wrong. Where is one to put the flag when at anchor or when
motoring?
And, if the flag is flown off the mainsail it should be two-thirds of the
way
up the leech. Fifteen feet doesn't quite get it.

It is wrong to fly the flag off the backstay because the angle is
incorrect and the
flag does not display properly.

The angle of the mainsail luff isn't much different than the angle of the
backstay.
I don;t see how if makes much difference. I've been flying my ensign off the
backstay
for years with no problems.


Then there is the problem of courtesy flags which are shown off the
starboard
spreader. They should be above the ensign as a courtesy.
A flagstaff on the stern if the proper way to display the flag on modern
sloops.

CN

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message news

The angle of the mainsail luff isn't much different than the angle of the
backstay.
I don;t see how if makes much difference. I've been flying my ensign off the
backstay
for years with no problems.


I'm assuming you meant leech and not luff or it doesn't make much sense.
But, please stop and consider that when sailing the leech of the mainsail has
wind blowing over it in such a way as to keep the flag flying.

Now consider an anchored vessel in little or no wind. A flag that hangs off
the backstay will tend to wrap around it and not display properly while
a flag on a stern staff will hand down and partially open even if there
is no wind and it light winds it displays nicely.

You really should stop flying your flag off the backstay and put it on
a stern staff. I also used to fly my flag off the backstay until recently
after doing quite a bit of reading on the subject and I concluded I
was better served with a stern staff. I can even fly my flag at night
because the anchor light is right above it and illuminates the flag as
required for flags flown at night.

CN

No room on the stern for a staff. Too much stuff back there. Keeping it on
the backstay keeps it out of the way. When the wind isn;t blowing, it hangs
forward and looks just fine.

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
news

The angle of the mainsail luff isn't much different than the angle of the
backstay.
I don;t see how if makes much difference. I've been flying my ensign off
the backstay
for years with no problems.


I'm assuming you meant leech and not luff or it doesn't make much sense.
But, please stop and consider that when sailing the leech of the mainsail
has
wind blowing over it in such a way as to keep the flag flying.

Now consider an anchored vessel in little or no wind. A flag that hangs
off
the backstay will tend to wrap around it and not display properly while
a flag on a stern staff will hand down and partially open even if there
is no wind and it light winds it displays nicely.

You really should stop flying your flag off the backstay and put it on
a stern staff. I also used to fly my flag off the backstay until recently
after doing quite a bit of reading on the subject and I concluded I
was better served with a stern staff. I can even fly my flag at night
because the anchor light is right above it and illuminates the flag as
required for flags flown at night.

CN