Flying the Ensign on the Back Stay

[tjr818]

So...do I just sew a block onto the leech 2/3rds of the way up for a flag halyard, or what???

Yes. Once you've done that and tested out your new system, start a thread on how to control all that line when the main comes down.

Thanks Neil. That would certainly complicate reefing too!
I'm re-thinking sewing rings onto rthe leech. We don't see many warships here in saint Louis.

[David van den Burgh]

Did someone pooh-pooh the idea of seizing a simple stainless ring to the backstay at the appropriate height and a cleat near the turnbuckle to run and secure the flag halyard? That's what we did aboard Ariel years ago, and it's worked fine and looks good (despite the fact that I seized the ring a tad less than 2/3 of the way up). I'm confused as to why this is so complicated. Did I miss something?

[Joe Myerson]

The simple way to solve the problem is to sew a flag to the sail at the two thirds position. It then becomes part of your sail, don't sweat dipping the colors for warships - they aren't going to see you do it. You then need a second flag on a Staff that you fly from the stern when your sail is not up.

A sailing friend and CD owner (not a member of CDSOA), who is also a former Marine, has a small US flag sewn precisely 2/3 of the way up the leech of his mainsail.

He also has a larger (correctly sized for the length of his boat, no doubt) flag on a meticulously varnished staff that he flies from the stern when he's at anchor or under power.

Since he refuses to race ("I had enough of that when I was younger," the 78-year-old says), he doesn't bother using snap hooks for the flag on his sail, but he did with other boats.

I don't want to sound unpatriotic (Isn't patriotism more than flying a flag? ... oops--won't go there.), but I'd prefer an easier way to fly the colors -- like using the backstay.

--Joe

[Sea Hunt Video]

For those interested, the November 2011 issue of SAIL magazine has a short article and photo by Don Casey (page 36) describing what seems like a fairly simple and elegant way to fly Old Glory from the topping lift.