Can anyone help identify what this is?

[JPA Cate]

Perhaps there is little need for a sunshade in Esslingen? ;-)

Yes, it's a sunshade, may double as a rain awning as well, depending on what it's made of. We used to have a cockpit shade that doubled as a rain catcher for the boats water supply.

Ann

[The Walrus]

Defiantly a boom tent/shade. The short two cords tie around the mast and of course the side cordage ties of to lifelines. Great for shade and keeping the temp down in the boat through the day.

[Hard Rock Candy]

It's an air scoop. and rain cover. You tie it around your front hatch and tie the cords from the straight bar to your Furler. Then when you are pointing into the afternoon breezes, it funnels the air down the hatch. You will be amazed at how much air flow you will get with just a small zephyr of wind. Mac

[Tayana42]

It is a do it yourself, multipurpose, roll up, canvass cover for a selection of pole vaulting poles. Pole vaulting is very useful on a boat. Makes docking much easier as you don't have to get anywhere close to the dock. Also, you can do away with the depth sounder. Everyone should have a few on board. That roll up cover helps keep them organized in the cockpit locker.


S/V B'Shert

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by rhubstuff

It is a boom tent (as noted already). Tie the two lines in the center of the batten to the topping lift, tie the side lines down to the lifelines, grab a cold one, and relax in the shade.

Yep, my ketch came with one the same. Mine attaches under the mizzen for shade from the sun.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

It is a do it yourself, multipurpose, roll up, canvass cover for a selection of pole vaulting poles. Pole vaulting is very useful on a boat. Makes docking much easier as you don't have to get anywhere close to the dock. Also, you can do away with the depth sounder. Everyone should have a few on board. That roll up cover helps keep them organized in the cockpit locker.


S/V B'Shert

what? I didn't follow any of this

[CLady]

It's a WATERMAKER!
The end with the pvc pipe in it is the upper part of your rainwater-collecting-in-a-tropical-squall scoop and the other end gets funneled down into your 5 gallon bucket. Now if you get really clever with your incredible foresight, you will plumb in a length of tygon tubing to siphon your pure rainwater down into your water tank or containers that you store your 'less than treated' water in, (you don't want to contaminate your water tanks).

That blue piece of cloth is invaluable the way it is set up.

[SimonV]

2nd guess. Its a man overboard recovery device. The two strings on each end are attached to a halyard and lowered into the water the rescued party gets in and is lifted aboard.

[charliehows]

looks like a pirate flag that needs a bit of re-painting to me

[atoll]

Originally Posted by charliehows

looks like a pirate flag that needs a bit of re-painting to me

more like an EU flag missing its stars

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

what? I didn't follow any of this

I want to see the photos. How do you pole fault back on board a yacht with a weeks worth of food and the dog? What do you do with the kids? catapult perhaps?

[hrsail920]

cockpit awning

[Delay]

Thanks everyone for all the useful (and not so useful) answers!

You're right about me not needing one in Esslingen! I've actually moved back to Sydney, but Esslingen will be forever in my heart.
Unfortunately I haven't seen any dingy races in the Neckar, just the odd barge

[SkiprJohn]

Good to have you here on the forum.

Yes, lots of barges in good wine country.

Max-Eyth-See, Germany on Google Earth. My daughter and I used to bicycle along the edge of the vineyards and overlook the lake to see the dinghies.