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Old 27-11-2017, 20:46   #1
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Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

Is there a name for the high aspect ratio flags/banners? Is there any particular history about what is proper to have in this aspect ratio? or meaning they have?

I think they are cool looking at was thinking of some sort of decorative flag to hoist aloft or maybe a very long (or large) flag for the stern.

Thanks.

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Old 27-11-2017, 20:59   #2
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

I assume they usually represented the squadron the vessel belonged to. Similar to the burgee of yacht clubs today
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Old 27-11-2017, 21:01   #3
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

They are called pennants. They can have many different meanings. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennant_(commissioning)
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Old 27-11-2017, 21:18   #4
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

From my Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea:

Pendant, sometimes written and always pronounced pennant, a narrow tapering flag used for signaling or to designate some particular purpose. There are ten numbered pendants and fourteen special pendants used in the British naval signalling, and an answering pendant in the International Code of Signals. See also Commissioning Pendant.

Commissioning Pendant, the long, narrow pendant flown at the masthead of warships commanded by commissioned officers. In the British Navy it is white with a red cross, and is flown permanently, by night as well as by day, so long as the ship remains in commission.
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Old 28-11-2017, 08:15   #5
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

Also from Wikipedia:
Pennants


The church pennant of the Royal Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Australian Navy


The pennant, historically called a pennon, is a long narrow flag, conveying different meanings depending on its design and use. Examples:
  • A commissioning pennant, or masthead, which a warship flies from its masthead and indicates the commission of the captain of the ship (and thus of the ship itself). In the Royal Navy, the commissioning pennant is a small St George's Cross with a long tapering plain white fly. In the United States Navy, it is red above white, with seven white stars in the blue hoist. The commissioning pennant may be displaced by various rank flags, namely the flags or pennants of admirals or commodores, and the personal flags of heads of state and members of royal families. In former centuries, masthead pennants were of a length similar to that of the ships that wore them, but nowadays very long pennants tend only to be seen when a ship is paying off.
  • A church pennant, as used by the Royal Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy and Commonwealth Navies, is a broad pennant flown on ships and at establishments (bases) during religious services, and has the George Cross and Dutch flag incorporated; chosen after the English Dutch Wars where both sides stopped for Church on a Sunday.
  • A Senior Officer Present Afloat pennant using the NATO signal flag for "Starboard" is green on the hoist and fly with a white field between.
  • A Gin Pennant means that the wardroom is inviting officers from ships in company to drinks. The origins of the Gin Pennant are uncertain, but it seems to have been used since the 1940s and probably earlier. Originally it was a small green triangular pennant measuring approximately 18 by 9 inches (460 by 230 mm), defaced with a white wine glass, nowadays the gin pennant is a Starboard pennant defaced with a wine or cocktail glass. Its colour, size and position when hoisted were all significant as the aim was for the pennant to be as inconspicuous as possible, thereby having fewer ships sight it and subsequently accept the invitation for drinks. The Gin Pennant is still in regular use by Commonwealth Navies, such as the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Within the RAN it is common practice, whilst in port, for junior officers of one ship to attempt to raise the Gin Pennant on the halyard of another ship, thereby forcing that ship to put on free drinks for the officers of the ship that managed to raise the pennant. If, however the junior officers are caught raising the pennant, then it is their ship that must put on free drinks within their Wardroom. Usually this practice is restricted to Commonwealth Navies; however, prior to increased force protection, RAN officers have successfully raised the Gin Pennant on a number of units in the USN.
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Old 28-11-2017, 08:18   #6
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

While we are at it:

moorings have pendants.

pendant-something that hangs-from the French "pendre"

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Old 28-11-2017, 08:20   #7
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

AND...are quite often the source of artistic mistakes where a warship is shown/painted sailing with her sails full (stern wind) and the pennant/pendant streaming aft ......into the wind :-)

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Originally Posted by evm1024 View Post
From my Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea:

Pendant, sometimes written and always pronounced pennant, a narrow tapering flag used for signaling or to designate some particular purpose. There are ten numbered pendants and fourteen special pendants used in the British naval signalling, and an answering pendant in the International Code of Signals. See also Commissioning Pendant.

Commissioning Pendant, the long, narrow pendant flown at the masthead of warships commanded by commissioned officers. In the British Navy it is white with a red cross, and is flown permanently, by night as well as by day, so long as the ship remains in commission.
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Old 28-11-2017, 09:22   #8
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

These are sometimes refered to as "Coming home Pennents" and one foot of pennent was added to each year of the ship was in commision and were flown when returning to port.
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Old 28-11-2017, 11:28   #9
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

Top picture was simply a "pennant", a triangular elongated banner or flag.
Big illustration would be "homecoming pennants", often flown by whaling ships and warships that had been out to sea for several years. You'd probably find the numbers in Chapman's, there are specific traditions for how long the homecoming pennant is, based on how long the ship has been at sea.

If you want to hoist something personal...hey, it's your boat. "Whatever floats your boat" comes to mind.
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Old 28-11-2017, 11:34   #10
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

I especially like the note about the gin pennant. I'll have to get myself one of those and keep an eye out for flying ones too.
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Old 28-11-2017, 11:40   #11
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

A little off topic, but your first photo is the Pride of Baltimore. Wildly raked masts. Really cool vessel. Thanks for posting the pic!!!

The third pic I think is the USS Constitution...old Iron Sides.

I'm at a loss for the other two.
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Old 28-11-2017, 13:11   #12
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

Other than the Commissioning Pendant I've never seen one in use. However there are photo's of the dramatically long Pendants used in the competition for the fastest Atlantic passage between luxury liners. They were called ribBONs with emphasis on the last three letters. The vessel holding the fastest passage flew the Blue Ribbon and was accorded bragging rights to advertise it.
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Old 28-11-2017, 13:14   #13
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

While some of you are about the subject of pictures and pennants, Before the days of photography it was customary to commission an artist to paint a ship portrait of the new vessel. One of the best English companies who had offices close to Lloyds in London was started by William John Huggins (1781–1865). The business was carried on by his son James Millar Huggins (1807 - 1870) who worked from 1836-65. also his younger brother John W. Huggins (baptized 1809) etched some drawings after their father's work

Paintings by these artists are highly valued these days. The way they are identified is that the name of the ship is hidden in writing on the mast head pennant and is read by using a mirror. Sort of a trade mark of their work.
So keep your eyes open in antique shops?
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Old 28-11-2017, 13:15   #14
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

ironsides...aka constitution...
see image--
Old Ironsides sails again, ship where first US Marine officer died in combat - USMC Life
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Old 28-11-2017, 13:27   #15
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Re: Long flags at the top of tall ships - name?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse View Post
Other than the Commissioning Pendant I've never seen one in use. However there are photo's of the dramatically long Pendants used in the competition for the fastest Atlantic passage between luxury liners. They were called ribBONs with emphasis on the last three letters. The vessel holding the fastest passage flew the Blue Ribbon and was accorded bragging rights to advertise it.
I could be wrong but I have a recollection the name was Blue RIBAND
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