Expression - choosing what mast to hang my pennant from

[Lynn Eades]

Male Chauvanist Pig!.... Yes?,.. Present?..... Whadda ya want?

Yes, Lionelgee, you can nail your "Writ" on the mast! (what mast?)
Bob will probably start a thread on CMP masts..........

Are you talking about a sloop, a cutter, or a barc? (or bark, or a barque)
and which mast?, the mizzen, the rudder post, the foremast, or the aftermast? (hell, I know nothing about boats!- arhh., yes, definition = a hole in the water that you pour money into)
I blame all this on 2 years of covidity.

Note: my better half said you are correct.

[Robin Craig]

The pennant is in reference to your own identifying pennant from the sailing world. If you were a Toronto Yacht Club member you are entitled to fly their pennant from your rigging. If you cam aboard my boat and I was a member elsewhere we would fly yours as well, usually lower.

Others of our ilk would see the pennant and know a TYC member and a Howe Island Yacht Club member were aboard.

In the days before cell phones, it would have been enough for someone in an anchorage to come over and start a conversation and usually social mingling would follow and gin and tonics and a meal ensued.

Does that help?

I have witnessed, as a ships agent, a ship being arrested and a writ attached to the mast and a seal put on the fuel supply to the engines, but thats another story....