What does this symbol mean?
- Thread starter Knot Stressin'
- Start date
In this sailing forum, we should try to provide helpful on topic answers, rather than expressing divisive personal opinions.
Designers, builders, and class associations have graphic symbols representing their boats. These class insignias are placed on the mainsail sometimes with the hull number of the boat below it. It is unusual to find a class insignia on a Genoa, although hull numbers are sometimes placed on the Genoa.
I did a quick search and could not find a builder or class that used the Fleur-de-lis as an insignia. Somewhere online there is a guide to the various class/builder insignias.
The Fleur-de-lis is historically a French symbol. The boat's history may have a connection to a prior owner who was of French or French Canadian ancestry.
Designers, builders, and class associations have graphic symbols representing their boats. These class insignias are placed on the mainsail sometimes with the hull number of the boat below it. It is unusual to find a class insignia on a Genoa, although hull numbers are sometimes placed on the Genoa.
I did a quick search and could not find a builder or class that used the Fleur-de-lis as an insignia. Somewhere online there is a guide to the various class/builder insignias.
The Fleur-de-lis is historically a French symbol. The boat's history may have a connection to a prior owner who was of French or French Canadian ancestry.
@Knot Stressin' what is the name of your boat? it may have connotation to the name, or if you purchased the sail used it could have name relations to the original boat it came from.
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I fully support the spelling "deragatory"...for no reason other than "quit raggin' on me".
I just purchased this boat back in August. After it had been sitting for several years. I dont know anything about previous owners. And the boat doesnt officially have a name. At least nothing that anyone bothered to put on the boat in the form of decals or paint.
So her name may have been something like, "Iris" a dictionary meaning for the Fluor de Lis "a European iris."
I think this "Fleur-de-lis" thingy maybe what was intended when it was put on the sail.
However I have absolutely zero connection with the symbol. So.....next question, How do you remove it or cover it up so I can put this sail in my cache?
However I have absolutely zero connection with the symbol. So.....next question, How do you remove it or cover it up so I can put this sail in my cache?
Fly the sail when needed and don't worry about the symbolism, come up with a good story to the inquisitive minds that question the markings
This can be a tedious process. It is attached with an adhesive. Gently lift a corner and gradually pull the symbol off the sail. As the symbol comes off, sprinkle some talcum powder over the residual adhesive so it doesn't stick back to the sail. Once the symbol is off, use a gentle solvent, alcohol or acetone to remove the adhesive. It is a good project for the winter in the garage with a beer.
Slow and careful are the guide words.
That looks extremely effective! But its gonna stir up even more questions. I can only imagine what the pictures would be of your remedies for my newly modified sail that just doesn't seem to catch the wind like it uses to?
If you decide to fly that Genny, just hang one of these off the port side spreader halyard and you’ll be a winner, even if they’re not in the Super Bowl.
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Personally I don’t know why you would want to remove it. The Fleur-de-Lis is commonly used ornamentally pretty much everywhere. If you really hate it find a way to get rid of it. Otherwise, fly it proudly.