We first saw this on a local ferry, they shoot across the harbour at 15 knots, their ensign extended at the stern and if you look carefully you will see a strip of netting sewn onto the tail end to protect from whipping its self to rags.

How you can make your ensign last longer
1, Buy some red netting
2. Cut twice as wide as you need it
3. Fold the netting in half
3. Sew the folded part of netting onto the windward edge of the ensign, so that you have two free edges flying in the wind.

A simple way to help your ensign last twice as long.

To make the ensigns last twice as long as a cost cutting mission for the Navy, ensigns were hoisted at sunrise and dropped it again at sunset.

Any more ways you use to cut your running costs of your boat email us at boats@boatshed.com