RNYC Ensign and Burgee

The Ensign

The defaced blue ensign may be worn only on a yacht used for exclusively for private and personal purposes and when the permit holder in person is in effective command of the vessel. When the Ensign is worn, the Club burgee should also be flown from either the main masthead or 'other suitable position'. When in harbour the ensign should be hoisted at 0800 (0900 between 1 Nov and 14 Feb) and lowered at sunset or 2100 local time if earlier. If you are going ashore and are not likely to return before the relevant time you should adopt the practice of 'early colours' and lower the ensign and burgee when you leave the vessel. Neither ensign nor burgee should be left flying on an unattended vessel.

Provided the conditions in the permit are met, the club's defaced blue ensign qualifies as 'proper national colours' for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, s.2. Any flag other than a red ensign (or blue ensign in the circumstances set out) is not proper national colours and wearing such a flag as an national ensign may be a criminal offence.

Permits are issued under the conditions of a Warrant granted to the Club by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Club cannot vary these conditions and will enforce them strictly.

The conditions for a permit are:-

1. The vessel must be registered with the Club. (Forms available from the Membership Secretary membership@rnyc.org.uk )
2. All the owners of the vessel must be Club members.
3. The vessel must be Registered as a British vessel under Part I or Part III (Small Ships Register)
4. The vessel must be more than 7 metres in registered length. ( If Part 1 registered more than 2 tons gross)

To apply, please send the following

1. A photocopy of your Part I or Part lll (SSR) registration document. (Both sides if Part I )
2. A letter confirming that the vessel will not be used for commercial purposes.
3. A cheque for £5 made out to the RNYC

to:-
Chris Turnbull
Rift Farm
Wylam, Northumberland
NE41 8BL

The Burgee

The traditional club burgee has red borders on two sides, as shown here. In recent years variations of this traditional design have arisen.

The proper position for a burgee is at the main masthead on a stick or some other support. It is now common practice to fly the burgee from the lower starboard mast spreader. Strictly this is the place to fly the Q flag or the national courtesy flag when visiting a foreign country. It is a breach of flag etiquette to fly any flag above a national courtesy flag on the same flag halyard. House flags (e.g. the RNLI flag) may be hoisted on the port spreader flag halyard.