Right to Fly Blue Ensign
The first Admiralty Warrant authorising the use of the Blue Ensign was issued in 1842 and the current warrant in 1894. Copies of these warrants are contained in the RWYC handbook.
Club members are able to submit an application to fly the Blue Ensign to the Club office along with a small administration fee. Once permission has been granted, a permit will be issued which entitles you to wear the Blue Ensign, and in doing so, we would ask you to pay particular attention to the Club booklet, Flags and Signals Bye-Laws, especially to Rule 1.4:
“The Club Burgee shall always be flown when the yacht wears the Blue Ensign and the Committee of the Club has ruled that the Burgee must be flown from the main masthead and not in any inferior position.
“If due to the arrangement of masthead fittings this is not possible the Blue Ensign may not be worn and the Red Ensign must be worn instead.
“In motor yachts without a mast the burgee should be flown from a staff in the bows of the yacht.”
The Committee considers that it is nearly always possible to fly the burgee at the masthead with the provision of an extra long burgee stick.
For more information on applying to fly the Blue Ensign, please contact the office.
