![[RAF Yacht Club]](../images/g/gb~rafyc.gif)
Last modified: 2016-12-09 by rob raeside
Keywords: royal air force yacht club | blue ensign |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
image
by Jose C. Alegria DiazSee also:
The Royal Air Force Yacht Club, U.K. of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The burgee of the Royal Air Force Yacht Club is flown with a (dark) blue ensign
with a crowned flying eagle in gold in the fly.
Miles Li, 23 April 2003
![[RAF Yacht Club]](../images/g/gb~rafycan.gif)
image by Pete Loeser, based on
World Flag Database, located by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
The RAFYC ensign as we have it at the top of this page differs significantly
from the image in the World Flag Database
http://www.flags.net/UNKG14.htm#UNKG8052, in that the latter has an anchor
behind the eagle. Let me first quote what the club themselves say about flags:
The RAFYC's website at
http://www.rafyc.co.uk, has the rules and bylaws in a
pdf file. While I find the location in a folder called "stories" a bit odd,
I can appreciate club rules that pay ample attention to flags:
Rules &
Bylaws (Amended October 2012)
Club Rules
1 Structure of the Club
1.1 The Club Burgee shall be a light blue triangular flag incorporating and
superimposed thereon a Royal Air Force roundel.(To be flown as in Bylaws CE 3.1
to CE 3.6)
1.2 The Club Ensign shall be the Blue Ensign of H.M. Fleet
with the Royal Crown and a Royal Air Force Eagle superimposed on the fly. (To be
flown as in Bylaws AW 2.1 to AW 2.8 and CE 3.6)
1.3 The Admiral’s Flag
shall be a rectangular light blue flag incorporating superimposed red, white and
blue discs with, in gold, The Royal Air Force Eagle holding an anchor in its
claw.
1.4 The Flag Officers’ Flag shall be a rectangular swallow-tailed
flag with markings as follows:
* Commodore: Light blue swallow-tailed Pennant
with red, white and blue discs superimposed
* Vice-Commodore: As Commodore’s
Pennant, but with one white ball
* Rear Commodores: As Commodore’s Pennant,
but with two white balls
* Past Commodores: As Commodore’s Pennant, but with
a white cross in the first Canton
(All to be flown in place of the Club
Burgee See 1.4 above)
1.5 The Membership Flag shall be a light blue
rectangular flag incorporating superimposed red, white and blue discs over The
Air Force Eagle in gold looking towards the hoist and to be flown as in Bylaw
CE.3.6.
----
By-Laws
Admiralty Warrants (AW)
All Members holding
an Admiralty Warrant MUST COMPLY with these Bylaws
AW 2.1 The Ministry of
Defence will grant, subject to approval, a warrant to fly the defaced blue
ensign to Members owning yachts of 2 tons gross registered tonnage and above.
Members wishing to apply for a warrant should apply to the Secretary.
AW
2.2 The attention of Members is drawn to the under mentioned notes regarding
Admiralty Warrants:
a. Return of Warrant. When the Yacht is sold or the owner
ceases to be a Member of the Club, the warrant must at once be sent to the
Secretary of the Club, who is responsible for its immediate return to the
Ministry of Defence (Navy).
b. Presence of the Owner. The special ensign
authorised by the warrant may not be flown unless the Owner is on board or in
effective control of her when she is in harbour or at anchor near the shore.
c. Tenders. The ensign may be flown by any boat which belongs to the Yacht for
which the owner holds the warrant and can conveniently be hoisted on board her
in the same configuration as a yacht.
AW 2.3 Separate Warrant for each
Club. If the owner belongs to more than one Club to which warrants to use
special ensigns are granted, he must apply for a separate warrant from each
Club.
AW 2.4 Commercial Use. A yacht which is ever used for any
commercial purpose is ineligible for a warrant.
AW 2.5 Houseboats, etc. A
yacht which is never used for cruising is ineligible for a warrant.
AW
2.6 Charter or Loan. If the yacht is lent or chartered to another Member of the
same Club, the ensign may no longer be flown under this warrant.
AW 2.7
Alterations. No alteration may be made in the warrant without the authority of
the Secretary of State for Defence. If the name of the yacht is changed, or any
alterations are made in her which affect the Register, the warrant must be
returned to the Ministry of Defence for correction or re-issue.
AW 2.8
Foreign Cruises. Owners of yachts cruising in foreign waters should take care to
avoid any action which might result in complications with a foreign power. To
this end it is requested that owners intending to visit foreign waters affected
by war or serious disturbance will give particulars of their proposed voyages to
the Secretary of the Club.
Ceremonial (CE)
CE 3.1 The flagstaff on the
lawn at the Clubhouse, Hamble is the main flagstaff of the RAFYC.
CE 3.1.1
The flagstaff comprises:- mainmast, topmast, yard and gaff. The flagstaff is
orientated by looking at it from the river, with the yard parallel to the
riverbank. The right hand yard or upriver yard is the ‘starboard’ and the left
hand yard ‘port’. The gaff points from the mainmast towards the centre of the
river. The point of attachment of the standing rigging to the ground is the
‘deck’.
CE 3.2 DAILY ROUTINE
CE 3.2.1 In the absence of the Commodore
from the vicinity of the Club, the ordinary Burgee of the RAFYC will be hoisted
to the head of the topmast and the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Fleet, defaced
in accordance with the Admiralty Warrant granted to the RAFYC will be hoisted to
the gaff. All flags will be hoisted at 0800 hrs. BST and lowered at 2100 hrs.
BST from 1st May until 30th September, and hoisted at 0900 hrs. lowered at
sunset from 1st October to 30th April (or at such time as flags are hoisted and
lowered by a vessel of HM Royal Navy when present in the river Hamble and
visible from the Clubhouse).
CE 3.2.2 The Commodore’s broad pennant will be
hoisted to the head of the topmast in place of the Club Burgee when the
Commodore is present in the Clubhouse, on board his yacht in the river or when
the Commodore is known to be within the confines of the village of Hamble. The
Commodore’s pennant is to be raised and lowered at the times previously stated
or raised on his arrival and lowered on his departure if within those times.
CE 3.3 Procedure on the arrival of foreign yachts to the Port of Hamble.
CE 3.3.1 When a foreign yacht arrives in the river, the Club Manager, or a
person acting under his instruction, is to hoist to the starboard yardarm, as
early as possible, the National maritime flag appropriate to that yacht. On the
arrival of other foreign yachts of different nationalities, the appropriate
National maritime flags will be hoisted on the other halyards on the yardarm in
sequence from the right.
CE 3.3.2 Ensigns will be lowered on the departure of
the appropriate foreign yacht or when all flags are lowered, whichever is the
earlier.
CE 3.4 Procedure for the dressing of the mast on National and
other special occasions.
CE 3.4.1 The flagstaff will be dressed on the
following National days:-
a. Her Majesty the Queen’s natural birthday
b.
Her Majesty the Queen’s official birthday
c. The birthday of H.R.H. Prince
Philip
CE 3.4.2 The flagstaff will be dressed on other days at the discretion
of the Committee, when requested by Members or considered necessary.
CE
3.4.3 When the flagstaff is dressed, the Commodore’s pennant, or Club Burgee
will be hoisted to the head of the topmast and the ensign to the gaff in the
usual way.
CE 3.4.4 The flagstaff is dressed by hoisting the signal flags, in
sequence, commencing at the port shroud attachment to the deck:- E, Q, p3, G,
p8, Z, p4, W, p6, P, p1, I, Code flag, T, Y, B, X, 1st sub, H, 3rd sub,
Masthead. D, F, 2nd sub, U, A, O, M, R, p2, J, p0, N, p9, K, p7, V, p5, L, C, S.
CE 3.4.5 These hoists will be made up permanently and kept for this purpose. The
Club Secretary is to make the necessary arrangements for these flags to be
cleaned and repaired as necessary, and available before the days stated.
CE 3.5 Procedure for dressing the flagstaff on Battle of Britain Day
CE 3.5.1
On this day and this day only, the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force
will be hoisted to the head of the flagstaff. The Blue Ensign of the RAFYC will
be hoisted to the gaff. No other arrangement of flags, ensigns or bunting of any
description is to be hoisted to the RAFYC flagstaff.
CE 3.6 Members Flag
Etiquette
a. No flags to be flown when the vessel is not in commission
b.
In harbour the ensign and burgee will be hoisted at 0800 hrs. in the summer
(March 25th – September 20th) and 0900 hrs. in the winter time (September 21st –
March 24th) or later when the sun rises, if possible taking the time from any
vessel from the Royal Navy or Yacht Club ashore. The ensign is always lowered at
Sunset
c. The defaced blue or the red ensign will always be worn in the after
part of the vessel preferably from the ensign staff whilst under way, in port,
moored in a river or at anchor, or alternatively: Motor yachts gaff rigged aft;
from the peak of the gaff, but only when under way.
d. Sailing yachts
racing; no ensign will be worn.
CE 3.6.1 The blue defaced ensign will only
be worn at the same time as the Club burgee.
CE 3.6.2 The Club burgee is
always worn at the main masthead, unless it is impracticable then it may be
flown as a Senior burgee from the starboard spreader.
CE 3.6.3 When a Member
of the RAFYC is a Member of another Club or Clubs, he may fly the burgee of that
Club at the principal masthead and the appropriate ensign, but should then fly
the Members flag of the RAFYC at the starboard signal halyard. The Members flag
should not be flown in isolation. It is normal to observe this procedure when in
the waters of the Club concerned.
CE 3.6.4 Courtesy ensigns of the countries
being visited will be flown from the starboard crosstrees or yardarm when
foreign visiting.
CE 3.6.5 When flagstaffs are dressed yachts should be
dressed overall, in the same sequence as detailed for the Club flagstaff but
only when anchored, moored, etc. Ensigns should be hoisted to the masthead in
addition to the normal position of the ensign when the vessel is under way.
Vessels should not be dressed overall when under way.
------
Ensign (continued):
Now, the description of the ensign as "the Blue
Ensign of H.M. Fleet with the Royal Crown and a Royal Air Force Eagle
superimposed on the fly", makes no mention of an anchor. Even for the Admiral's
flag, where an anchor is mentioned, it's held in the eagle's claw. On the other
hand, while I don't know how to get there on the site, an Internet search
showed:
http://www.rafyc.co.uk/index.php?product_id=23&page=shop.product_details&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
where the version with anchor is for sale (no photograph).
This
discrepancy between the rules (and FotW) and the shop (and the WFD) would
suggest this is either an older version, or a recent development not yet caught
in the rules. If it's a recent development, it's less "recent" than 2007, as the
Internet Archive already shows the image at the WFD in 2006:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060419220615/http://www.flags.net/UNKG14.htm.
However, if it's an older version, it's older than approximately 1961, as the
version without the crown is the one shown in Register of Yachts - Ensigns and
burgees of yacht clubs and distinguishing flags of yachtsmen [Lloyds 1961].
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club burgee]](../images/g/gb~rafycb.gif)
image
by
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
I drew the burgee as shown at
http://www.rafyc.co.uk/gallery.html?idx=1&albid=5352742693257343249: A
burgee with the same colours as the RAF Ensign, but
3:5, with the roundel, which is placed vertically centred with its centre 1/3rd
of the fly away from the hoist, with a height of 4/9th of the hoist, of which
the rings are again 1/5th in width, as is the central disk in diameter.
I
felt I'd seen this design before, and it turns out that the
RAF Sailing Association has a very similar burgee.
(It's ensign is somewhat
similar as well, with a light blue field, and the
crown and eagle superimposed on a roundel. If the RAFYC ensign changed in
response to that, their rules may be a bit outdated in this respect.)
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
An eagle grasping an anchor in its claw, presumably dexter, but don't know.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club commodore]](../images/g/gb~rafycc.gif)
image
by
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
Drawn as the burgee, but rectangular and with a straight-angle split.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club vice-commodore]](../images/g/gb~rafycv.gif)
image
by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
Drawn as Commodore, but with one white ball. Since the ball is not described,
and I didn't see an example, I opted for a ball 1/6th of the hoist in diameter,
and half of that away from the hoist and the top-edge.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club rear commodore]](../images/g/gb~rafycr.gif)
image
by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
Drawn as Vice-Commodore, but with two white balls. Since the style for adding
a second ball is not mentioned, and I didn't see an example, I opted for added
in the lower hoist.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club past commodore]](../images/g/gb~rafycp.gif)
image
by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
Drawn as Vice-Commodore, but with a white cross instead. Since the cross
isn't described in any detail, and I didn't see an example, I opted for a fairly
narrow cross, with its dimensions and placement equal to those of the white ball
for the Vice Commodore.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club member]](../images/g/gb~rafycm.gif)
image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
Unfortunately, though we're referred to Bylaw CE.3.6., that doesn't really
concern itself specifically with a Membership flag, thus I don't know the
purpose and usage of this flag. Drawn with the same roundel, centred on the top
half of the a rectangular flag, and the eagle, borrowed from an image by Jose C.
Alegria Diaz, centred in the lower half. It may be the charges in reality are
closer together.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
This flag was made of linen or cotton and fairly small, estimated 20cm x
30cm. It was offered as a "rare" RAF flag. The charges had been sewed on to the
cloth. In a light blue field was in the middle of the bottom a yellow RAF eagle
topped by a RAF roundel. I spotted this flag in Gloucester Antiques Centre on 1
October 2010.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2010
![[RAF Yacht Club possible battle flag]](../images/g/gb~rafyct.gif)
image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
A rectangular flag with the roundel centred, and above it "Royal Air Force"
and below it "Yacht club", both in a very dark blue sans font can be seen at
http://www.rafyc.co.uk/gallery.html?idx=1&albid=5340065738431667297.
Possibly the same flag, but drawn with the text in a thinner, black font, is
shown at
https://www.rafyc.co.uk/component/virtuemart/page/shop.product_details/product_id/28.
That flag is describe as "Battle Flag". That's all I know about it.
Well,
I also know that text in a design rarely works very well. This makes it
especially nice to see that the FAQ at
http://www.rafyc.co.uk/about-us-intro/faqsformembers.html which at the
bottom shows a different version of the/a Battle Flag, without text and possibly
with a larger roundel.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 5 October 2014
![[RAF Yacht Club, Kai Tak, Hong Kong]](../images/g/gb~afkyc.gif)
image by Miles Li, 8 November 2016
Until the 1960s several RAF bases in the Far East had their own yacht clubs, for
the recreation of RAF personnel there. The burgee of the Kai Tak club was red
with a blue over white rising diagonal and a red-white-blue roundel.
Miles Li,
8 November 201
![[RAF Changi Yacht Club]](../images/g/gb~afcyc.gif)
image by Miles Li, 8 November 2016
Until the 1960s several RAF bases in the Far East had their own yacht clubs, for
the recreation of RAF personnel there. The burgee of the RAF Changi Yacht Club,
Singapore (founded 1936; now the civilian Changi Sailing Club) was RAF blue with
a white horizontal central band, and a red on blue roundel.
Miles Li,
8 November 201
![[RAF Seletar Yacht Club]](../images/g/gb~afsyc.gif)
image by Miles Li, 8 November 2016
Until the 1960s several RAF bases in the Far East had their own yacht clubs, for
the recreation of RAF personnel there. The burgee of the Seletar Yacht Club was
red with a white red-white-blue-white roundel.
Miles Li, 8 November
201
