![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm-ensgn.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 26 Febuary 2002
Last modified: 2021-04-03 by rob raeside
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image by Željko Heimer, 26 Febuary 2002
Proportions about 4:9.
Source: Flag table in Jane's Fighting Ships, and
Smith: Flags Through the Ages and Across the World [smi75b].
Jan Oskar Engene, 18 September 1996
Coast Guard Ensign and Jack (same as national flag) photographs
in use on several ships/boats at <www.jdfmil.org>
Željko Heimer, 23 February 2002
According to l'Album 2000 [pay00]
- Coast-Guard Ensign (---/-S- 1:2) - White ensign (with red St.
George cross) and the national flag in the canton. Following the
British tradition I guess it is safe to suppose that the same
construction details are used here as in the British White Ensign
- the width of the cross is 2/15 of the hoist (i.e. hoist is
divided 13+4+13). Red used should match the UJ red (somewhat
darker then "medium" red). Regarding the usage symbols
(though this is a fuzzy thing, of course) I would guess that the
Coast Guard is closes thing to the navy that Jamaica has, and
that we could maybe safely designate this as ---/--W, but it is a
minor question. Smith [smi82]
indeed mark it so, but it also giver ratio as 4:9 !?
Željko Heimer, 26 February 2002
According to [pay00] -
Maritime Police Ensign (---/-S- 1:2) - Blue ensign with the
national flag in canton and a white emblem in the middle of the
fly half.
Željko Heimer, 26 February 2002
![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm~rgyc.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 11 June 2019
current ensign
![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm~rgyc1.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 11 June 2019
variant
![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm~rgyc!.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 11 June 2019
potential future ensign
![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm~rgycb.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 11 June 2019
burgee
Royal Jamaica Yacht Club bulletin, with explanation on burgees
and officers pennants at <www.rjyc.org.jm>.
Željko Heimer, 23 February 2002
The special ensign of the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club is a Blue
Ensign with, in the fly, a crown above a yellow crocodile
facing the hoist.
David Prothero, 29 October 2002
If you follow the link to the RJYC site above, you'll see that
use of the RJYC ensign is extremely rare, requiring British
rather than Jamaican registration and a personal warrant
authorizing use of the flag. The newsletter linked above
says no one at present meets those criteria (my interpolations in
square brackets):
"THE CLUB'S PRIVILEGED BLUE ENSIGN can only be flown on a
vessel by an owner with a Warrant from the Admiralty [presumably
now British MOD]. The last holder was the late Alastair
Wilson on his COCOBAN. The Warrant is issued to Members who are
owners of a British [not Jamaican] registered Ship (or Yacht). It
is an anomaly but so it go!
One or two members have flown a Jamaican Blue Ensign as Serving
Officers in the JDF Coastguard Reserve. I do not know about that
privilege. My effort in the 70's to get approval of a [Jamaican]
Blue Ensign for the Club fell on rocky soil. Problem seemed to be
who would give approval! My boat CHEN flies the [British] Blue
Ensign of the RORC [Royal Ocean Racing Club] for which I hold a
warrant. That privilege will end when I complete a transfer to
the Jamaica Register of Ships later this year."
Joe McMillan, 29 October 2002
Above my renditions of the current British blue ensign and the
burgee or the Royal Jamaican Yacht Club.
As you can see, I have enclosed three ensigns. Of the three, the
upper should be considered current while the second can certainly
be considered a variant. A key member of the RJYC, (who has been
in the application process for a warrant), has an 18x36 inch
sample of the ensign showing the alligator with a curved tail and
was kind enough to send me a photograph. If the warrant is ever
approved, it will mark the first time that an RJYC yacht has worn
the ensign since the Cocoban. Meanwhile, there is a good
bit of evidence that the ensign was also produced in the past
with a straight tailed alligator. Also, both varieties of ensign
would have displayed the Tudor crown before 1952.
The third ensign represents what the RJYC ensign could
potentially look like in the future as the Maritime Authority of
Jamaica has been encouraged to adopt a more
"commonwealth" flag and ensign system as it were. Such
an act might bringing into existence a modern Jamaican blue
ensign and perhaps even a red ensign as well as paving the way
for special yacht ensigns.
History: The Jamaica Yacht Club was formed in 1884 by a group of
enthusiastic sailors. On the 29th of November 1889, the Club was
granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria following a visit by
Prince Edward, then the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward
VII.
Until 1962, when Jamaica became an independent nation within the
Commonwealth, the Commodores were all Governors of Jamaica,
whether or not they were yachtsmen. In 1963 the Commodore was
chosen for the first time from the membership of the Club.
Website at <www.rjyc.org.jm>.
Clay Moss, 1 October 2007
The following must
have been the pre-Royal version of the burgee as seen in the
‘American Yacht List’ of 1891 (select ‘FLAGSCLUB’
(Introduction) at <www.visitmysticseaport.com>
then enter page ‘39’): white burgee, blue cross
throughout, small red lozenge in the cross’s centre.
Jan Mertens, 1 October 2007
![[Ensign of Jamaica]](../images/j/jm~mbyc.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 1 June 2005
Here's a rough image of what I believe to possibly be the red
ensign of the Montego Bay Yacht Club. Would that be correct?
Notice that this is the most modern version of Jamaica's Coat of
Arms with embellishments and English motto.
Clay Moss, 1 June 2005
There is no record of the Montego Bay Yacht Club having ever
been granted a special ensign. It is probably just an
unauthorised red version of the Jamaica Blue Ensign.
David Prothero, 1 June 2005
The information on this club is all sourced in the two links given below. However, we have been unable to find any material evidence of the existence of this club beyond the webpage, and the current satellite image from Google Earth shows no infrastructure or marina at the location given. The reliability of this club is doubtful.
The Maritime Authority of Jamaica has advised us that "the claim would be considered to be a scam."
![[West Indies Yacht Club]](../images/j/jm~wiyc.gif)
image by Rob Raeside, 5 October 2018
Estb: 1885. Location: Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica.
Burgee: Pennant
approx. 2:3 (web image). Vertically divided white and blue with a red Order of
Christ Grand Cross in the canton.
"The 12th December 2015, the General
Committee adopted the new version of the West Indies Yacht Club's burgee. The
Order of Christ Grand Cross was the same as the one displayed on Christopher
Columbus sails showing the connection with the great explorers of the past and
the blue color stands for the warm Caribbean sea.”
"The Club is home of
the second largest Caribbean fleet of classic sailing vessels (built before
1939). It has about 360 members (Dec 2015). It is also the home of one of the
largest marine photographs collection in the world, dating from the early days
of the art with 19th Century photos taken by the French Louis Daguerre, possibly
the only surviving samples in the world."
Source: accessed 14 September 2018,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Indies_Yacht_Club
"Founded in
1885 in Kingston, Jamaica for Navy personnel based in the British West Indies,
The British West Indies Yacht Club is the ancestor of the present West Indies
Yacht Club . . . In 1938, to improve its financial position, the club opened its
doors to non-navy members and took the name of the British West Indies Service
Club. The Club became dormant during World War Two . . . In 1963, just after
Jamaica became independent, a Royal Warrant was granted to the Club to fly the
Jamaica Red Ensign. Shortly afterwards the Club would [become] almost extinct
with most of the Navy personnel returning to Britain, and would survive with a
handful of devoted members, meeting on an irregular basis . . . Having been
maintained active by a group of yachting enthusiast willing to keep traditional
yachting spirit alive, the club is refunded under the name The West Indies Yacht
Club. The Clubhouse [was] purchased back in 2003 and restoration work began in
2013. In 2015, having secured a membership of 360 yachtsmen, the Club is
officially incorporated to meet 21st Century business requirements."
Source:
accessed 15 September 2018,
http://westindiesyachtclub.com/our-history-and-our-values.
Peter
Edwards, 5 October 2018
