Flags and ensigns from flagpoles and gaffs on shore

[shmoo]

Yacht clubs seem universally to fly an ensign from a gaff on a flagpole. Do they have some special dispensation to do this?

Can anyone one do it? Well, I sure they can but is it legal?

I remember an uncle who's house overlooked the Yelm (I think, I was quite young at the time) and he had one in his rather prominent garden and he flew courtesy flags on various country's national days.

 

[snowleopard]

You need planning permission to fly any flag other than the Union flag on land.

 

[Quandary]

You need planning permission to fly any flag other than the Union flag on land.

Not here, you don't!

 

[pendlecats]

You need planning permission to fly any flag other than the Union flag on land.

In our town you need planning permission and have to pay an advertising charge for flying any flag "including the Union flag" if flown from a flag staff.

 

[cgull]

Got my flagpole in the back garden, no planning permission needed. And I fly lots of Flags including Merry Christmas, New Year, Eurovision,Pirate,Chequered, etc...and National flags on appropriate days.

 

[nonitoo]

Yacht clubs seem universally to fly an ensign from a gaff on a flagpole. Do they have some special dispensation to do this?

Can anyone one do it? Well, I sure they can but is it legal?

I remember an uncle who's house overlooked the Yelm (I think, I was quite young at the time) and he had one in his rather prominent garden and he flew courtesy flags on various country's national days.

<pedant mode on> Flying an ensign from the gaff as opposed to the stern stemmed from the design of the spankers on sailing ships where the boom extended outboard of the stern and was liable to wipe off the ensign if it was on a staff there. This custom has extended to the present day where the ensign is only flown from the stern in port and at sea from the gaff <pedant mode off>.

Yottin' clubs seem to prefer to fly their ensigns from a gaff as well - goodness knows why.

I understand that erecting a permanent flagpole at home is subject to planning issues but this is often only used if a complaint is made. Provided the pole is not instrusive it is usually ignored.

There are no restrictions in flying your national flag but anything that could be contrued as advertising would need specific planning permission.

Tom

 

[VicS]

There is something in the back of my mind about recent changes to the planning requirements for flagpoles.

IIRC you used to be able to fly a flag from a horizontal pole ( mounted on a wall) without permission but you needed permission for a vertical pole. I think the planning requirement for the poles has been relaxed .. but may be dependent on size of course.

There is some guidance on flying Ensigns and burgees from a club flagstaff in the RYA's booklet on flag etiquette: Yacht and sailing clubs should proceed as if they were registered British ships. In other words the ensign should be worn on the gaff of the flagstaff and the burgee ( or special flag of the senior officer of the club, present in the port) at the flagstaff head.

 

[Leighb]

In addition to flying the Club ensign on the gaff and the burgee at the masthead, the yardarms are usually fitted with a number of flag halyards.

These are used to fly, on the starboard yardarm, the personal flag of the senior Flag Officer present in the club, and on the port yardarm the National Flags of visiting yachts.

This is our practice at RHYC, other clubs may well have different customs.

 

[cliffordpope]

We looked into this question recently with regard to our retail premises.
You have deemed planning permission for any flagpole below a certain height (can't remember what height - mustn't be a danger to aircraft).
You can fly any national flag or house flag or company logo, but you aren't allowed to advertise unless it is for a short-term event, such as Sale Now On, or CAR BOOT TODAY.

 

[Keen_Ed]

Yottin' clubs seem to prefer to fly their ensigns from a gaff as well - goodness knows why.

Because it solves the problem of how to fly the burgee and ensign at the same time.

 

[Keen_Ed]

In addition to flying the Club ensign on the gaff and the burgee at the masthead, the yardarms are usually fitted with a number of flag halyards.

These are used to fly, on the starboard yardarm, the personal flag of the senior Flag Officer present in the club, and on the port yardarm the National Flags of visiting yachts.

This is our practice at RHYC, other clubs may well have different customs.

At the RYS, the burgee is changed to the relevant broad pennant when the commodore, or a vice or rear commodore is present.

 

[nonitoo]

Because it solves the problem of how to fly the burgee and ensign at the same time.

Good point.

Tom

 

[jhr]

We looked into this question recently with regard to our retail premises.
You have deemed planning permission for any flagpole below a certain height (can't remember what height - mustn't be a danger to aircraft).
You can fly any national flag or house flag or company logo, but you aren't allowed to advertise unless it is for a short-term event, such as Sale Now On, or CAR BOOT TODAY.

A neighbour of ours has a flagpole in front of her house, which she got as a birthday present a few years back, and what she told me about planning permission concurs with you. I think the height limit *may* be 3 or 4 metres but I'm not sure. She is Danish and her husband is a Brit, so they fly the appropriate national flag on their respective birthdays and also on Royal birthdays for each country. Rather fun, I always think.

 

[Ubergeekian]

At the RYS, the burgee is changed to the relevant broad pennant when the commodore, or a vice or rear commodore is present.

Thank goodness for that.

 

[shmoo]

We looked into this question recently with regard to our retail premises.
You have deemed planning permission for any flagpole below a certain height (can't remember what height - mustn't be a danger to aircraft).
You can fly any national flag or house flag or company logo, but you aren't allowed to advertise unless it is for a short-term event, such as Sale Now On, or CAR BOOT TODAY.

Thanks. I found a reference to the change in regs that allow flagpoles in the way you say. (Sorry, didn't note it down - something like http://BigDepartmentForInterferingWithInnocentPleasures.gov.uk )

Unfortunately the dispensation or waiver or whatever it is doesn't apply to conservation areas. Having just pushed the cost of replacing five windows to just over 10 grand the damned conversation area row-locks also means I can't put up a flag pole. I think I may have to discuss with them just where a flag pole might usefully be stowed.

 

[Fascadale]

Here's a truly geekie question

If an ensign is flown/worn or even hung by a YC from a mast on it's shore premises should that ensign be lowered at night?

 

[Angele]

Here's a truly geekie question

If an ensign is flown/worn or even hung by a YC from a mast on it's shore premises should that ensign be lowered at night?

Yes. Coz if you don't it'll get nicked.