Royal Yacht Squadron -White ensign on bermudanvessel?

VexedIllologist said:
Happy Hunter,

you appear to have fallen into the trap of assuming that the expression 'British Ship' is somehow limited to those that are registered in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is not the case.

The definition of a British Ship is at s.1 Merchant Shipping Act 1995:

British ships and United Kingdom ships.

(1)A ship is a British ship if—
(a)the ship is registered in the United Kingdom under Part II; or
(b)the ship is, as a Government ship, registered in the United Kingdom in pursuance of an Order in Council under section 308; or
(c)the ship is registered under the law of a relevant British possession; or
(d)the ship is a small ship other than a fishing vessel and—
(i)is not registered under Part II, but
(ii)is wholly owned by qualified owners, and
(iii)is not registered under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom.

Sir Donald Gosling no doubt has the appropriate authorisation for LeanderG to wear the St George's (or White) Ensign of the Royal Yacht Squadron, while he is onboard. I understand that he also holds authority for the use of the plain Blue Ensign.

He may be unique in having the choice of Red, White or Blue, as the mood takes him, but there could be other members of the Royal Yacht Squadron in a similar position.

I have heard that the rules of some yacht clubs limit the privilege of their special ensigns to yachts registered in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Admiralty's authority in maritime flag matters extends to the British Possessions, so if there is no such restriction in the relevant Club Rules it is perfectly in order for a special ensign to be authorised.

My own yacht, which is registered in a British Possession, is authorised by both Permit and Warrant; Permits are issued by Yacht Clubs based in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, while a Warrant is required from other Clubs that are based outside the British Islands (Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man). and Gibraltar.I hope this helps.
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:D
 
Er...

Hello, VO5,

I am not sure what your addition means.

Is it because the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club issues Permits for the RGYC special ensign (under a Warrant granted to the Club in the same way as those in the British Islands)?

Does an RGYC yacht with the special ensign carry a Permit issued by the Club or a Warrant issued by the Chief of the Naval Staff?

Go on, give us a clue!
 
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This may help, from the RGYC website.

Flag Etiquette
1) THE ENSIGN AND BURGEE

i) The Ensign worn by a yacht shall be the maritime ensign of the country in which the yacht is registered. For British registered yachts the ensign shall be either the RED ENSIGN or a SPECIAL ENSIGN._

ii) The Special Ensign of the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club (“the Ensign”) is the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Fleet defaced with the Arms of Gibraltar surmounted by the Royal Crown.

iii) The ensign may only be worn by a Yacht for which a full member of The Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club (the Club) holds a valid Admiralty Warrant authorising them to do so.

iv) A full member wishing to fly the Blue Ensign of the Club aboard their yachts must apply for an Admiralty Warrant. The application form is obtained from the Club Secretary, must be completed and forwarded, together with the yachts registration papers, to him for transmission to the Admiralty. To obtain a Warrant a Yacht must be registered in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Act.
 
Woodlouse said:
If you really have any issues or doubts about the legitimacy then write a letter to Cowes Castle and denounce him. If not then give him the benefit of the doubt and leave him be.
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Sorry to spoil a perfectly good thread, but I mentioned this to an RYS member I know. he wasn't sure, so 'phoned RYS there and then to ask whether a RYS member could fly the white ensign on a Bermudan registered vessel - no names, no pack drill.

The answer? It's legitimate.

P.S. I shan't be seeing my aquaintance again for a while, so no supplementary questions on the whys and wherefores please!
 
VexedIllologist said:
Hello, VO5,

I am not sure what your addition means.

Is it because the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club issues Permits for the RGYC special ensign (under a Warrant granted to the Club in the same way as those in the British Islands)?

Does an RGYC yacht with the special ensign carry a Permit issued by the Club or a Warrant issued by the Chief of the Naval Staff?

Go on, give us a clue!
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Fascadale has replied to you above, very ably and I am indebted to him.
Additionally Yachts registered in Gibraltar may fly the Red Ensign.
As explained above RGYC members are entitled to fly a defaced blue as described on Royal Warrant, on application to the Admiralty. Additionally Flag Offficers of the club accompany the Blue with their own pennants according to rank flown from the starboard yardarm. This priviledge only applies when the owner / warrant holder is on board. At all other times the red may be flown in lieu.
 
White ensign

I think you will find that perhaps Prince Phillip and the Queen may have been aboard as they have her chartered for some weeks this summer, she was up the mersey with them aboard a week ago.
 
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