Blue Ensigns - Sewn

Blue Ensign

Jimmy Green Sewn Blue Ensigns, all panels individually cut and stitched together from top quality 100% woven polyester bunting

3/4 yard up to 2 yard are kept in stock, 2 1/2 yard and 3 yard are made to order.

Top Quality Italian Manufacture:

• Component panels cut out from top quality UV resistant 100% polyester woven bunting
• Colourfast and fade resistant
• All panels stitched together with top stitched fell seams to form the full ensign pattern
• Hoist reinforced with special flag webbing tape
• Braided line sewn into the integral hoist tape creating a loop at the top and a tail at the bottom
• Finished with twin stitched hems (outside edges)

The yard sizing (traditional diagonal measurement) is nominal and may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process.
Nominal length and height measurements are tabled in the guide below.

All Jimmy Green flags feature a braided line sewn into the hoist tape creating a loop at the top and a tail at the bottom.
We also sell top quality wooden toggles at a reasonable cost which can be fitted to the loop if required:

Wooden Flag Toggle

Who can fly the Blue Ensign?

A UK registered vessel should fly the national maritime flag, the Red Ensign, unless entitled to fly a special or privileged Ensign.

The most senior position for a flag on a vessel is reserved for the Ensign - this should be flown from as close to the stern of the vessel as possible and denotes the nationality of the vessel.

Entitlement to fly the plain (undefaced) Blue Ensign:

• Members of certain clubs are entitled to wear the plain blue ensign at the stern of their yachts, provided that they have a permit issued by that Club.
• Those certain clubs include the Royal Cruising Club (RCC) the Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Yacht Club (RNVRYC). This list is not exhaustive. We advise you to check whether your club can issue a permit.
• These clubs grant this special permission to their members under a warrant granted by the Admiralty. The permit lasts as long as the yacht registration and must be renewed with the registration every five years. There are also other conditions attached.

Defaced Blue Ensigns i.e. blue ensigns with an additional motif/design on the blue bunting are either:

• Courtesy flags e.g. Australia, New Zealand - Courtesy Flags
• Specific Yacht Club Ensigns - members should apply to their club directly

Sizing Ensigns

The Yard Size is across the diagonal, the fly is along the horizontal and the hoist is the vertical measurement down the flag next to the staff.
Ultimately, the size of a Red Ensign is entirely up to the owner's discretion and if it looks right then it is right

As a guide, Ensign yard size should be proportionate to the LOA and style/design of the yacht.
There is an old rule of thumb: an inch per foot of yacht length but this may look a little on the small side for modern yachts to look "well dressed"

The Ensign hoist measurement also needs to be compatible with the length of the flagstaff.
i.e. The length of the flagstaff between the truck (head) and the cleat must be, at the least, greater than the hoist measurement.
The gap between the bottom of the hoist and the cleat is a matter of personal choice.

The more modern interpretation of suitable Blue Ensign yard size would be more like the suggestions in the chart below:

Ultimately, the size of a Blue Ensign is entirely up to the owner's discretion and if it looks right then it is right.

Guide Reference:
Yard Size = traditional method of measurement = length of the diagonal
Finish = Sewn = individual panels stitched together to complete the flag
Fly = nominal length, may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process
Hoist = nominal height, may vary slightly due to the nature of the production/sewing process
Staff Length = the length overall of the flagstaff, not the measurement between truck and cleat which will be less
LOA = length overall.