Red Ensigns - Premium Sewn

Premium-Sewn Red Ensigns are meticulously cut out and sewn in the UK from MoD Standard 155 gram/m2 100% polyester bunting, beautifully finished with triple-hem stitching, wooden toggle, sturdy polyester hoist tape and white braided polyester hoist line.

Red Ensign Sizes: 1/2 Yard, 3/4 Yrad, 1 Yard, 11/4 Yrad, 11/3 Yard, 2 Yrad, 21/2 Yard, 3 Yard

N.B. Due to the intricate nature of sewing the 1/2 yard sewn Ensign, the union design is stitched together using the appliqué stitching technique.

Premium Sewn Red Ensigns: Facts, Features and Plus Factors

• Component panels cut out from top-quality fabric
• MoD heavyweight woven 100% polyester bunting
• UV resistant
• Rich colours
• Colourfast and fade resistant
• All the individual panels are stitched together to form the full ensign pattern
• Finished with triple stitched hems (outside edges)
• Wooden toggle
• Hoist reinforced with special flag webbing tape
• Braided White Polyester line sewn into the integral hoist tape, creating a loop for the toggle fitted at the top and a tail at the bottom as per the photos
• UK manufacture

Red Ensign Sizing 

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.

Premium ensigns are cut by hand and sewn together on manually operated sewing machines, so the sizes and proportions can vary slightly according to the production batch.

Where and when to fly your 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 vessel's nationality.

Selecting the appropriate size for your Ensign:

• The Yard Size refers to the outside diagonal measurement, e.g. from the top corner of the hoist to the bottom corner of the fly end.
• The fly is measured along the horizontal length, top or bottom
• The hoist is measured down the vertical length of the left-hand side next to the staff.
• The Fly end is the opposite end to the hoist = the end that flies in the breeze

As a guide, your Ensign should be proportionate to the LOA and the style/design of the yacht.

An old rule of thumb is an inch per foot of yacht length, but this may look too small 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 very least, greater than the hoist measurement so that there is sufficient room to tension the hoist line or halyard

The gap between the bottom of the hoist and the cleat is a matter of personal choice.

A more modern interpretation of suitable Red Ensign yard size is suggested in the chart below, but...

Ultimately, the size of a Red 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 of the flag fabric, not including the hoist tape - 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 = Yacht length overall