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REGISTRATION AND MEASUREMENT

a. Registration. The Yacht must be a ship registered under either:

1. Part I of the Register of British Ships or
2. Part III of the Register of British Ships (Small Ships Register)

b. Measurement. The Yacht must measure not less than:

1. 2 tons gross if registered under a (1) above.
2. 7 metres (21ft) in length overall if registered under a (2) above.

MEMBERSHIP OF DESIGNATED YACHT CLUB

The owner or owners of the Yacht must have current membership of one of the Yacht Clubs in the United Kingdom or Channel Islands to which a warrant has been issued and which is designated in the Navy list.

NATIONALITY

The owner or owners must be British Citizens

USE OF YACHT

a. The special Ensign may only be worn on a yacht used exclusively for private and personal purposes of the Yachtsman to whom the Permit is issued.
b. The Yacht must not be used for any professional, business or commercial purpose. A Yacht whose name incorporates a name, product or trademark used for business or commercial purposes is not eligible for a permit.

LIMITED COMPANIES

A Yacht which is the property of a Limited Company may be eligible for a Permit provided the provisions of Condition 5 are complied with, and the user is a British subject and a member of a designated Yacht Club.

PRESENCE OF HOLDER OF PERMIT

Except under the provisions of Condition 6. a Permit does not confer any authority while the Yacht is being sailed by anyone other than the owner in person, thus a special Ensign may not be worn unless the owner or user (see Condition 6) of the Yacht is on board, or in effective control of her when she is in harbour or at anchor near the shore, and the Club’s burgee, is flown at the main masthead, or other suitable position. The Permit must always be carried on board when a Special Ensign is worn.

SEPARATE AUTHORISATION FROM EACH CLUB.

If the owner or user belongs to more than one of the designated Clubs, he must have, on board the Permit authorising the particular Ensign which is being worn.

NOTE:

A member of a privileged club who shares a yacht with joint owners ineligible to belong to that club because of restrictive membership qualifications may exceptionally apply for a permit. All applications under this exception must be supported by written confirmation that the other owners are ineligible for membership of the yacht club concerned. A Permit issued in these circumstances is valid only when the joint owner in whose name the Permit is issued in on board, or in effective control of the Yacht when in harbour or at anchor near the shore.

CHARTER OF LOAN OF YACHT FOR WHICH PERMIT ISSUED

It is expressly forbidden for the person borrowing or chartering the aforesaid yacht to wear the privilege ensign for which a permit has been previously issued by the owner’s club.

RETURN OF PERMIT

When a yacht is sold, there is a change of ownership, or the owner ceases to be a member of the Club, the Permit must at once be surrendered to the Secretary of the Club who shall forthwith cancel it.

ALTERATIONS TO PERMITS

No alterations are to be made to Permits. If the name of the Yacht is changed, or alterations are made which affect the register, the Permit is to be withdrawn by the Secretary of the Club. A new Permit may be issued provided the provisions of these Conditions are otherwise satisfied.

PERMITS LOST OR STOLEN

In the event of a Permit being lost or stolen, the member must forward to the Secretary of the Club a report on the circumstances of the loss and the steps taken to recover it. The Secretary of the Club may, at this discretion, issue a fresh Permit.

TENDERS

FOREIGN CRUISES

When cruising in foreign waters a Yacht for which a Permit to wear a special Ensign has been issued should take care to avoid any action which might result in complications with a foreign power. A permit for a Yacht to wear a special Ensign becomes invalid if the provisions of the above Conditions are not met.

ETIQUETTE

Permit holders may wish to comply with the custom, when in harbour, of hoisting the Ensign at 0800 (15 February to 31 October) otherwise at 0900 and lowering the Ensign at local sunset (or 2100 local time of earlier).

Application Form