royal thames yacht club burgee

• the collection

Royal Thames Yacht Club

London, U.K. | Queen Mary Reservoir | 1775

Posted by admin on October 14, 2012

London, U.K. | Queen Mary Reservoir | 1775 | www.royalthames.com

Burgee sent by Michael Varvill after his visit for the 2010 Southern Nichols Cup and Borgne Cup team racing events. 

The Borgne Cup is a friendly team race challenge between Southern YC and Royal Thames YC to commemorate the Battle of Lake Borgne during the War of 1812 .

Copyright © 2024 Southern Yacht Club

Royal Thames Yacht Club flag

Admiral's distinguishing flag, commodore's flag, vice commodore's flag, rear commodore's flag, patron's flag, burgees 1775 - 1842, cumberland fleet pennant.

image by Clay Moss , 27 May 2019

The club's original ensign from the year 1775 is a plain white ensign. Clay Moss , 27 May 2019

image by Clay Moss , 12 November 2014

In 1830 the club, without authorisation, used a white flag with a Union canton and the initials R T Y C in red on the fly.

In 1835: �Whereas we deem it expedient that the Royal Thames Yacht Club shall be permitted to wear the distinguishing flag described in the following page: We do, therefore, therefore by virtue of the power and authority vested in us, hereby warrant and authorise the said flag to be worn on board the respective vessels of the Royal Thames Yacht Club accordingly. Given under our hand and the Seal of the Office of the Admiralty the 19th day of February 1835. J.P.Beresford, Ashley. An Union Jack and crown with the letters R.T.Y.C. in red.� From this, the colour of the ensign is not clear, but it must have been white, as a subsequent letter dated 22 July 1842 , includes, �...vessels belonging to the Royal Thames Yacht Club shall be permitted to wear the blue ensign of Her Majesty�s fleet on board their respective vessels, with the distinctive marks of the club, as hitherto worn on the white ensign, ...� The change to plain Blue Ensign was by warrant dated 24 July 1848. David Prothero , 11 November 2014

For 153 years, The Royal Thames YC has used an undefaced Blue Ensign (without any badge). The Royal Thames is one of the first clubs to use the plain blue ensign, and the club's use of the flag is indeed well known in yachting circles. Since 1848, the Royal Thames YC has been authorized to allow qualified members to use the undefaced blue ensign. 

image by Clay Moss , 27 May 2019 The Club first used a plain white ensign , defaced with a club badge during the 1830s. Then, in 1842, the Admiralty decided that the White Ensign should be exclusive to the Royal Yacht Squadron (the nation's senior club). Thereafter, from mid-1842 until 1848, the Royal Thames YC used a blue ensign that was defaced in the fly with a crown (and I believe this was a red-colored depiction of the Royal crown).  In 1848, the club changed to a plain blue ensign, and this has remained the same ever since. I do not know the reason why the crown was removed in 1848. I do know that the plain blue ensign ranks higher in precedence than a defaced version.  Sources: Navy List 2001 page 243; Navy List 1995 page 260; Navy List 1989 page 298; Navy List 1973, page 599. Navy Lists of 1938 page 369; and 1927 page 364A. (all listing Royal Thames YC as using blue ensign undefaced).  James T. Liston , 9 December 2001

The Thames Yacht Club was formed in 1823 by a break-away group, when the Cumberland Sailing Society , established in 1775, was re-named His Majesty's Coronation Sailing Society. The Society's flag was white with a crimson border, royal crown, and lettering "G.R. IV Coronation Fleet". [The King's Sailing Master by Douglas Dixon] David Prothero , 26 December 2005

image by Željko Heimer , 17 June 2014

In the Le Gras' Album 1858 the flag said to be used on the main mast is a swallow-tailed blue flag with a white cross and the crown in the centre. The crown is a generic one, shown in yellow with red lining. The red-only St Edwards crown is used nowadays, but this might have been a recent development.

For the ensign, a defaced blue ensign is shown, with the same crown. According to James' account, this would have been correct for the period 1842-1848, when the crown was dropped for the plain blue ensign. Željko Heimer , 17 June 2014

You can read all about England's oldest yacht club at: http://www.royalthames.com . The burgee on the website contains an all red crown. Clay Moss , 29 May 2007

Royal Thames has a plain red St Edwards crown on the burgee and NOT a fully coloured version. Evidence for this is Rule 67.4 in my 1989 version of their rules. It states �The burgee shall be blue with a white St Georges cross and a red crown in the centre�. Neil Freeman , 13 February 2009

image by Clay Moss , 29 May 2019

Pennant circa 5:6 (print image). White field superimposed by a red St. George's cross, centred 2 units from hoist (horizontal arm 4 units and vertical arm 3 units). Peter Edwards , 11 September 2018

Pennant circa 5:6 (print image). White field fimbriated red on three sides charged (towards the hoist) by a red crown above the red letters GRIV and (towards the fly point) the word CORONATION above the word FLEET, both in red. Peter Edwards , 11 September 2018

Pennant: circa 5:6 (print image). Red field charged by the white capital letters TYC. Peter Edwards , 11 September 2018

Pennant circa 5:6 (print image). Red field charged by a white crown above the capital letters RTYC. Peter Edwards , 11 September 2018

Pennant circa 5:6 (print image). White field charged by a red crown above the red capital letters RTYC. Peter Edwards , 11 September 2018

Details about the Cumberland Fleet are at https://www.royalthames.com/About-RTYC/Royal-Thames-History.aspx Clay Moss , 29 May 2019

Cowes Pontoon

The Club's Cowes moorings are located upstream of the chain ferry and the refuelling barge, on the western (starboard hand going upstream) side of the river opposite the GBR compound. We have a 45 metre continuous pontoon run between three piles within a longer pontoon run adjacent to the main fairway. The northern (downstream) end of the full run comprises private and Harbour Master-operated visitor berthing, then comes the run of RYS pontoons, then RTYC, then the Royal London pontoons. Our own section of pontoons is clearly marked, both with signs on the piles themselves and with signs on the pontoons.   The rules regarding the use of the Cowes pontoon are straightforward and contained in the Yachting Byelaws. In summary:   The pontoons are strictly private and for the use of Royal Thames Member's yachts only; the pontoons are not available to members of other clubs, including reciprocal clubs.   Any member's yacht may secure to and remain on the pontoon for up to 14 days in any period of 30 days without charge. As the pontoons are not supervised on a daily basis, there is no booking system - it's first-come, first-served. Yachts may raft two deep on the inside of the pontoon (rafting more blocks the channel) and three deep on the main fairway side.   RIBs on the pontoon. To assist arriving yachts get alongside the pontoon, RIBs may be left unattended only on the inside of the pontoon, not on the outboard, fairway side of the pontoon.   Display of Burgee and Club Badge. All craft using the Cowes pontoon must fly the club burgee from the masthead if they have a mast, from the highest part of the craft if without a mast. The burgee should be on a staff, as befits the burgee of the oldest yacht club in the UK, and not left hanging like an item of laundry.   In addition, yachts using the Cowes pontoon must display the club badge and initials on the transom, in such a position that they may be seen both from the water and from the pontoon.

The reason for these two rules is to ensure not only that only bona fide RTYC yachts use the pontoon, but also to let other users of the pontoon and the Cowes Harbour Master see that the yacht in question has every right to be on the pontoon. These rules thus apply as equally to RIBs and smaller craft as they do to larger yachts.   Given that both the burgee and badge must be worn when on the pontoon, it follows that the privilege of using the Club's pontoon is not available to non-members to whom a member's yacht might have been loaned or chartered.

The Secretary of the Royal London YC now holds a small stock of RTYC burgees for those in dire need, more normally burgees, ensigns, ensign permits et al may be obtained from the Knightsbridge Secretariat. Transom graphics and transfers are obtainable through Tribune Graphics at

Tribune Graphics Ltd. Unit 11, Phase 2 New Road Industrial Estate Sheerness, Kent ME12 1DB

Telephone : +44 (0)1795 580261

Alternatively you may e-mail them at [email protected]

This excellent company can produce for you, very quickly, a simple transom transfer as specified in the Club byelaws in any colour, size or style that you require. Transom graphics are no longer held by the Secretariat.

  Extended stays (more than 14 days in any 30 days). Should a member wish to leave a yacht on the Cowes pontoon for more than the permitted 14 days, this is possible provided that: the Chief Sailing Officer [email protected] agrees, the temporary mooring fee is paid (see below), the burgee and Club initials are displayed and there is room.

The rules governing charges for extended use of the Cowes pontoon are set by the Sailing Committee in accordance with Byelaw Y15.9 and are as follows:   14 days in any period of 30 free of charge; extended berthing on inside only limited to 30 days in any period of 45 days during the months of June, July, August.

No unattended berthing during Cumberland Regatta weekend and Cowes Week.

Extended berthing rates: 1st April - 31 October £250 per 30 days, 1st November to 31st March £150, both plus VAT. Minimum charge 30 days, charge payable as soon as 14 days is exceeded.   SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR COWES WEEK.    

Given the pressures on berthing spaces during Cowes Week, the Cowes pontoon during this time is by common consent reserved for members doing The Week. Yachts not being used during Cowes Week are expected to move off the pontoon (even if the temporary mooring fee has been paid) during the Week to make room for members who are. Given these pressures and the fact that some yachts are lived aboard during the Week and others come and go for racing, it is particularly inconsiderate to leave yachts unattended for any period if berthed outboard of others. At the least, a mobile phone number for the key holder should be left where it may be seen and used by other members who might be inconvenienced , or for some other reason need to contact the yacht's key holder. Yachts berthed outboard of others are to be attended between 0830 and 1100 each morning , unless specific arrangements have been made with all craft inboard.  

The full byelaw in relation to the Cowes pontoon:

Y15.8 At Cowes the Club has two adjacent pontoons located upstream of the chain ferry. A yacht using these pontoons, whether on a temporary or permanent basis, must display the Club initials on the transom in such a manner that they can be seen from both the pontoon and from the seaward side and, in addition, fly the Club Burgee.   Y15.9 The inshore side of these pontoons may be let out to members on a monthly basis at a rent determined from time to time by the Sailing Committee, save that for the first three days of Cowes Week the inshore side of the northern (downstream) pontoon shall be reserved for the use of Flag Officers.  Members may berth a yacht on the Cowes pontoon free of charge for up to fourteen days in any period of thirty days.  If the yacht remains on the pontoon for more than fourteen days in any period of thirty days, the monthly charge shall become due. The Cowes pontoon may not be used as a yacht's prime mooring.

• 1 Australia
• 6 New Zealand
• 9 Slovak Republic
• 10 South Africa
• 12 Switzerland
• 13 United Kingdom
• 14 United States
• 15 International

Australia [ edit ]

Canada [ edit ]

France [ edit ]

Ireland [ edit ]

Italy [ edit ].

New Zealand [ edit ]

Russia [ edit ], spain [ edit ], slovak republic [ edit ], south africa [ edit ].

Sweden [ edit ]

Switzerland [ edit ], united kingdom [ edit ].

United States [ edit ]

International [ edit ]

Navigation menu

• ☰ Menu
• Wining and Dining
• Accommodation
• Book online
• Reciprocal Clubs
• Cowes Classics Week
• The Royal London Collection
• Royal London Club Schedule 2024
• Club and House Rules
• Club Information
• Club's Permanent Staff
• Club Officers & Committees
• Club Opening Hours
• 13 Royal London Collection...
• Club Moorings
• Club Lockers
• Launch Service
• Younger Members
• The Youth Charitable Trust
• Royal London Etchells Youth Academy

The Club History

• Club's Data Protection (GDPR) and Privacy Policy

The Club originated in London and was formed by a group of gentlemen who sailed on the River Thames and met regularly at the Coal Hole Tavern off the Strand. They kept their yachts on the foreshore by the Arundel Steps which lead to the formation of the Arundel Yacht Club.

In 1845, the Members voted to assume the title 'London Yacht Club'. At the same time, not being entitled to the ensign of HM Fleet, the Club adopted a White Ensign with blue cross, with the Union flag in the upper canton and a gold star in the canton below. In 1846, the Lord Mayor gave permission to use the City Coat of Arms, which replaced the star.

In 1849, HM Adelaide, the Queen Dowager, widow of King William IV, became the Patron of the London Yacht Club and thus the Club became 'Royal'. At that time, RLYC was the seventeenth in seniority of yacht clubs. A warrant soon followed, dated 17 October 1849, to wear a Blue Ensign of HM Fleet with the City Arms in the fly. A Burgee was adopted which unlike many clubs, actually corresponded with the Ensign.

The Club flourished on the Thames where its activities gained widespread support. However, in 1882, it was decided to move to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. A lease was taken on the two elegant Regency Houses on the Parade, which is still the Clubhouse today.

Only the second yacht club to be formed in Cowes, the Royal London was given the first Monday of Cowes Week as its race day, which it still is today. Royal patronage came again in 1893, when the Duke of York became Admiral until 1911, when he ascended to the throne as King George V. Our present Admiral is HRH The Princess Royal, who succeeded her Father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2012.

The influence of the Royal London on yachting and yacht racing has never waned from the earliest days, when the Club was instrumental in establishing a universal set of rules and a system of measurement.

The Club has always been associated with Metre Yachts and it is appropriate that the annual Cowes Classics Week, at present sponsored by Charles Stanley Direct, is one of the most supported and competitive Regattas held in the Solent. In 2017, this Regatta celebrates its 10th Anniversary. It has been growing year on year, and is being referred to as 'the Goodwood Revival of Yachting' and 'one of Europe's most important Classic Yacht Regattas.

In 2016, the Club organised and ran the World Championships for the Tempest Class as well as the European and World Championships for the Etchells Class.

Last updated 10:43 on 6 February 2024

History of the Royal Western Yacht Club

There have been three previous histories of the club, one written in 1935 for the Diamond Jubilee, one in 1975 for the Centenary and one in 1991. These are now out of print and out of date, and the committee thought that members and, particularly those who have joined recently would like to have a short history of their club.

The Western Yacht Club, as it was then called, was founded in 1875. Queen Victoria had been on the throne for 38 years, Disraeli was the Prime Minister and this was the year that Britain purchased nearly 50% of the shares of the Suez canal. It was also the year in which H.J. Heinz began to sell tomato ketchup !

The club was formed at a meeting of yachtsmen at the Waverley Hotel, Glasgow on 23rd August 1875. The meeting, proposed in a letter to the Glasgow Herald, had as its aim the founding of a yacht club to encourage small boat and dinghy sailing in the Firth of Clyde and especially in the lower reaches, which were felt by those at the meeting to be neglected by the "other two clubs". These being the already venerable "Northern" and the "Clyde" which had then not yet come of age. The "Mudhook", just two years old was not mentioned !

At the inaugural meeting, several names were suggested for the new club -"St Andrews", "Junior Clyde", "Clyde Corinthian" and "Western", and it was only by three votes that "Western" was chosen in preference to "Clyde Corinthian".

For the Western Yacht Club’s first Regatta, third match, held at Millport on 17 th June 1876, the first commodore of the club, A. H. Ewing, had donated The Ewing Trophy. On a very rough day, four yachts took part and the match was won by the 5 ton cutter yacht “Camellia” designed by William Fife II and jointly owned by John Craig and Thomas Lawson. In 2005, John Craig’s granddaughter, Helen Louise Lawson Fowler (nee Craig) returned the Trophy to the club expressly to be used again as an annual award to members making a significant contribution to the club or sailing.

In its early years the club moved around the Firth and held regattas at Rothesay, Largs, Skelmorlie and Kilchattan Bay; but Millport was always the centre of their activities. The original 24 founder members grew quickly to 120, in spite of what one irate proposer called "a ruthless and indiscriminate use of the black ball".

The 1935 history gives an entertaining but rather lengthy account of a famous race run by the club in 1885. This was for "yachts of any rig or tonnage belonging to a recognised yacht club", the start was off Millport and the course was round Ailsa Craig and back to a finish off Millport.

There were seven entries, but with a stinging sou'wester and torrential rain, only "Wendur" of 125 tons and "Marjorie" of 68 tons braved the start.

After some very heavy squalls on the outward leg that laid both boats flat, there was a change to dense fog on the homeward leg and in those pre-radar and pre-echosounder days "Majorie" only just missed going aground, with "Wendur" being less fortunate and taking the shore, to let the smaller yacht score a notable victory.

It was in September of the same year that the club received permission to be called "Royal", and member's vessels entitled to fly the Blue Ensign. The first of these privileges was granted by the Home Office and the latter by the Admiralty. The present blue burgee was adopted at the same time, replacing one dating from 1877, which was red and white quartered burgee with a red Saint Andrew's Cross on a yellow shield. The club's first burgee was red with a white lion rampant. In 1985, responsibiity for issue of Warrant to fly the Blue Ensign to the club passed from the Admiralty to the Secretary of State for Defence.

Not all was plain sailing however in these early years, as in 1888 the secretary absconded with the club's funds and left it with a deficit estimated at £50.00. Fortunately the Commodore at the time, Andrew Bain, one of the club's longest serving flag officers, was able to persuade the previous secretary, John Thomson Jnr, to resume office and the club was able to weather what must have been a period of considerable difficulty.

In 1894 the club amalgamated with the Clyde Canoe Club taking over the assets and debts of that club, which had started life at Rosneath. Some time in the late eighteen nineties the two clubs split up again with the Clyde Canoe Club taking itself off to Loch Lomond, where it is today a lively sailing club. One result of the merger was a growth of the club's activities in the upper Firth with a number of regattas at Helensburgh, which was also the home port of a class of three one design dinghies - the "Red", "White", and "Blue", which became Western property through the merger.

These boats designed by G.L. Watson, then moving towards the heyday of his career, are believed to have been the first one design class in yachting history, and a model of one of them is displayed in the Royal Thames Yacht Club's model room. Their other claim to fame was the fact that they caused more discord amongst club members than anything else in the club's history, with expenses of running them far exceeding the income from chartering them to members.

Towards the end of the nineteeth century and in the first decade of the twentieth the club sponsored two classes of small keel boats. The first of these, 17/19 class, makes its first appearance in the minutes for 1888, where a limitation of the sail area to 530 square feet was recorded.

This class provided lively racing for a number of years until the overwhelming success of "Hatasoo", which won 100 prizes from 113 starts over four seasons, led to the break-up of the class.

In 1896 the "Western" took a major part in introducing a new class to what became known as the 19/24 rules. A major aim of the new class was for the boats to be seaworthy, so both G.L. Watson and Wm. Fife were consulted and between them devised a simple set of rules, which whilst permitting considerable variation also inhibited anything tending to reduce seaworthiness.

In 1904 the club moved its regattas to Hunters Quay. Here it found itself rather in the shadow of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club and seemed to lose some of its flair for pioneering. However not all was lost because in 1910 the club started Cruising Matches to Tighnabruaich and these were an instant success.

For over 80 years the Tighnabruaich race remained one of the most popular fixtures in the Clyde programme, partly because of the unusual pursuit format, partly because it takes competing yachts through some very beautiful waters and, not least because racing is followed by a convivial party.

Over the last decade, or so, and due to many other additional popular races and musters the number of starters has diminished to less than ten. Continuation of the event, now run in conjunction with the Kyles of Bute Sailing Club, is under review.

Each alternate year between 1966 and 1972 the club ran the Barra Head race. In its day, this was one of the pioneering offshore races, but it was maybe ahead of its time. After some promising starts in the early years, the numbers dwindled and the race was discontinued. However, with the growth in numbers and and capability of R.W.Y.C. yachts, the time may be coming for a revival of this race and the award of the Hirta Trophy again to the winner of the race for which it was originally given.

In 1982 the club broke new ground, or more correctly new waters, by running the Etchells 22 International championship off Troon. In doing this they showed that the club had an ability to respond quickly to new ideas.

The championship was undoubtedly a most succesful event and the club was asked to repeat it in 1986. As a result of these championships the waters off Troon are regarded by knowledgeable helmsmen as about the best venue in British waters for a major International event.

Until 1989, the club always ran one of the Clyde Week / Clyde Weekend regattas. In that year, Clyde Yacht Clubs Association asked the club to give up their regatta and to run a new early season fixture instead.

As a result of this, in May the club now runs the Kip Regatta in conjunction with Kip Marina with financial support from various sponsors over the following years. Racing takes place in the Firth west and north of Kip Marina. The R.W.Y.C. Kip Regatta is today a highly popular and successful event, which attracted a record number of 75 starters in 1999 including competitors from outwith Scotland.

The club tie made a first appearance in 1959, quickly became accepted and remains to this day a very popular decoration. The design was a close imitation of the old Royal Thames Yacht Club tie, which had just been discarded in favour of a black tie with white anchors. The difference between the two is that whereas the old Thames tie had a narrow white line, the Western has a gold line which greatly improves it.

The R.W.Y.C. does not have a clubhouse, although at various times in the past the purchase of one has been proposed. As a Result the club feels free to run regattas where yachtsmen want to have them without feeling they should be near the home base. Another advantage is that the club has been spared the financial problems that seem to go with property.

Uniquely, we think in the world, the club's annual subscription remained unchanged (at one Guinea) from its foundation in 1875 until 1972 when, on decimalisation of the currency, it was REDUCED to one Pound ! It has to be admitted that it is only the generous contributions that the majority of members make to the prize fund that enables the club to continue to tell this particular tale !

ROYAL WESTERN YACHT CLUB

C/O POLLOCK & COCHRANE LTD ROWAN STREET PAISLEY, PA2 6RT SCOTLAND, UK

+44(0)141 889 2009

Copyright © 2021 Royal Western Yacht Club . - All Rights Reserved

Site maintained by Experisys IT Ltd

• Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.