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Royal Thames Yacht Club (United Kingdom)

image by Clay Moss

Royal Thames Yacht Club flag
Burgee

Royal Thames Yacht Club flag

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.

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 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

Burgee

image by Clay Moss, 29 May 2007

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 although I believe officially, it ought to be fully colored.
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