Flag etiquette
I was interested in your excellent piece in the Summer 2018 edition on flag etiquette. It always surprises me how little the average yachtsman knows about this. The article, however, includes a sweeping statement that all blue ensigns belong to royal yacht clubs. I have to point out we at the Little Ship Club also have a blue defaced ensign. We are very proud of the fact we were given this ensign by the Admiralty in 1938 for the training we provided to the Royal Naval Volunteer (Supplementary) reserve in the run-up to the Second World War, the only occasion when a privilege ensign was gifted. The Little Ship Club continues to provide training to members and non- members alike, now using the RYA’S national scheme which we were instrumental in helping to set up back in the 1970s. Peter Newbury, past commodore, Little Ship Club