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As Storm Bert rips through the UK, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning. Strong winds and torrential rainfall wreak havoc across the board. Although it was predicted to end on Wednesday, warnings are still in place, especially in parts of Northern Scotland. The South of England is also liable for more heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday. Due to the unpredictability of the storm, it is inadvisable to fly your flag. It is noticeable that many flags have been left out during this time. Fortunately, some have remained intact but others are looking the worst for wear. Flags can be quite costly, especially the larger sizes. Taking your flags in during inclement weather will save you from having to replace them.

The definition of a yacht & sailing club burgees can be described as flags of a recreational sailing organisation. The term burgee usually applies to a triangular pennant, tapering, or swallow-tailed pennant Known also as a pennon and pendant, it is a long narrow flag that is wider at the hoist and narrows towards the fly end.

Yacht and sailing clubs will have a unique flag/burgee which helps to identify their organisations boats. The burgee can be flown from a high position such as the rigging or at the bow of the vessel.

In the past, burgees were made from a woolen cloth called bunting. The design was either screen printed, hand painted or sewn in a cloth facbric. Today, in our fast paced world, if a large quantity is required, the flags are usually printed. This can be screen printed or digital sublimation. Other production methods can be used such as semi printed and sewn or simply hand/machine sewn.

The fabrics have changed over the years and now woven or knitted polyester are used for the main field of the flag. The design is either printed straight onto the flag, sewn back to back, or appliqued. The appliqued version design can be knitted polyester or cotton.

We produce a wide range of yacht & sailing club burgees and sailing flags from 12” to 2yds. There is no minimum quantity, and small orders are welcome. See our Yacht Club page for more information.

Yacht Club Etiquette

A limited amount of Yacht Clubs have been granted permission to fly a Defaced Red Ensign. This is regarded as an privilege and an honour.

If your club meets specific registration criteria, you are allowed to fly A Red or Defaced Red Ensign. See list below:

• Brixham Yacht Club
• Royal Dart Yacht Club
• Royal Fowey Yacht Club
• Lloyds Yacht Club
• Royal Lymington Yacht Club
• Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club
• Royal Portsmouth Corinthian Yacht Club
• Royal St George Yacht Club
• Royal Victoria Yacht Club
• Royal Windermere Yacht Club
• Royal Yachting Association
• St Helier Yacht Club
• West Mersea Yacht Club

On researching the history of flagmaking, we came across the names Benjamin and Thomas Edgington. Listed as a rope, tent sail, and flagmakers, the industry was founded in 1805. Originally setting up the business as a partnership, the brothers were to split in 1823. John Edgington, Thomas’s son, took over his father’s business, moving to the Old Kent Road in 1832, and continued to trade until 1967 when the camping firm Blacks took over. The successors of the Edgington family eventually merged with Blacks in 1976 to become Black and Edgington. Although Blacks were to dominate the camping and outdoor industries, the firm was still listed as selling flags. One news article stated that Black and Edgington had made flags since the 18^th century.

Eventually, the name Edgington was dropped with Blacks now being the sole business name. However, Blacks went into administration in 2012 and was bought by JD Sports and Fashion.

It has been a long journey from sail-making, and chandlery suppliers, to canvas, flags, sportswear, and fashion.

In 2024, 2,227 parks and green areas throughout the UK have achieved the international standard for parks and green spaces. Sites all over the UK have raised the coveted Green Flag Award

When the first Green Flags were given out in 1997, the UK’s green space industry was in appalling condition. Many once-proud and lovely historic city center parks had become abandoned, dangerous, no-go zones due to decades of underfunding, and many other green spaces were either barely maintained or neglected.

The Green Flag Award® program establishes the gold standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces in the UK and around the world by recognizing and rewarding well-managed parks and green spaces.

The UK Government Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Keep Britain Tidy oversees the Green Flag Award.

Objectives and goals

• to guarantee that, regardless of where they reside, everyone has access to high-quality green parks and other open areas.
• to guarantee that these areas are suitably administered and satisfy the requirements of the populations they are meant to serve.
• to create guidelines for effective management.
• to encourage and disseminate best practices within the green space industry.

We are currently making our stock of fully sewn St George flags. Many are put to one side for Church Diocese flags which have special designs in the top left-hand canton. Currently, there are 42 Church of England Diocese all with their own Arms. This group of churches becomes a diocese when supervised by a Bishop. Although many believe that Diocesan Arms must be included on the St George, this is not officially law. An undefaced St George’s flag may be flown from a church tower.

All our Church Diocese flags are fully sewn with the Church Arms being appliqued. As it goes without saying, church flags fly from a very high position. Because of this, we recommend extra reinforcement for all church tower flags.

As our summer draws to a close, we have a quiet period when we can thankfully catch up on our stock items. It also allows us to check out which flags are in abundance, making it possible to offer a discount price. Our choice this time is the Scottish Standard in sizes of 1yds, 1.5yds, 2yds and 2.5yd.

We offer a 40% discount on our current prices.

Enquire or place an order here.

This offer will continue until stock runs out, or at the end of December 2024.

Read more about this iconic flag

August has been a quiet month this year. As a result it has been a blessing in disguise as it has allowed us to catch up on our stock of sewn Red Ensigns and Blue Ensigns.

These ‘sea flags’ are our biggest sellers but due to the design, they are time consuming to produce. Consequently, we are forever running out of stock. However, we now have sizes 0.75yds to 2yds available. This will not always be the case though, as they sell fast and we have to resort to making them to order.

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Recently, a customer wished to know what was an appropriate size for his yacht.

Click on the link to find out the recommended sizes by the RYA

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Interesting Facts

The first mention of the Red Ensign Flag was mentioned as early as the 17^th century. At the time the St George cross was used until the Union, as we know it today, superseded the original design

All vessels registered in the UK are required by law to fly the Red Ensign. The only exception are those who are allowed to fly a Special Ensign such as Yacht and Sailing Clubs. Known as ‘defaced ensigns’these special flags will have a badge applied in the fly half of the flag. This privilege is only allowed by permission from the monarch.

The ensign should be flow on the stern, the most prominent position, and is an immediate indication as to the vessels nationality.

Flag etiqutte stipulates that the flag should not be of a ragged appearance and be a suitable size for the vessel. This means that it should not hang or droop into the water.

In 1986 the Red Ensign was allocated to merchant vessels while the Blue Ensign was to be used by a public service or one commanded by a Royal Naval Reserve Officer.

Sewn Red Ensigns – Price List