The club burgee, or pennant, is the club's personal flag of
identification. It is not compulsory for members to fly a club
burgee, but if a member does and the club sincerely trusts that he
does there is a strong moral obligation to ensure that it is flown
correctly. The yacht club burgee is a flag which all members should
be proud to fly and which should receive the dignity that is
reserved for the club and its officers. Flags should be hoisted at
0800 hours, and hauled down at sunset, taking the time from the
senior officer of the club, or failing the presence of one's own
club officers, taking it from that of a senior officer of any club.
The club pennant is blue with a red cross piped with white.
The flag officers fly, a rectangular swallow tailed burgee, the
same colours as the pennant. The Commodore's burgee is not defaced,
the Vice-Commodore's burgee is similar except that one white ball
is displayed in the inner upper canton. The Rear-Commodore's burgee
is also similar except that a white ball is displayed in both rho
upper and lower inner canton. There is also a flag to identify the
club's past Commodores and this is a club pennant on a white
rectangular background and a Maltese cross displayed.
When a yacht comes to anchor or gets underway, her burgee should
be hoisted, although the time might be earlier than 0800 or after
sunset, providing that there is sufficient daylight for her colours
to be recognised. On entering harbours in such circumstances, the
colours should be hauled down immediately after coming to
anchor.
All the above applies equally to the wearing of the Red or Blue
Ensign. If a yacht owner belongs to more than one club, and as a
member of one of these the Blue Ensign may be worn under special
warrant from the Admiralty, it should be clearly understood that
the Blue Ensign should only be flown with the burgee of the club in
question, and never without this corresponding burgee. In brief the
Red Ensign should always be displayed unless the right to fly the
Blue is clear. In recent times it has become the fashion to fly the
New Zealand flag. This is not correct flag etiquette. The New
Zealand flag is not a substitute for the Red Ensign.
Club pennants are available at the Clubhouse at a cost of $23.00
Inc. G.S.T.