A yacht ensign is a flag allowed by some nations to be hoisted as the national ensign (instead of the civil ensign) by yachts.
As with any other civil ensign, the yacht ensign is the largest flag on board, and is normally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship.
Yacht ensigns differ from merchant ensigns in that their use indicates that the yacht is not carrying any cargo which requires a customs declaration. Carrying commercial cargo on a boat with a yacht ensign is deemed to be smuggling in many jurisdictions.[1]
| Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Royal Melbourne Yacht Club, Royal Perth Yacht Club, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and Royal Yacht Club of Victoria yachts registered in UK can fly the British Blue Ensign | ||
| Royal Motor Yacht Club of New South Wales | ||
| Belgium | ||
| All yachts | ||
| Denmark | ||
| General yacht ensign | ||
| Finland | ||
| Each club has a distinctive emblem placed on the white canton of the yacht ensign | ||
| France | ||
| Yacht Club de France | ||
| Ireland | ||
| Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club | ||
| Howth Yacht Club | ||
| Inland Waterways Association of Ireland | ||
| Lough Derg Sailing Club | ||
| Malahide Yacht Club | ||
| National Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Cork Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Irish Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Saint George Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland | ||
| Skerries Sailing Club | ||
| Italy | ||
| Yacht Club Italiano members can fly the Italian naval ensign | ||
| Japan | ||
| All yachts | ||
| Netherlands | ||
| Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereniging De Maas | ||
| Koninklijke Watersportvereniging De Kaag | ||
| Koninklijke Zeil- en Roeivereniging Neptunus | ||
| New Zealand | ||
| Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club yachts registered in UK can fly the British Blue Ensign | ||
| Royal Akarana Yacht Club | ||
| Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | ||
| Norway | ||
| Kongelig Norsk Seilforening | ||
| Poland | ||
| Jacht Klubu Marynarki Wojennej Kotwica | ||
| Polish Yachting Association | ||
| Yacht Klub Polski | ||
| Spain | ||
| All yachts | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| Cruising Club der Schweiz | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Royal Yacht Squadron members can fly the British naval ensign | ||
| Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club, Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, Royal Cruising Yacht Club, Royal Dorset Yacht Club, Royal Engineer Yacht Club, Royal Gourock Yacht Club, Royal Highland Yacht Club, Royal Marine Sailing Club, Royal Motor Yacht Club, Royal Naval Sailing Association, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Yacht Club, Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club, Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club, Royal Solent Yacht Club, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Royal Temple Yacht Club, Royal Thames Yacht Club, Royal Western Yacht Club of England, Royal Western Yacht Club of Scotland and Sussex Motor Yacht Club | ||
| Bar Yacht Club | ||
| Little Ship Club | ||
| Medway Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Harwich Yacht Club | ||
| Royal London Yacht Club | ||
| Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Ocean Racing Club | ||
| Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Ulster Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Welsh Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club | ||
| Severn Motor Yacht Club | ||
| Sussex Yacht Club | ||
| Thames Motor Yacht Club | ||
| House of Commons Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Lymington Yacht Club | ||
| Royal Victoria Yacht Club | ||
| United States of America | ||
| All yachts | ||