Royal Lymington Yacht Club (United Kingdom) (original) (raw)

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[ ](../images/g/gb~lym.gif)image by Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

• Flag of Royal Lymington Yacht Club
• Detail of the Badge
• Variant with smaller badge
• 1926 ensign
• Burgees
  • Burgee since 1938
  • 1926 Burgee
  • 1922 Burgee

See also:

• British yacht clubs and sailing clubs index
• United Kingdom

Flag of Royal Lymington Yacht Club

The history of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club can be found on their website at http://www.rlymyc.org.uk/about/default.asp?page_id=55.
Clay Moss, 17 September 2008

The image here is of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club ensign as modified in 1939. The original ensign granted to the Lymington River Sailing Club by Admiralty warrant of 21 December 1925, for an initial period of ten years, did not have a crown above the lymphad. The founder and Commodore of the club, Major Cyril Potter, had requested a special ensign and the title 'Royal' in August 1925. Although he was a personal friend of the Home Secretary the request for the title 'Royal' was refused.

"Home Office file entry, 4 November 1925. HRH Prince Henry is patron, but Royal Patronage confers no right to a Royal title. Lymington not recommended; too young and see Yacht Racing Association's observation. Not necessary to consult Admiralty as they are not interested in sailing yacht clubs. Submit to King; 'not recommended'."

Major Potter made further unsuccessful requests for the title in 1929, 1931 and 1934, but his persistence was finally rewarded in 1938. It was perhaps no coincidence that by then King George V was dead and Potter was no longer Commodore of the club. The title 'Royal' has never been awarded to a British yacht club since. The correspondence on the subject is fascinating, but too long and not related closely enough to flags to justify posting here.
David Prothero, 26 September 2008

The ship in this image is called the "Lentune Ship" as the original name of the Borough of Lymington was Lentune. This ship adorns the Borough's badge or coat of arms and is thus an integral part of the RLYC's badge as well. I have been in touch with one of the club's staff members and asked him the origin of the shield hanging from the mast of the ship. His quote is below:

"To be honest I don't know exactly where that comes from but it is the coat of arms of the House of Courtenay with a label, indicating first born. I suspect it belongs to William de Redvers who granted the town its charter. He has French roots which probably link him to the House of Courtenay thus fitting the coat of arms."

I was also provided with several very helpful photographs of the ensign and a piece on the history of the RLYC's burgee. According to the burgee history piece, the club's original name was the Lymington River Sailing club, founded in 1914. In 1926, the club's name changed to the Lymington Yacht Club, and in 1938, upon receiving its royal title, the Royal Lymington Yacht Club received its current name.
Clay Moss, 2 October 2008

Detail of the Badge

[ lym.gif)](../images/g/gb%29lym.gif)image by Clay Moss, 2 October 2008

Thecoat of arms of the House of Courtenay is Or three torteaux gules as shown on this somewhat self-congratulatory page:http://www.blackhawkpublishing.com/BP0500Related%20Links.htm and athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Courtenay. The label would have been azure.
Jan Mertens, 2 October 2008

Variant with smaller badge

[ ](../images/g/gb~lym2.gif)image by Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

This is drawn from a photo provided by the club. The defacement in the photo is smaller and quartered as per this illustration. So currently, this
is what actual RLYC ensigns look like.
Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

1926 ensign

[ ](../images/g/gb~lym26.gif)image by Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

There is strong evidence that this was the Lymington Yacht Club's ensign from 1925(26?) until 1938. However, no one is ready to etch that in stone. So, I post this ensign as LYC's probable ensign.
Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

Burgees

Burgee since 1938

[ ](../images/g/gb%5Flym.gif)image by Clay Moss, 6 November 2008

The RLYC's waterfront manager also commented on the evolution of not only the yacht club, but their burgee as well. In addition, he sent me an illustrated evolution of the Lymington burgee.
Clay Moss, 26 September 2008

1926 Burgee

[ ](../images/g/gb%5Flym26.gif)image by Clay Moss, 3 October 2008

1922 Burgee

[ ](../images/g/gb%5Flym22.gif)image by Clay Moss, 3 October 2008