Nobody answered so here goes:

What do you mean by "I am currently in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary"? Being employed in the RFA does not entitle you to wear a special ensign on your own boat. The requirement is that you either have a warrant to fly a special ensign, or belong to an organisation that has a warrant and which has issued you with a permit. Thus, a member of, say, the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club who has a boat that meets the club's rules may have a permit to wear the RCYC defaced ensign when he is on board provided that the boat is also wearing the RCYC burgee and he ensures that the ensign is lowered at night.

note (andyqc) correct terminology answer :burgees are flown ensigns are worn:

Here you go....

British ensigns currently in use can be classified into five categories, in descending order of exclusiveness:

the White Ensign
the Blue Ensign
the Blue Ensign defaced
the Red Ensign defaced
the Red Ensign

Since the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, the White Ensign has been restricted to ships of the Royal Navy and their boats. The Royal Yacht Squadron also fly the white ensign by special dispensation.

The Blue Ensign undefaced is worn masters of vessels in possession of a warrant issued by the Director of Naval Reserves, and by the members of certain yacht clubs. Such warrants are issued to officers in the active or retired lists of the Royal Naval Reserve and the maritime reserve forces of other Commonwealth Realms and territories. The master must be of the rank of Lieutenant RN or above, and fishing vessels must be crewed by at least four other Royal Naval reservists or pensioners.

British government departments use a variety of blue ensigns defaced in the fly with the department badge, and colonial governments use blue ensigns defaced with the colonial badge. The flag of Australia and those of its states as well as the flag of New Zealand are defaced blue ensigns. Several yacht clubs are also entitled to fly blue ensigns defaced by their club badge.

The Red Ensign defaced by a badge is flown by Trinity House and various organisations and yacht clubs. Merchant ships and private vessels registered in British colonies and dependencies, and in several Commonwealth realms, fly the Red Ensign defaced by the badge of their territory.

The Red Ensign undefaced is for the use of all other British Merchant Navy ships and private craft. The Red Ensign is the correct flag to be worn as courtesy flag by foreign private vessels in United Kingdom waters.


Gordon...

---

Gordon J Pownall MSc Dip Couns

RYA / MCA Yachtmaster (Sail)
RYA / MCA Yachtmaster (Power)
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor (Sail)
RYA Powerboat Instructor
RYA / MCA Advanced Powerboat Certificate

Sunsail Corporate Skipper of the Year 2010/2011