Dress

1. Details of the items of uniform worn with each of the numbered rigs are shown at Annex A to RYO Section 2. Appendix 2 gives details of the occasions on which each rig is worn.
2. Royal Yachtsmen should be the best dressed men in the Navy. It is inexcusable for Royal Yachtsmen to wear dirty or torn uniforms, faded badges or dirty gym shoes.
3. The following notes on dress are applicable onboard Her Majesty’s Yacht:
   1. Overalls Are part of the kit of all Yachtsmen. They may be worn for large scale dirty work, provided the First Lieutenant’s permission has been given. They may be worn by Engine Room personnel between decks and when engaged on maintenance work in boats; and by the General Mess Party, Side Party and the Triturator Operator on very dirty work. White overalls are worn on the Upper Deck during Royal Duty for essential dirty work.
   2. Caps
      1. When Wearing a Standard Caps are to be worn at all times on the Upper Deck for’d of the mainmast. Abaft the mainmast they are to be removed except:
         1. When entering and leaving the harbour, when they are to be worn until the Yacht is fully secured, or clear of the harbour.
            
         2. By the Duty Communications Rating who is to wear a cap at Colours and Sunset.
      2. When No Standard is Flying
         1. At Sea Provided there are no ships in company, caps need not be worn.
         2. In Harbour Caps are always to be worn on the Upper Deck in harbour when in uniform. This rule will be relaxed at Portsmouth (in Naval Base hands), when caps may be removed but are to be available.
         3. When in uniform Warrant Officers, Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers are to wear caps at all times on the Upper Deck.
   3. Colours and Sunset All Yachtsmen on deck are to wear a cap at Colours and Sunset (but see paragraph 3.b.(1)). They are to face aft.
   4. Chinstays Chinstays are to be sewn so that they are taut when worn in the correct position: in front of the ears.
4. Shoes
   1. Gym Shoes Gym shoes are to be worn by all Royal Yachtsmen within the Yacht in all rigs except when No 10s (Sandals) is ordered. Exceptions to the above order are as follows:
      1. Gangway Staff to wear appropriate uniform shoes.
      2. Wardroom Staff to wear appropriate uniform shoes, when serving meals in the Wardroom.
      3. Chefs to wear Boots DMS whilst working in the Galley.
      4. Royal Yachtsmen who need to wear shoes or seaboots for specific jobs when authorised by Heads of Departments.
      5. Royal Stewards will conform to the rig ordered by the Keeper and Steward of the Royal Apartments.
      6. Engineering Department ratings working in Machinery Spaces wear Boots-DMS.
      7. Yachtsmen who have not been issued with Gym Shoes may draw 2 pairs on loan from the Clothing and Mess Gear Store. All Gym shoes should be regularly scrubbed and clearly marked on the inside of each shoe with owner’s initials. Great care must be taken that no marking is visible outside.
      8. Laundry crew (see paragraph 4.c.).
   2. Sandals Sandals may be worn as an alternative to Gym Shoes when the Dress of the Day is No 10s (Sandals). When the Standard is flying sandals may only be worn in Upper Deck Recreation Areas out of working hours by Royal Yachtsmen who are not actually on duty. Sandals may not be worn in machinery spaces at any time.
   3. Flip Flops Flip Flops may be worn on messdecks and for passage to and from bathrooms. They may only be worn out of working hours, and never by men on duty. Flip Flops are never to be worn on the Upper Deck, above the Main Deck, in the galleys or in machinery spaces. They may be worn by the Laundry Crew.
   4. Black Shoes Black shoes are to be worn with RYWD ashore in the Naval Base in wet weather. Rubber soled or heeled shoes are to be such that they do not mark the deck. Sea boots are only to be worn when absolutely necessary.
   5. Boots DMS Boots DMS are to be issued to all Royal Yachtsmen and are to be worn when employed on any hazardous duty. In particular Boots DMS are to be worn by the following personnel:
      1. Cable party when working cable.
         
      2. All stores parties.
      3. RAS (Dump party).
5. Positioning of Badges The Royal Yacht Flash is to be worn on the right arm 3 inches from shoulder seam to the top of the badge on Jackets and Jumpers, and 2 inches from neckline in the case of jersey and cotton vests. On tropical shirts it is worn 1 inch below shoulder seam.
6. Bows on Back of No 1 Trousers These should be 4 inches across the bow and 6 inches from the top of bow to the swallow tails.
7. Spare
8. Blue Shorts In Tropical Routine, when at sea and not on Royal Duty, the wearing of blue shorts may be authorised by Heads of Departments for dirty work. When a Standard is flying, the General Mess Party, Side Party and Painter’s Mate may wear blue shorts, but for dirty work only.
9. 1. Walking Out Jackets The 1988 pattern jacket is to be worn. FWJs will continue to be worn in very inclement weather when entering and leaving harbour, and may be ordered for very heavy dirty work on the Upper Deck. As the jacket is fitted with shoulder flaps, shoulder badges printed blue-on-white are to be worn by Leading Hands, Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers. Warrant Officers will wear gold-on-blue shoulder badges and Officers will wear appropriately laced shoulder badges.
   2. Dress of the Day when RYWD Foul weather jackets will be the inclement weather working dress when ordered and will be controlled by the working jacket tallies displayed in the FX Cross Passage, Galley Flat, MCO Flat or QD Locker Flat. The setting of these tallied will be controlled by the First Lieutenant or in his absence the DLC or OOD. When in company the Escort is to be informed. Senior Yachtsmen are to ensure that all Yachtsmen on the Upper Deck are in the same rig and jackets are correctly worn.
   3. Boats Foul weather jackets or full foul weather clothing may be worn at OOD/OOW discretion.
   4. Entering and Leaving Harbour When ordered, foul weather jackets or full foul weather clothing will be worn by Royal Yachtsmen working Part of Ship for’d and aft. Royal Yachtsmen entering harbour in all other positions, including Bridge and Dress Ship Parties, will wear the new type windproof jacket.
10. General Points about Dress
    1. Jerseys Are always to be worn outside the trousers and sleeves rolled down to each wrist. Vests should not show
    2. Non-Uniform Clothing Articles of non-uniform clothing are never to be worn onboard during working hours. After 1900 when at sea and not wearing a Standard the following may be worn:
       1. Sunbathing Dress (respectable shorts/swimming trunks) may be worn from 'Secure' to 1900 in tropical routine.
          
       2. Sports Rig may be worn from ‘Secure’ to 1900 when in Blue Uniform. This dress is to be appropriate to the sport being played. Non-uniform clothing is never to be worn during Royal Duty without the Commander’s permission. (Running around the upper deck may taken place from 1600-1830 when not on Royal Duty).
    3. Tops Tops are to be worn at all times except when Dress of the Day, promulgated in Daily Orders, is ‘Optional Tops’. The following rules will then apply:
       1. When the Standard is flying no one is ever to proceed abaft the mainmast without a top on.
          
       2. No one is to proceed through the Wardroom Senior Officers Flat or MCO Flat without Top on.
          
       3. When the Yacht is alongside, it is essential that no one should be seen from outboard without a Top on.
          
       4. All Yachtsmen should be aware of the dangers of the sun when walking on the upper deck.
    4. Night Clothing Hands are to clean into Night Clothing at 1730.
    5. Stockings When tropical rig is ordered in harbour, Dress of the Day may be worn on the jetty in the immediate vicinity of the Yacht. However, stockings are always to be worn by Dutymen and by Yachtsmen ashore on duty.
    6. Battledress Jackets Battledress Jackets are not to be worn in the Royal Yacht except by Royal Stewards as ordered by K & S.
    7. Sunbathing in Harbour In Harbour sunbathing may take place on the FX out of working hours provided that semi-naked bodies are not visible from outboard. A shirt must be worn when going to and from sunbathing site. Sunbathers are not permitted on deck after 1800. Respectable shorts or swimming trunks must be worn.
11. Appearance Yachtsmen are to keep their hair and sideboards neat, reasonably short and tidy. Sideboards should never extend below the level of the ear lobes.
    
12. Uniform Blue Woollen Jerseys Senior Yachtsmen may wear uniform blue woollen jerseys at sea when not on Royal Duty and not in company with other ships.
13. RM’s (including the Band when embarked), will equate as near as possible to the dress ordered for Royal Yachtsmen using BR 81 as a guide.
14. Wearing of Sports and Sunbathing Rig Sports and sunbathing rigs may be worn on the following occasions:
    
    

    	At sea	In harbour	Royal duty
    a. Lunchtimes 1150-1315 – Sunbathing only. To and from foc’sle in dress of the day.	YES	YES	YES but see 0220.11c
    b. Secure – (at end of working day) until 1900.	YES	YES	YES but see 0220.11c
    c. 0530-0730 – (or expiry of leave whichever is the earlier) for joggers and runners.	NO	YES	YES Keep clear of the after end of the Yacht
    d. 1900-2100 – Funnel only (Royal Yachtsmen should proceed to the funnel in the dress of the day taking sports kit with them. Alternatively wear overalls on top of sportskit. Permission to enter funnel must be gained from Boiler Room).	YES	YES	YES wear white overalls
    e. 1600-1830 – Jogging around the upper deck and PT.	YES	NO	Foc’sle PT Only
    f. Secure – 1800 – Sunbathing dress to be respectable shorts/swimming trunks	YES Designated Areas See 410	YES Foc’sle only To and from Foc’sle in dress of the day	YES Foc’sle only
    g. Watchkeepers after 1200 (when hands are turned to, sunbathing only)	YES Funnel/ Royal Deck	NO	YES At sea on Funnel Deck

    
    
15. Dress in Dining Halls Civilian clothes, including sports rig is not to be worn in the Dining Halls.
16. Standards of Dress When Proceeding Ashore The intention of this order is to ensure Yacht standards are maintained, with due regard to personal safety, climate, practicability and convention.
    1. Standard Plain Clothes Rig A sports jacket, blazer, or suit with a tie is to be the standard rig when proceeding to and from the Yacht, and when on Yacht functions ashore.
       
    2. Jackets are to be of a dress type, single or double breasted. “Spencer”, “bomber”, “demin”, “blouson”, and any zip-fronted jacket are not acceptable. Formal (firm collared) shirts with a standard or button down collar are to be worn with a tie. Top buttons are always to be fastened when ties are used. Knitted shirts of a Fred Perry or Lacoste type are not acceptable when ties are worn. When we are alongside in Portsmouth, and only then, Yachtsmen may wear jackets with a zip; but never to a Yacht function, and never when showing guests around the Yacht. Demin jackets, shirts, or trousers are never to be worn onboard or when proceeding to or from the Yacht.
    3. Once ashore, if you feel conspicuous against potentially abusive or hostile people, and there is nowhere else you would be less threatened, jackets and/or ties may be discreetly removed (senior man present to decide). This is not an excuse to relax dress without good reason, but only a sensible concession when the situation is unavoidably unpleasant. Such a change in the vicinity of the Yacht, or on the dock/jetty at which she is berthed, is not to be entertained.
    4. Relaxed Plain Clothes Rig There may be times, especially in hot weather that the rules may be modified, this will ordered and must never be assumed.
       1. Planter’s Rig Jackets are optional, but ties and socks must be worn. This will normally be ordered until 1830 but may, in very warm places, be extended overnight.
       2. Relaxed Hot Weather Rig In tropical climates or very hot weather, a“Relaxed Hot Weather rig” may be ordered. This comprises an open neck shirt (short or long sleeves, formal or polo style) negative tie, long trousers (with a crease and not based on a jean design), OR tailored shorts, and shoes or sandals, but not trainers. Socks are optional.
       3. Relaxed Hot Weather Rig can only be worn up to 1830 when again Yachtsmen must change into jackets and ties, or exceptionally – when ordered – Planter’s Rig (see Para 5a).
          
    5. Sports rig Rig is to be smart (No deep cut vests, no logos or commercial (eg football/strips).
       1. Sports Teams. Sports teams are to wear plain clothes, as above, and carry sports rig when changing facilities are available, and in any event when there is to be social activity before or after playing.
       2. Cyclists, runners, and those doing sport on the jetty may wear smart sports rig but they are to go directly from and straight back to the Yacht. They are not to be seen on the beach, in bars, or wandering around ashore.
    6. Recreation other than sport For recreation other than sport, (eg, relaxing on a beach, golf, adventurous training, or walking) plain clothes are to be worn going to and from the venue, and a shift into appropriate clothing made at the place of recreation.
       
    7. Motorcycle dress Recognised protective clothing may be worn by motorcyclist, instead of plain clothes, when going over the gangway, but not on Yacht functions ashore, or abroad.
    8. Hats Hats are a good idea in the sun, but they must have no logos except a designer or BRITANNIA’s name.
    9. Smartness Whatever the dress ordered, one principle will always apply – whatever garment, shoes, or hat is worn it must be a credit to the Yacht. It must be clean, pressed, free from logos (except small designer or BRITANNIA logos), pictures, bells, tassels, or chains. It is frankly unlikely that the most modern or outlandish gear will ever be allowed, and this simply must be accepted for service in the Yacht. The Officer of the Day/Watch is to be asked if the QM is in any doubt about acceptability.
    10. Private Rig When ashore at home or on station leave, not proceeding to or from the Yacht or other naval establishment, and not involved in Yacht activity, Royal Yachtsmen should dress as they see fit as a private citizen, but you would be expected not to be outrageous.
    11. Exceptions These are the normal rules. If you feel that you have a good reason to go outside them, then ask the Commander through the Coxswain.