Return to A-Directorate's Home Page.
History of the Auxiliary Yachting Cap
When the Coast Guard Auxiliary was conceived, it was entirely made up of U.S. citizens who owned motorboats, sailboats and yachts, and who would volunteer their - and their boats' - services to assist the Coast Guard. Many of the original Auxiliarists were yacht club members.
Yachting caps have long represented the sailing and boating world since the turn of the 20th century. It is a military looking hat, but designed for a more casual appearance, most manufacturers of military uniforms such as Lancaster and Bancroft produced yachting caps of the period. In every case an emblem or device is found on the front of the band over the visor. Traditionally this identifies the yacht club to which the yachtsman belongs and indicates their status in that club. The central part of this device was an enameled metal or silk embroidered disc showing the distinctive flag of the club.
200909-G-WV696-679
Original Auxiliary Yachting Cap Device utilized from 1942 to 1968.
200928-G-WV696-732
Original Auxiliary Yachting Cap with device mounted, utilized from 1942 to 1968.
Early records show that in the beginning, uniforms for Auxiliarists were a mix of yacht club uniforms with bars or patches on them. By 1942, a specific uniform was decided upon for the Auxiliary by the Coast Guard. Khaki shirt, khaki trousers, cap with khaki cover and black visor, and brown shoes was the prescribed uniform which was to be bought and paid for by the individual members. Since yachting caps were already owned by the majority of boaters who became Auxiliarists, and they were generally identical and equally expensive as combination covers, yachting caps were deemed optional. The Auxiliary cap device was to be mounted on the front of the cap. The Coast Guard Auxiliary's device incorporated a white enameled metal disc featuring the blue Auxiliary ensign, placed at the intersection of two crossed fouled anchors in gold.
The following extract from a 1954 publication by the then Director of the Auxiliary, 3rd Coast Guard District (now Fifth Northern) contains a mention of the yachting cap. “The uniform is worn only when on Auxiliary business … It is not worn when yachting on an individual basis; nor should the cap or shirt with collar devices attached be worn. The yachting cap device is proper.” Inferring that the Auxiliary yachting cap could be worn while in uniform, and researching old Auxiliary photos supports this finding.
201116-G-WV696-006
Auxiliary Yachting Cap with device mounted, utilized from 1968 until 1975.
201116-G-WV696-007
Auxiliary Yachting Cap Device utilized from 1968 until 1975.
In 1968, the enameled disc featured the current Auxiliary ensign, a blue rectangular flag with white ‘slash’ bearing the Auxiliary emblem.
The 1950’s and 60’s editions of Chapman’s Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling contained page-plates showing in detail the flags and insignia adopted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary at the time, all including the yachting cap device. The Auxiliary yachting cap device continued until 1975 when the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary transitioned to the newer 'Bender Blues' type uniforms, covers, and devices currently utilized.
PHOTOS:
200909-G-WV696-679
Original Auxiliary Yachting Cap Device utilized from 1942 to 1968.
200928-G-WV696-732
Original Auxiliary Yachting Cap with device mounted, utilized from 1942 to 1968.
201116-G-WV696-006
Auxiliary Yachting Cap with device mounted, utilized from 1968 until 1975.
Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Joseph Giannattasio.
201116-G-WV696-007
Auxiliary Yachting Cap Device utilized from 1968 until 1975.
Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Joseph Giannattasio.
IMG_3507
Early photo of Auxiliarists from Lower Egg Harbor Yacht Club, NJ. Note Auxiliary Yachting Caps and Devices.
Uncredited image from D5NR archives.