Reg numbers on sails or not-views please

[Borden]

We are currently in the eastern Mediterranean on the SW Coast of Turkey. Perhaps next year we will start heading west. I'm planning to have the mainsail cleaned this winter and am considering having our GB sail reg numbers added. Presently the sail has no boat identification of any sort.

What are the views of the panel on adding identification.

 

[skyflyer]

Presumably you are already identifiable as a British boat from your ensign, so no big "give away" by adding a sail number, so presumably the only reason you want to do this is so that friends can identify you from afar?

 

[Borden]

Presumably you are already identifiable as a British boat from your ensign, so no big "give away" by adding a sail number, so presumably the only reason you want to do this is so that friends can identify you from afar?

Glad you raised this question Skyflyer. We are considering putting the boat on the market when we return to the UK so adding sail numbers may be beneficial.

 

[prv]

What are the views of the panel on adding identification.

The tatty old sails when we bought our boat had numbers on. We didn't see any point in having numbers put on the new ones - what for?

Pete

 

[skyflyer]

Well it's your choice but with houses and boats it seems that you rarely get back what you spend on 'enhancements' although you might make it more saleable. I doubt many people would be swung into or away from a sale (haha) by the absence of a sail number, surely? Persoanlly I wouldn't give a stuff, but then i don't race

I know nothing about potential anti-British sentiments in the area you are in, but that would be my only concern.

 

[laika]

If you're racing in situations where correct sail number is required then it's a no brainer. If not, sail numbers can presumably be helpful for search and rescue which is why I had one (sort of) added. I was also conscious that I may in future be sailing in countries where our government in its bellicose wisdom may have made much of the population very cross with us all. Consequently I asked the sailmaker to leave the "GBR" bit off. It's easy to take the ensign off the back and my port of registration on the transom isn't visible from that far away (and there's a London, Ontario, eh?).

In retrospect the bleedin' obvious thing would have just been to use the manufacturer's sail number.

 

[Tranona]

Glad you raised this question Skyflyer. We are considering putting the boat on the market when we return to the UK so adding sail numbers may be beneficial.

Sail numbers are largely meaningless to others and will have no effect on price. Don't waste money on them. The only reason for having them is if you are racing and the organisers require them for identification. As there are many different systems of numbering and no records relating them to a specific boat they are of limited use to rescue services unless the person who initiates the call using them as extra identification of the vessel. In these situations an accurate position and electronic identification is far more use anyway.

 

[laika]

As there are many different systems of numbering and no records relating them to a specific boat they are of limited use to rescue services unless the person who initiates the call using them as extra identification of the vessel.

CG66 has a field for sail number: it was actually that which convinced me that I should probably have some visible identification on the sail

 

[sailorman]

We are currently in the eastern Mediterranean on the SW Coast of Turkey. Perhaps next year we will start heading west. I'm planning to have the mainsail cleaned this winter and am considering having our GB sail reg numbers added. Presently the sail has no boat identification of any sort.

What are the views of the panel on adding identification.

Most AWB producers started the trend to omit the sail No`s to save wonga, I have GBR No`s on my sail ( administered by the RYA)

 

[Tranona]

CG66 has a field for sail number: it was actually that which convinced me that I should probably have some visible identification on the sail

But it is only for extra identification like colour of hull etc. Does not convey any information about owner, crew etc. Might help pinpoint a subject boat in a sea of other white boats with white sails! DSC call and EPIRB are much more useful.

 

[tcm]

Jeez, I am slowly realising that i must be a total anarchist. If something/anything is not a requirement and it costs money or not, i don't do it. If it IS a requirement but not enforced, i don't do that much either. Sail numbers, sheesh!

 

[laika]

But it is only for extra identification like colour of hull etc. Does not convey any information about owner, crew etc. Might help pinpoint a subject boat in a sea of other white boats with white sails! DSC call and EPIRB are much more useful.

When looking for a boat I reason that the search is more effective the more visible distinguishing features are known. Like many others my boat is mostly white. The name on the back is only really visible from behind and relatively close. A sail number is much more obvious from many different angles. Not only does knowing it allow searchers to identify you if they see it, it allows them to more quickly rule out other boats which obviously don't have that number. I also guess the coastguard wouldn't bother adding in a sail number field to the CG66 if they didn't think it could be useful. Essential for safety? No. Might be helpful so why not? IMHO yes although I confess it was a no-charge extra with my recently acquired new sails and had the cost been non-trivial I think I may have forgone the opportunity.

[EDIT] Also "never say never". Some day I *might* ditch the generator, the anchors, the booze and all the rest of my possessions and race this tub somewhere. Unlikely but possible....

 

[richardbayle]

How do you put the sail number on a motor boat?

Just asking

 

[sailorman]

On the steadying sail

 

[JumbleDuck]

Put someone else's sail number on your sails. When you have an accident, you only have to cover up the name.

 

[richardbayle]

On the steadying sail

Of course, silly me.

 

[Oldhairy]

I have come across a couple of Finnish and Swedish world cruisers down here that had their radio call signs on the sails. Makes sense for identification by coast guards and customs.