Sail number K9350Y

lw395 said:
The prefix changed, so a boat that used to be K471 became GBR471.
At least that's what happened in international classes.
I suspect a few classics still use K.
I think the change must have been in the 90's, with an overlap.
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I don't think it is automatic but if the corresponding GBR number is available you can apply for it, but remember that you should display the same number on all sails so unless you are changing all your sails you would need to change the number on the old sails.
 
The other people who might have a record are the RORC rating office who issue IRC certificates.
 
glashen said:
I don't think it is automatic but if the corresponding GBR number is available you can apply for it, but remember that you should display the same number on all sails so unless you are changing all your sails you would need to change the number on the old sails.
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I don't think the national letters are strictly part of the number.
For instance all the Sigma 38's are numbers around 8300 and simply got GBR instead of K prefixes on new sails.
In classes like the 505, number 7000 is number 7000, and if it gets sold abroad it becomes FRA 7000 instead of GBR- or K7000.

I don't think you will find there are two boats KxxxxY and GBRxxxxY, they are old and new forms of the same number.

There a lot of cruisers with non-RYA sail numbers who may not have class insignia, so you get Bavaria 36 K120 and Sadler 32 GBR120, which might not have proper 'class' insignia on replacement sails.
I can make my own boat, call it the Kevin class and give it sail number GBR1 if I want.
I think this is why the French insist on us having SSR numbers!
 
Y signifies a cruising boat, I think. Sail numbers are a boat identifier, not necessarily a race number. Each number should be unique and class numbers should include the class insignia. Multihulls are suffixed M
 
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The RYA only recommends that all sail numbers are unique. You can put whatever you like on and some manufactures and classic boatbuilders have their own decals.

However the suffices Y,M,N,T,A and L are all issued by the RYA together with M for multihulls.

The Clyde Yacht Clubs' Association numbers all have a C suffix.

And the RORC issued sail numbers all have an R suffix.

So my guess is that it's the sail number of a boat that was dear to the owner's heart in his youth and wanted to have a reminder of it in his dotage when he bought the Crabber.
 
Good service from RYA

As suggested I emailed the RYA tech chappies and got a very prompt reply. Turns out the number was allocated in 1984. Due to that being pre computer records they did not have full information, but did confirm the number belongs to my Crabber. So it is that dodgy Contessa that is the ringer! Phew.

Thanks again chaps.

Steve
 
Many, but not all, MK1 Crabbers carry a sail number starting with the trade mark 'C' followed by the build or hull number which can be found on the builder's plate in the cabin if it is still there. I am interested to hear of other numbering systems being allocated to a crabber.

All the best with the boat. I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as I do mine.
 
Cheers

I confess to being obsessed with her at the moment.

Wake up thinking about her

Go to sleep thinking about her

Never thought about the missus that way, not even 36 years ago!

Enjoying planning all the things to put right, change, improve.

There is a plate inside. I will have a look at her build number.

Is yours a mk1?

Steve
 
Indeed a Mk1. I've had her for three years, not sailed her enough yet, just around the estuaries around Morecambe Bay. Had great plans for 2012, but the weather and personal circumstances put paid to those. So, when the summer does come....
She is laid up at the moment and I have just started stripping the mast in readiness for re-oiling. I normally keep her in commission over winter as it can be a great time to sail, but these jobs have to be done.
I've just had a look at your website, and will follow your progress with interest.

John
 
Crabber24 said:
Many, but not all, MK1 Crabbers carry a sail number starting with the trade mark 'C' followed by the build or hull number which can be found on the builder's plate in the cabin if it is still there. I am interested to hear of other numbering systems being allocated to a crabber.

All the best with the boat. I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as I do mine.
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Crabber 24,

any boat can have her hull / build number and class insignia on the sail, but the 'K', 'Y' and 'GBR' systems are on international registers, so for instance will be required in serious offshore racing.

Other than racing I can't think of any practical reason to be on such a register; as far as boat ID in case of difficulties etc, unless one is going a long way the CG66 form and details should cover it.
 
Vendee Crabber Class!

Right. That's it then. Who is up for serious off shore race, say Maldon to Iceland, round the back, home via Rockal? Last Crabber home buys the beers!

Got the sail number, all I need now is the ability, equipment, courage, Er...

All I want to do is wander around the East Coast, honest.

No pics of her sailing yet but a short film and photos on my blog.
 
There is a Crabber Rally planned for this June if you fancy a splash about on the South Coast - roughly Chichester Harbour to Poole. Details on the Cornish Crabber Club Site ;)
 
Misleading Info.

Along with a lot of good stuff, there's a fair bit of misleading information in this thread, particularly in confusing class numbers (e.g. for Sigma 38s) with sail numbers issued by a national authority (RYA, Clyde Yacht Clubs’ Association or RORC for the UK). Fortunately, Sophie followed Geoid96's correct advice and contacted the RYA Technical Office, who resolved his concerns.

The main reason for having a unique sail number is to allow ready identification of your yacht from visual contact. The national authority system has been in place from the time when most yachts were one offs of no particular class, hence most had no class number. The number is issued to a particular vessel and does not change, so, a yacht issued with a national authority K number does not change to GBR as it does with class numbers. A yacht is not issued with a number until the owner applies for it, so an older yacht may have a GBR number if it was first applied for many years after her construction (as in the case of our Wild Thyme). TimBennet has the suffixes right.

The number is issued free to RYA members and for a small admin fee to others. No renewal is required, but it is helpful if owners notify the RYA if the vessel is lost or broken up. The advice to put it on your CG66 is excellent, and this applies whether you have a national authority sail no. or a class no, on your sail.

The RORC rating office issue rating certificates (Either IMS or IRC) for yachts whose owners wish to race under either of those handicap systems, AFAIK they have no role in issuing sail numbers. However, you must have a unique sail no. (of one type or another) in order to get a rating cert. This no. must be displayed on mainsail, genoa and spinnaker so the race officer can clearly identify you amongst a fleet of boats on any point of sail.

In my view, a sail number is also an asset for a cruising yacht. as it enables others to identify you from a good distance off with no recourse to technology beyond the Mk.1 eyeball, even if their next step is to call you on the VHF.

Like others, I’m stumped by Chinita’s British Register of Sails, but have more confidence in the RYA records, particularly pre computer ones!

None of this intended as a criticism, but just concerned that others should not be misled on sail numbers on this mostly very accurate forum.
 
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