Sail number prefix changed when updating owner details with RYA

[maej]

I contacted the RYA about updating the ownership details of my boat in regard to the sail number, expecting to keep the existing number which is shown on the sail. When I received the confirmation in the post from the RYA, the number and suffix were the same but the 'K' prefix (which I now know to be the old country code) has been changed to 'GBR' (the current country code), so K1234Y has become GBR1234Y.

• My current (soon to be spare) main has the sail number with the K country code.
• My new main sail (currently being made) was recently ordered and specified to have the K number put on it, though I think it's early enough to change that.
• Every document and registration that wants the sail number has the K number.

My questions...

• Do I now need to change everything to the GBR version of the number, or are the GBR and K freely interchangeable?
• Can I still use my current main with the K number?
• Is it better to have the new GBR number on the new main? It would mean the different sails would show different numbers (well, different prefixes at least).

Sorry about the confusion. I tried contacting the RYA guy but he's on holiday now and I want to make sure I tell the sail makers asap what to do about the number. Of course the GBR number will cost more due to the extra letters.

 

[Stork_III]

The number is only of any relevence if you go racing. Otherwise don't worry about it.

 

[dunedin]

The number is only of any relevence if you go racing. Otherwise don't worry about it.

+1. Don't fret about it.

If racing (other than Americas Cup or perhaps Fastnet) nobody will fuss over a GBR or K as well understood.
If cruising could put anything you want on the sail, even your phone number (or MMSI number?)

 

[[70521]]

If cruising could put anything you want on the sail, even your phone number (or MMSI number?)

I like that idea.

 

[michael_w]

Get your sailmaker to put GBR on your new sail. Otherwise your friends will sneer at you for having such ancient sails!

 

[Stork_III]

Get your sailmaker to put GBR on your new sail. Otherwise your friends will sneer at you for having such ancient sails!

Or save some money and leave sail number off entirely.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Get your sailmaker to put GBR on your new sail. Otherwise your friends will sneer at you for having such ancient sails!

No, no, no. Insist that they put a K number and then your friends will all feel very impressed (or depressed) that you can sail so well with such ancient sails. Psychology, old chap.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Or save some money and leave sail number off entirely.

Or if you are collision prone get somebody else's sail number put on your sails.

 

[sailorman]

Or save some money and leave sail number off entirely.

That is an AWB manufacturers way of saving a few €s on top of the carp sails they normallly provide

 

[Simondjuk]

That is an AWB manufacturers way of saving a few €s on top of the carp sails they normallly provide

How many buyers would even know the sail number of their as yet undelivered boat, in order to supply it to the boat builder, who would supply it to the sail maker, so that the buyer got numbered sails some months later?

 

[Keen_Ed]

The change to GBR from K for racing boats happened, (IIRC) in about 2000. It was driven by ISAF, and the Sydney Olympics, and the desire to make it more obvious to spectators as to who was who. (KZA being South Africa, for example. Not immediately clear).

RYA prescriptions to the RRS demand that you race with GBR on the sail. As to whether anybody cares.....

 

[sailorman]

How many buyers would even know the sail number of their as yet undelivered boat, in order to supply it to the boat builder, who would supply it to the sail maker, so that the buyer got numbered sails some months later?

Bennyblobby 42/08
Class 42 hull No08

 

[Stork_III]

The change to GBR from K for racing boats happened, (IIRC) in about 2000. It was driven by ISAF, and the Sydney Olympics, and the desire to make it more obvious to spectators as to who was who. (KZA being South Africa, for example. Not immediately clear).

RYA prescriptions to the RRS demand that you race with GBR on the sail. As to whether anybody cares.....

Early 80's.

 

[JumbleDuck]

How many buyers would even know the sail number of their as yet undelivered boat, in order to supply it to the boat builder, who would supply it to the sail maker, so that the buyer got numbered sails some months later?

I suppose the manufacturers could do as Westerly did and supply a {model code}{hull number} sail number, but that might detract from the bland anonymity on which modern yachts are sold. It would also allow the age of the boat to be easily determined, which could be as embarrassing as having people know that your Mondeo is two years old.

 

[Simondjuk]

Bennyblobby 42/08
Class 42 hull No08

Ah, I see what you mean. I was thinking only of RYA/RORC GBRxxxxx numbers since that was the variety of sail number mentioned by the OP.

For what its worth though, it appears that my AWB did come with a makers logo, class/size identifier and a three digit number (although it seems it's not representative of hull xxx of class xx) on her original sails. I say appears as I can only make a supposition based on the numbers looking like they saw the same 12 years of use and exposure as the sail.

This is the new sail, but the original bears the same markings.

 

[Tempus]

How many buyers would even know the sail number of their as yet undelivered boat, in order to supply it to the boat builder, who would supply it to the sail maker, so that the buyer got numbered sails some months later?

At the risk of stating the obvious...

There is no "sail number" of an undelivered boat. You need to apply for a sail number from the RYA. This is free if you are a member and just want the next number in sequence. "Vanity" numbers of your choosing can be had, for around £200 iirc.

There is no requirement to have a sail number unless racing, and therefore I can see no point in having any number other than an official RYA racing number, if not then you might as well leave the sail blank imo (as a large number of cruising boats, including us, do). The example above for Bavaria seems to serve no purpose, other than potentially making the boat easier to identify from afar - a situation to be avoided in my view, but each to their own!

Sorry if everyone knew that already, if wasn't clear

 

[Lucky Duck]

At the risk of stating the obvious...

There is no "sail number" of an undelivered boat. You need to apply for a sail number from the RYA. This is free if you are a member and just want the next number in sequence. "Vanity" numbers of your choosing can be had, for around £200 iirc.

There is no requirement to have a sail number unless racing, and therefore I can see no point in having any number other than an official RYA racing number, if not then you might as well leave the sail blank imo (as a large number of cruising boats, including us, do). The example above for Bavaria seems to serve no purpose, other than potentially making the boat easier to identify from afar - a situation to be avoided in my view, but each to their own!

Sorry if everyone knew that already, if wasn't clear

As stated above the RORC will also provide you with a sail number for a fee (around £50 IIRC). Three digit numbers are reserved for members only.

For those not interested in serious racing then it is more usuall to the type/class 'emblem' with along with the series number on the mainsail.

 

[sailorman]

Ah, I see what you mean. I was thinking only of RYA/RORC GBRxxxxx numbers since that was the variety of sail number mentioned by the OP.

For what its worth though, it appears that my AWB did come with a makers logo, class/size identifier and a three digit number (although it seems it's not representative of hull xxx of class xx) on her original sails. I say appears as I can only make a supposition based on the numbers looking like they saw the same 12 years of use and exposure as the sail.

This is the new sail, but the original bears the same markings.

Bav 38/238

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is no "sail number" of an undelivered boat. You need to apply for a sail number from the RYA.

Other sources of sail number are available. The CYCA, for example, still issues C-suffix numbers, which may optionally have GBR in front of them. Builders can issue sail numbers. Anyone can make up their own sail number and tell the builder.

 

[Simondjuk]

At the risk of stating the obvious...

There is no "sail number" of an undelivered boat. You need to apply for a sail number from the RYA. This is free if you are a member and just want the next number in sequence. "Vanity" numbers of your choosing can be had, for around £200 iirc.

There is no requirement to have a sail number unless racing, and therefore I can see no point in having any number other than an official RYA racing number, if not then you might as well leave the sail blank imo (as a large number of cruising boats, including us, do). The example above for Bavaria seems to serve no purpose, other than potentially making the boat easier to identify from afar - a situation to be avoided in my view, but each to their own!

Sorry if everyone knew that already, if wasn't clear

Yes, that's exactly what I meant. Hence me wondering why Sailorman thought the boat manufacturers were penny pinching by not having their sail makers apply numbers to the sails of yet to be delivered boats. I now realise that he was referring to a class sail number and not an RYA/RORC GBR number.