Which is more better? S/V or S/Y?

Cardo

Cardo

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As the title suggests, I was wondering which should be used?

I've noticed US sailing yachts often put S/V in front of the name. I've seen a similar thing although not as common with S/Y around these parts.

What's the deal?
 
Just a stab in the dark. The term yacht is associated with both motor and sailing boats built and used for leisure purposes. Hence, S/Y could be used to prefix a sailing yacht's name. S/V may be more associated with a sailing cargo vessel. Anyway, just a guess. I have had to describe my yacht to the Coastguard o VHF and the term used was sailing yacht.
 
S.V. is a Yank thing. I prefer S.Y. if I have use the Prefix.

I notice a lot of American yacht skippers call themselves Captain as well even when they're nothing of the sort :rolleyes:.

It takes all sorts :cool:
 
Tradewinds said:
S.V. is a Yank thing. I prefer S.Y. if I have use the Prefix.

I notice a lot of American yacht skippers call themselves Captain as well even when they're nothing of the sort :rolleyes:.

It takes all sorts :cool:
Click to expand...

Actually most probably ARE, because that is what comes with taking and passing the Captains exams, a bit like Yachtmaster over here. We just bought our new boat in the USA and both the broker and our surveyor were certified Captains for boats up to I think 80ft. I may be wrong but I believe you have to be a 'Captain' to run any kind of commercial operation there, like delivery skipper, school or charter.

Oh and I think we will use the prefix MY on our new boat, but might change that if we find everyone else uses MV!
 
Robin said:
Actually most probably ARE, because that is what comes with taking and passing the Captains exams, a bit like Yachtmaster over here. We just bought our new boat in the USA and both the broker and our surveyor were certified Captains for boats up to I think 80ft. I may be wrong but I believe you have to be a 'Captain' to run any kind of commercial operation there, like delivery skipper, school or charter.

Oh and I think we will use the prefix MY on our new boat, but might change that if we find everyone else uses MV!
Click to expand...
Looks like I have to remain as an (un)Able Seaman then :D
 
Coaster said:
Both prefixes seem pretentious, unless perhaps we're talking about boats longer than say 80' or so. But if it gives owners pleasure then I've no objection.
Click to expand...
Sometimes when you're in a distant country (probably not Europe) less used to dealing with boatloads of yotties & you have to sign an official declaration (Customs or Immigration say) it is common to use a pre-fix with your yacht name eg Nigel Be***, Master, S.Y. Rose of Wight.

It's not pretententious - it's what some officials like & expect to see from the 'Captain' or 'Master' of a ship. Similarly, a rubber stamp with your boat name (S.Y. ***) & registration number & then stamped on to a crew list works wonders (or did) in some out of the way places.

Mind you, this was my experience some 15 years ago - things might have changed since then :rolleyes: .
 
Tradewinds said:
Sometimes when you're in a distant country (probably not Europe) less used to dealing with boatloads of yotties & you have to sign an official declaration (Customs or Immigration say) it is common to use a pre-fix with your yacht name eg Nigel Be***, Master, S.Y. Rose of Wight.
Click to expand...

Good point, well made. But as I won't be voyaging beyond the British Isles and the nearer parts of mainland Europe I don't expect to be prefixing our boat's name.
 
In my case, the simple reason is I'm setting up a website for my new boat (to add to the millions of others) and the boat's name is already taken as a domain. I thought adding sv or sy would be an easy solution.

Reading sites such as noonsite it certainly looks like American boats like to be referred to as S/V no matter what size they are.
 
Cardo said:
In my case, the simple reason is I'm setting up a website for my new boat (to add to the millions of others) and the boat's name is already taken as a domain. I thought adding sv or sy would be an easy solution.
Click to expand...

Which is precisely the reason our blog address is prefixed sv ... although in hindsight I slightly regret not going for sy

BTW, on the subject of the honorific "Captain",as opposed to the rank thereof, by tradition and convention the master of any vessel (other than a ships boat or similar) is (or perhaps I should say can be) courteously referred to as "Captain .... "

Even the skippers on inland canal boats were formally (and also formerly) addressed as "Captain ...."

This, of course, is distinct from the Naval rank of Captain, the Merchant Marine equivalent of which is Master (in the old world at any rate - dunno what them Americans might have got up to since we let them get on with it for themselves :D)
 
When you read S/Y you are more likely to believe it refers to a sailing yacht or pleasure craft. S/V could be almost any vessel.
Least that's the way I see it.
 
Sandyman said:
When you read S/Y you are more likely to believe it refers to a sailing yacht or pleasure craft. S/V could be almost any vessel.
Least that's the way I see it.
Click to expand...

Except that presumably there aren't all that many sailing vessels that aren't pleasure craft still around. Not none, but not many.

Pete
 
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