Advertising via sail numbers? 55

Does it say anywhere in the rules that your sail number has to be the actual registered number of the boat?
Surely, all the RO needs to know is that there is a GP14 racing with the number 12345, so they can identify it. If the boat happens to be GP11963, what difference does it make, so long as the real 12345 isn't out there using the same sail number?

Plenty of Uni Fireflies go to events with team racing numbers on, and so long as they are different numbers (so you don't have 2 no6's out there) the RO seems to manage.


I can see that having 6 boats with 55 on the sail would cause confusion for the RO, and that some consideration should be shown by an organization like Speeds in this situation, but I can't see how it is a rules breach?

Originally posted by Rupert Does it say anywhere in the rules that your sail number has to be the actual registered number of the boat?

Yes!
For most of us the relevant rules are in that least read of documents, the RYA prescriptions.
http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Racing/RacingInformation/RacingRules/RYA%20Prescriptions%202013.pdf

They aren't quite as rigid as Appendix G in the RRS which applies to international classes.

G1 Identification, Specifications, Positioning The requirements of rules G1.1, G1.2 and G1.3 apply to all British owned boats except that: 1. under rule G1.1(a), class insignia need not be carried when the boat carries a sail number from one of the series specified in prescription G2-1, G2-2, G2-3 or G2-4 below. 2. under rule G1.1(c), a sail number of more than four digits may be carried. 3. under rule G1.1(c), for boats other than ISAF classes, one of the authorities specified in G2 below shall allot an appropriate sail number. 4. under rule G1.2(b), the height of a letter included as part of a sail number shall be the same as any numerals included in the sail number. 5. under rule G1.3(c), the national letters may be placed in front of or above the sail numbers. G2 Series of Sail Numbers and Issuing Authorities Approved by the RYA 1. Y, M, N, T, A, L and X series issued by the RYA. 2. R series issued by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. 3. C series issued by the Clyde Yacht Clubs Association. 4. National class series issued by the RYA. 5. Series issued by RYA affiliated class associations and approved by the RYA. 6. Series issued by a builder of a new class and approved by the RYA.

Edited by JimC - 06 Feb 13 at 10:38am

So ... yet again we have a winter event winner who has no complied with the letter of the rules ...

Surelly the SS is actually advertising (Speed Sails).  What are the limitations on where you can advertise on the hull/sails?

I think invoking advertising regs is a bit of a red herring...

I had a bit of a hunt round, and funnily enough the only place where I found mention of permission to substitute sail numbers was in some Grafham issued SIs. Assuming the words I found were general for Grafham events I note that the alternate number must be acceptable to the RC. So a Grafham RC would be quite entitled to turn down permission. Of course no-one likes to do this...

"A bit shabby" feels like a good phrase. No club wants to turn down entries or make life difficult for competitors. In turn competitors should try not do anything that makes life difficult for the clubs.

Speed sails seem to be putting their sailors in an awkward position and making things just a bit more difficult for the organising clubs. I don't see a significant breach of the rules but I don't think it looks good.