Contrasting Sail Numbers...

This was triggered by something I saw on another forum, but its a general issue that pops up every few years: some sailmaker or another starts shipping sails with numbers that are not in a very contrasting colour from the mainsail. I remember a fashion for yellow numbers some years ago for instance. I suppose the idea is that boats are less likely to be identified in a BFD situation.

Which got me thinking... Supposing in a black flag start the RO has been unable to identify a number of boats with low contrast sail numbers but has not had problems with the boats with standard black/red ones. If sufficiently provoked (warning given with no action maybe) would the RC be justified in rounding up *every* boat in the fleet with such sail numbers and protesting under Rule 2 and the PC potentially issuing the lot with a DND each?

The other question that occurs to me is supposing with the use of such numbers the RC is not very clear on the identity of finishers. What is their responsibility?

Oh and please don't turn this into a guessing game for what sailmaker or class might have triggered my thoughts: to my mind its a serious issue with general application.

Edited by JimC - 17 Jul 12 at 8:32am

Start with G4,  before resorting to 2, IMHO. Nothing to stop the RC strongly suggesting proper compliance with G1.2: say, a little briefing note reminding people that if the RC can't see their sail numbers properly - especially against the sun - then they might well not get recorded properly at the finish. 

Edited by Presuming Ed - 17 Jul 12 at 11:00am

Re colours, I remember seeing something (?from RORC?) recommending white on dark (carbon) laminates, and blue/black on light laminates/dacron. Can't find it now, though.

Originally posted by Presuming Ed Start with G4,  before resorting to 2, IMHO. Nothing to stop the RC strongly suggesting proper compliance with G1.2: say, a little briefing note reminding people that if the RC can't see their sail numbers properly - especially against the sun - then they might well not get recorded properly at the finish.  G1.2 Specifications (a) National letters and sail numbers shall be in capital letters and Arabic numerals, clearly legible and of the same colour. Commercially available typefaces giving the same or better legibility than Helvetica are acceptable. G4 WARNINGS AND PENALTIES When a protest committee finds that a boat has broken a rule of this appendix it shall either warn her and give her time to comply or penalize her.

Edited by JohnW - 17 Jul 12 at 1:20pm

Originally posted by Presuming Ed RYA PRESCRIPTIONS: APPENDIX G IDENTIFICATION ON SAILS G1 Identification, Specifications, Positioning The requirements of rules G1.1, G1.2 and G1.3 apply to all British owned boats except that: (a) 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 G2(a), (b), (c) or (d) below. (b) under rule G1.1(c), a sail number of more than four digits may be carried. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) under rule G1.3(c), the national letters may be placed in front of or above the sail numbers.