Sail Numbers

[Kevin Henderson]

OK...  Time for the stupid question of the day.   

Today my wife and I were out enjoying a beautiful day sailing Pau Hana on a not so miserable San Diego Bay in February. 

Leisurely laying back and letting the troubles of the previous work week melt away, we began to gaze at the sky and then to our sails.  As I looked at the familiar diamond shape logo of a Catalina (34) I started to wonder aloud at the significance of the numbers on the sails.  The numbers are not associate to my HIN.  They are also not associated to my USCG documentation #.  What are the numbers on the sail.  I had heard somewhere that they may be associated to a PHRF handicap but I'm not certain.  Does anybody know?   

[Gary Brockman]

If your sail number is not your hull number and is a 4 or 5 digit number, it is a US Sailing number assigned by your regional service center.  You are in Area J which is covered by the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) in Long Beach. A US Sailing Number is usually required to race in PHRF as well as other rating systems and needs to be on you main, spinnaker(s), and all jibs of 120 or larger. If you want to race, you should contact SCYA and let them know that your sail number should be transferred to your name and your new boats name, if it changed. 

[Ralph Masters]

Wow Kevin, I don't have a number.  And I didn't get the boat away from the dock this past week end.  How are those newly overhauled winches??  You know the addage, "Seven days without sailing makes one weak."

Ralph

[Kevin Henderson]

 
Thanks Gary... Good information to know.  The PO had raced Pau Hana so that explains the numbering.  I'll contact SCYA and let them know.
Also explains one other thing... While we're out there just cruising around being lazy, some of the other boats who like to race seem to come around and give us the sailboat version of revving their engines and looking like they want to race.   
Time to tune up my skills and give em a run 

As for the winches Ralph... In a word... FANTASTIC!!! 

[Ron Hill]

Kevin : It really depends how many didgets are in your sail number? - you didn't say?? 
A hull number is usually 3 or 4, while some of the other numbers mentioned could be 5 or 6 didgets. 

[Kevin Henderson]

Just took a look at a photo I had from a recent sail.
I have a 5 digit number #97920

[Gary Brockman]

Kevin -

I don't believe that you will find any 6 digit sail numbers from US Sailing unless it is a small boat one design boat like a Laser. Older numbers (30 years +_) are 4 digit in most areas with 5 digit numbers since the early 80's.  Some of the older 4 digit numbers have been turned in and are available for a premium price.  I bought my boat (hull #231 - 1986) in San Diego where it was originally delivered and was raced by the first owner. My sail number is 97043.