Insignia and Sail numbers

A post in response to a query on FaceBook and to while away some time as I wait to go sailing.

Unlike those produced by many sailmakers
the "A" of the insignia should be pointed,
not square.

The history part of this is largely from memory which is better for things 50 odd years ago than for things that happened yesterday! But I might be a little off. Statements about more recent / current things have been fact checked.

Why have Sail numbers?

Whilst designers and builders of boats probably like to have numbers on their boats, at least if they are selling well, the main driver for sail numbers is racing and to a lesser extent for search and rescue (SAR) so that boats can be positively identified. 

Race committees need to know which boats started and when they finished and if there are a lot of boats they don't have time to read boat names. Also they need to be able to identify rule breakers, particularly on the start line and this led to strict rules as to size of the numbers (iirc originally related to luff length) and positioning of the numbers so they can be seen, "keen" owners still tried their best to hide them by positioning the numbers as far back on the mainsail as allowed so they would not be as visible if they were over the line at the start.

For series built boats from a single builder - like the Achilles Boats and the Mirror dinghy #10784 I bought as a kit in 1967 - the normal thing was for the builder to allocate the hull number as the sail number this worked fine, at least initially. 

Problems arise when there is more than one builder and at this point the numbers were and are usually allocate by a formal class association but this does not work for "one off" boats, or perhaps for boats built in multiple countries. It can also be problematic in mixed fleets where the number is qualified by class insignia. At this point some order needed to be bought to the situation and numbers started to be allocated by national authorities or their nominees. 

The current rules by "World Sailing" can be found under RRS Appendix G here.

Country specific numbers.

Were introduced early on, that for UK was for years "K" placed above the numbers as a prefix. Then for some reason it was replaced by a more expensive and cluttering "GBR".

UK Issuing authorities.

Whilst class associations continue to issue numbers for many boats, national authorities and their delegates' took over many. In UK there are three, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the Clyde Yacht Clubs' Association (CYCA)..

RYA

As the national authority the majority of modern sail numbers for offshore yachts are allocated by the RYA, modern ones are prefixed by L, N or X and M for multihulls.

RORC

The RAFSC UFO34 "Black Arrow"
named for 111 squadron "The Black
Arrows with its RORC members sail
number and then UK identifier.
 ©️unknown.

Back in the day RORC allocated a lot of numbers and in the 70's they were structured:

0 - 999    Allocated to members of RORC.

1nnn    RORC Class 1 boats.

2nnn    Class 2 boats (including 2 tonners).

3nnn    Class 3 boats (including one tonners).

4nnn    Class 4 boats (including 3/4 tonners).

5nnn    Class 5 boats (including 1/2 tonners).

From 1993 the suffix "R" was added, I don't think the class number is still used but older boats will still have them as these numbers, unlike the members numbers, stay with the boat.

CYCA

Are approved under RRS Appendix G and have the suffix "C", they can still be obtained. 

Achilles Yachts.

The vast majority of Achilles yachts will display the Butler hull number but a few will show one of the others and some will have both. 

There is the possibility of confusion as each model has it's own series so for example Sancerre A9m #21 has the same Insignia and number as the similarly sized A840 "Tocviria".

Sancerre A021 also has an RYA allocated number. Here displayed
on the guard rails for the 2019 Jester, useful for SAR - hopefully
to disregard Sancerre as the boat in trouble! Pic J. Lashbrook.

One of several A24s with a Clyde sail number
and the correct Insignia. (pic pinched from Facebook)

A peculiarity of sails sold with Achilles
boats and some replacements is that they had
leading zeroes to make 3 digits. Sancerre's
old star cut. Pic J. Lashbrook.

For sale and wanted

Due to lack of use and a lot of old adverts I have removed the "For sale" and "wanted" pages from the  site.

Adverts can be posted as comments to this post or by emailing them to me and I will add them to this section.

RYA SafeTRX discontinued.

It didn't last long! Best update your data before the App etc. disappears and they transfer the data. Back to CG66?

Nothing from the RYA that I have seen, although the announcement is is on their website. Outdated technology looks like BS to me especially given the short notice, more likely the cost of the software from SafeTRX and hosting and probably lack of use, at least of the notification part.

Facebook Post:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Favourites ·1 December at 12:17 ·

RYA SafeTrx - the vessel tracking, safety and communications platform - will be discontinued at the end of this month, from 31 December.

HM Coastguard’s search and rescue services remain fully operational, alongside all other safety measures, equipment and resources.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and HM Coastguard are working together to ensure that the data originally provided to RYA SafeTrx will be transferred to a secure database within HM Coastguard, and can continue to be referenced in an emergency.

Users that do not want their data to be transferred to HM Coastguard are asked to delete their account prior to the app closing on 31 December 2025.

Thereafter, you can update or remove your details at any time by emailing safetrxdata@mcga.gov.uk

As always, we recommend you plan ahead and know what to do if there’s an emergency at sea:

• Carry a means of communication such as a VHF/DSC radio, a personal locator beacon, or a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.

• Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back. If you are late returning, they can raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.

Hull Identification Numbers (HINs)

For the avoidance of duplication here and hopefully on Flikr and the Facebook group where the question comes up occasionally.

Hull Identification Numbers (HINs) are a structured number identifying the maker of a boat and some other information (see below). It was introduced after the Achilles boats were made and was not mandatory until 1998. Butler would never have had a makers number etc so the boats can not have a formal HIN.

At the factory hulls were not generally identified the original sail number being the hull number.

The Google AI description looks to be correct:

A boat's Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique 12 or 14-character code that serves as a serial number for the boat, similar to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a car. It's used to identify the boat and track it for various purposes, including registration, defect notifications, and sales.

Key aspects of a HIN:

Permanent Marking: The HIN is permanently etched or molded into the boat's hull, typically on the starboard side of the transom and also hidden elsewhere on the boat.

Structure: The HIN typically includes a manufacturer's code, a unique serial number, and sometimes details about the year and place of manufacture.

Historical Context: HINs were introduced in the US in 1972 and in the EU in 1998.

Relevance to Recreational Craft Directive (RCD): The RCD requires all boats built after 1998 to have a HIN, which helps in ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

Manufacturer's Identity Code (MIC): For boats built in the UK, the MIC is a unique three-letter code identifying the manufacturer, registered with British Marine.

Uses: HINs are used for registration, tracking recalls, and facilitating boat sales.

My note: usually asked for by insurance companies, the SSR and others but like all vintage boats there is nothing to give.

Ron Dustow

Sadly, I have to tell everyone that Ronnie Dustow passed away on Sunday 20th July 2025, quietly at home. He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in December having fought off a different cancer a few years ago.

Ron was one of the founders of the original Flickr group for Achilles owners, a keen boat fettler and expert wood turner he restored several over the years and had unrivalled knowledge of the type. He had the nicely restored Goskar to the end as well as his Hustler 28 Carrie Anne.

He leaves behind Sue, wife of many years, and if I recall correctly three sons, a daughter and grandchildren.

Tributes can be found on the Facebook group here

A24 gear for sale 24 June 2025

 “Achilles 24 parts for sale due to boat break up; Mast and Rigging must go in next 3 weeks, reasonable offers accepted. Also other parts on request. Location; Hamble. e mail; allangbooth@btpenworld.com — phone 07771 987570”

A9m list of sail numbers

I just tried to access the A9m list of boats and Ian's site is no longer about. I'll do some hunting but if I can't track him / it down I do have a back up in a different format although it is a little out of date.

His web site and email are no longer available.

I have recovered a version of his data that I was putting together when I rebuilt the web site and before Ian said he wanted to continue with the register so it is rather out of date and needs tiding up that I will do as time permits. I also have a few updates that I will dig out but all owners please check out your boat and let me know:

https://achillesyacht.blogspot.com/p/a9m-sail-numbers.html