Proper Designation S/V or S/Y?

[osirissail]

There are variations in languages even amongst English speaking nations. Sailing Vessel or Sailboat is used in the North American side of the world whereas the British and such like the Sailing Yacht. In some foreign languages you cannot translate sailboat, you must use "yacht" to get a translation. I was writing to a Russian friend about my "sailboat" using a computer translator. Back translating from Russian to English "sailboat" came out of the machine as "coming to the toilet." Using sailing yacht resulted in correct translation.

[s/vfootloose]

To me a yacht is those folks wth a captains hat,blazer,and starched white pants and go to yacht club functions. I have a boat or vessel so I go by S/V

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

In Australia there is no designation SV or SY we are just ships.

Mark

I thought you guys just called yachts..."White Boats"?

[Canibul]

Originally Posted by s/vfootloose

To me a yacht is those folks wth a captains hat,blazer,and starched white pants and go to yacht club functions. I have a boat or vessel so I go by S/V

Hey, wait a minute.....as a stinkboat owner, when I signed up for the ASA certification course in a couple months I thought I had to have all that stuff to qualify! I got the hat, blazer, white pants, and Sperry Topsiders all on order !!

You mean I am not actually required to wear this stuff to run a sailboat?

[speciald@ocens.]

I've always thought that a yacht was a boat bigger than mine.

[imagine2frolic]

I have used the term Yacht Imagine. I got that from the previous owner. Imagine being German built, and he German. I can imagine that is the term used for him. I can also see that by saying yacht. I could be any boat on the water, but by using S/V it will eliminate all powerboats. I may be an old dog, but I am still capable of learning new things.......i2f

[imagine2frolic]

Yacht - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[S&S]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Yacht - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cool- I feel snootier already!

[x-ray]

In german language, a boat is an open boat, no cabin, so we call our dinghys rubber boat, or rowing boat, or whatsoever.
A boat with a cabin is called either a ship, or a yacht.
But the word ship translates to most people to something like a huge cruiser, or a cargo ship, or a ferry....
That explains why germans call their sailing or motor vessel a yacht.
For a german, a vessel is a closed tank, whatever size or purpose, so we carry 5 Liters of gasoline in a vessel, or the big processor of a refinery can be a vessel too, but in the water a vessel may be a leg of an oilrig...
So confusing....

[Jim Newman]

Originally Posted by ColdFusion

In the UK the correct phraseology would be:

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is Yacht Arctic Lady, Arctic Lady, Arctic Lady. Mayday Yacht Arctic Lady. My position is..."

The correct format for a Mayday call is as follows:
[The first part of the signal is known as the call]
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,
This is (vessel name repeated three times, followed by call sign if available)
[The subsequent part of the signal is known as the message]
Mayday (vessel name)
My position is (position as a LAT-LONG position or bearing and distance from a fixed point)
I am (type of distress, e.g. on fire and sinking)
I require immediate assistance
I have (number of people on board and their condition)
(Any other information e.g. "I am abandoning to life rafts")
Over"
VHF instructors, specifically those working for the Royal Yachting Association, often suggest the mnemonic MIPDANIO for learning the message of a mayday signal: Mayday, Identify, Position, Distress, Assistance, Number of crew, Information, Over.


But who cares as long as someone answers!!!

[PamlicoTraveler]

I hate the term "yacht," because to me (US) that means Donald Trump and the easy life etc. But the brits, Aussies, and Kiwis use "yachts" all the time. "There were 5 lovely yachts sailing together today and we had a splendid time" etc...

[jeremiason]

Both are correct... It is kinda of like calling your boat a BOAT or a YACHT.

Some interesting facts:

The International Sailing Federation recognizes a Sailing Yacht as a vessel propelled by sails that is over 9 meters in length.

On the other hand the USCG Rule 3 defines a Sailing Vessel as any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

The USCG will tend to use the term Sailing Vessel on the marine radios as well.

IMO regulations identifify sailboats as SAILING VESSEL for the purposes of AIS.

Wikipedia also has a page dedicated to this complicated designation of Yacht

Here is a web page that has most of the Ship Prefixes listed

[Arclight]

Historically the designation S/V was used for commercial sailing vessels and S/Y for private yachts used for pleasure. Now, especially in United States, S/V has become a catchall phrase for all sailing vessels commercial and private. Whereas in the rest of the world S/Y is the preferred designation for private sailing vessels. I think the reason for this is that Americans are afraid to appear elitist. We own yachts but we don't want to call them yachts. In my opinion, very silly!