Instructions for Applying Sail Numbers
Style and Colour
Only self-adhesive, stick on sail numbers and letters may be used. Each one shall be a single, solid
colour, and easy to read. The last four numbers on both sides of the sail shall be the same dark colour,
preferably black. The numbers in front of the last four shall all be another, obviously different colour,
preferably red. National letters are only required at international events, and shall all be the same colour.
Preparation
If the sail is not new, it should be sponged clean with mild soapy water, rinsed and dried. Find a
large, clean, flat, hard surface to work on, such as a table or clean wooden floor.
Template
Make a template that each number will just fit inside. See the Positioning Diagrams for the
minimum sizes of numbers and letters, and template details. They are different for each of the
Standard, Radial and 4.7 sails. The template is a rectangle for upright numbers, and a parallelogram
for angled numbers.
Base Lines and Limit Lines
Use a pencil to lightly draw Base Lines and Limit Lines on the sail. The bottom of each number
and letter must lie on a Base Line. The Limit Line is parallel to the leech of the sail, and 100mm
from it. The closest letter or number to the leech is positioned to just touch the Limit Line. This is
shown as the Start Point on the Positioning Diagrams. The number or letter should touch the Limit
Line at the Base Line or at any other height, depending on its shape.
Starboard Side Numbers and National Letters
1. Spread the sail out flat on the working surface so that the starboard side of the sail is facing up. The
leech (back edge of the sail) will be on the left hand side as shown in the positioning diagrams.
2. Make sure you are using the correct diagram for the design of sail you are applying the
numbers to. Draw the Base Line and Limit Line for the starboard numbers as shown on the
positioning diagram.
3. Before peeling off the backing, place the bottom of the first number on the Base Line, with the
Start Point touching the Limit Line. Use the template with its bottom edge on the Base Line to
make sure the number is at the correct angle. Pencil around the outline of the number.
4. Peel and fold back about 10mm of the backing from the bottom of the number. Place the
number within the pencil outline and press down to stick the peeled back area. Lift the
remainder of the number and slowly peel off the backing as you smooth the number onto the
sail, taking care to remove air bubbles and creases as you go.
5. If the first number you applied was a 1 (one), measure from the bottom right corner of it and
mark a point the space width away along the Base Line. The space width is 60mm for Standard
and Radial rig sails, and 40mm for 4.7 sails - see the appropriate Positioning Diagram. Place
your template on the base line with its lower left corner on the new mark and pencil round the
outline of it. Before peeling off the backing of the second number, place it within the pencil
outline of the template. Pencil around the outline of the number, and apply it as in point 4, above.
6. If the first number you applied was not a 1 (one), place your template over it and make a pencil
mark at the bottom right hand corner. Measure the space width from this mark along the Base
Line and make a second pencil mark. Place the template, with its lower left hand corner on the
second mark, pencil around the outline and then apply the next number as in point 4, above.
7. When a 1 (one) is to be applied after another number, make sure the appropriate space width
between numbers along the Base Line is maintained, as shown in the positioning diagram. Use
the bottom right hand corner of the template, placed over the preceding number to find the start
of the space width on the Base Line.
8. Continue marking number positions using the template, the appropriate space widths between
template corners, and applying numbers to complete the full sail number. Use the same method
to apply national letters if they are required.
Port Side Numbers and National Letters
1. Spread the sail out flat on the working surface so that the port side of the sail is facing up. The
leech (back edge of the sail) will be on the right hand side.
2. Follow the same method as for the starboard side, starting with the number or letter closest to
the leech (the last digit of the full sail number or the last national letter), and working along the
Base Line away from the leech.
22
23
T
T
m
mm
100
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 300mm
400
mm
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line LIMIT
bot
h s , 100m LINE
ide
Pan
s o m fro
el S
f th
eam
e s m leec
ail
h
SPACE = 60mm
Equal
Height
STA
BAS RBOA
R
Pen E LINE D NUM
BER
Spa
of s cil line
4
0
a
0
o
il
n st
mm
60m ces be
arbo
m o twe
ard
e
nB
side
POR
ase n tem
Lin plate
Pen T NUM
es
cor
c
B
il lin
ner
e on ER BA
s,
port SE L
side INE
of s
ail
STA
R
B
Top
O
400
of p ARD L
mm
Spa
ane
l se ETTER
60m ces be
am
BAS
m o twe
EL
e
nB
POR
INE
ase n tem
T
p
L
P
Lin
late
ETT
LET
enc
e
E
il
s
cor
RB
line
Pen TER L
ner
on p ASE
s,
on cil line IMIT L
ort s
L
bot
ide INE
h s , 100m INE
of s
ide
m
ail
so
f th from
lee
es
ch
ail
T
T
T
T
100m
m
Leech
START POINTS
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Middle Batten
SPACE = 60mm
T
T
T
Equal
Width
Equal
Height
mm
100
SPACE = 60mm
T
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 300mm
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 200mm
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line LIMIT
bot
h s , 100m LINE
ide
Pan
s o m f ro
el S
f th
eam
e s m leec
ail
h
STA
R
BAS BOA
400
RD
E
mm
L
Pen
NUM
INE
BER
of s cil line
ail
on s
t
a
rboa
Spa
400
rd s
mm
ide
60m ces be
POR
m o twe
Pen T NUM
en
nB
cil li
ase tem
B
E
R
ne o
Lin plate
n po BASE
es
cor
rt sid LIN
n er
s,
e of E
sail
STA
Top RBOA
of p RD L
ane
400
l se ETTER
mm
am
B AS
Spa
EL
c
P
e
INE
OR
60m s be
T
m o twe
LET
P
e
n
e
nB
TER
cil li
ase n te m
ne o
B
Lin plate
n po ASE
LET
es
rt sid LINE
cor
Pen TER L
ner
e of
s
c
I
M
,
il
sail
on
I
bot line, 1 T LINE
hs
ide 00mm
so
f th from
lee
es
ch
ail
Equal
Width
January 2008 Edition
1. MINIMUM SPACE BETWEEN NUMBERS AND LETTERS IN THE CLASS RULES IS 50mm, SO USE 60mm TO ENSURE THAT ANY SMALL ERRORS IN POSITION ARE STILL LEGAL.
2. LAST FOUR DIGITS OF SAIL NUMBER TO BE ONE DARK, DISTINCTIVE COLOUR OR BLACK. PRECEDING DIGITS TO BE A DIFFERENT, CONTRASTING, DISTINCTIVE, COLOUR,
PREFERABLY RED. ALL NATIONAL LETTERS TO BE ONE COLOUR. THEY MAY BE ONE OF THE COLOURS OF THE SAIL NUMBER DIGITS OR ANOTHER DISTINCTIVE COLOUR.
100m
Leech
START POINTS
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Middle Batten
SPACE = 60mm
T
T
Equal
Width
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 45mm
Equal
Width
ANGLED NUMBERS AND LETTERS
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 200mm
UPRIGHT NUMBERS AND LETTERS
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 45mm
STANDARD RIG NUMBER & LETTER SIZES AND POSITIONING
24
T
T
m
T
T
m
100m
Leech
START POINTS
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Middle Batten
mm
T
SPACE = 60mm
Equal
Height
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 300mm
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 200mm
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line LIMIT
bot
h sid , 100m LINE
es o m fr
o
Bot
f th
e sa m leec
tom
h
il
edg
eo
fm
iddle
bat
ten
poc
400
ket
mm
STA
BAS RBOA
R
Pen E LIN D NU
E
400
Spa
MB
of s cil line
mm
ER
ces
ail
on
bet
star
wee
b
P
oar
n te
OR
d
mp
side
Pen T NU
late
cil li MBE
c or
ne
ner
Let
on R BAS
s
t
,
p
e
60m
E
ort
Heig r
Bot
side LINE
mo
ht
tom
nB
of s
edg
ase
ail
e
L
o
ines
400
f bo
mm
ttom
bat
STA
ten
poc
Pen RBOA
ket
RD
cil li
Spa
ne
LET
ces
o
TER
np
bet
o
w
rt s
PO
LET
een
ide BASE
R
tem
Pen T LET
of s
Pen TER L
L
plat
ail INE
cil li
TER
e co
on cil line IMIT L
n
e
B
bot
rne
on
A
S
h sid , 100m INE
E
rs,
por
60m
t sid LINE
es o m fr
eo
mo
o
f th
f sa
nB
e sa m leec
il
ase
h
il
Line
s
SPACE = 60mm
T
T
T
100
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 300mm
Equal
Width
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line LIMIT
bot
h sid , 100m LINE
es o m fr
o
Bot
f th
e sa m leec
tom
h
il
edg
eo
fm
iddle
bat
ten
poc
400
ket
mm
STA
BAS RBOA
R
E
LIN D NU
Pen
E
400
Spa
MB
of s cil line
mm
ER
ces
ail
on
bet
star
wee
b
o
PO
n te
ard
R
mp
side
Pen T NU
late
cil li MBE
cor
ne
ner
Let
on R BAS
s
t
,
e
p
6
E
ort
0m
Heig r
Bot
side LINE
mo
ht
tom
nB
of s
edg
ase
ail
e
L
o
ines
400
f bo
mm
ttom
bat
STA
ten
poc
Pen RBOA
ket
RD
cil li
Spa
ne
LET
ces
o
TER
np
bet
o
w
rt s
PO
een
LET
ide BASE
R
te m
Pen T LET
of s
L
Pen TER L
plat
ail INE
cil li
TER
e co
n
on cil line IMIT L
e
B
rne
on
ASE
bot
,
I
N
1
r
p
s, 6
h sid 00m E
ort
0m
side LINE
es o m fr
mo
of s
o
f th
nB
ail
e sa m leec
a
s
eL
h
il
ines
SPACE = 60mm
Equal
Height
Equal
Width
100
mm
T
T
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 200mm
January 2008 Edition
1. MINIMUM SPACE BETWEEN NUMBERS AND LETTERS IN THE CLASS RULES IS 50mm, SO USE 60mm TO ENSURE THAT ANY SMALL ERRORS IN POSITION ARE STILL LEGAL.
2. LAST FOUR DIGITS OF SAIL NUMBER TO BE ONE DARK, DISTINCTIVE COLOUR OR BLACK. PRECEDING DIGITS TO BE A DIFFERENT, CONTRASTING, DISTINCTIVE, COLOUR,
PREFERABLY RED. ALL NATIONAL LETTERS TO BE ONE COLOUR. THEY MAY BE ONE OF THE COLOURS OF THE SAIL NUMBER DIGITS OR ANOTHER DISTINCTIVE COLOUR.
100m
Leech
START POINTS
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Middle Batten
SPACE = 60mm
T
T
Equal
Width
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 45mm
Equal
Width
ANGLED NUMBERS AND LETTERS
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 45mm
RADIAL RIG NUMBER & LETTER SIZES AND POSITIONING
UPRIGHT NUMBERS AND LETTERS
25
T
T
SPACE = 40mm
Equal
Height
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line AND L
bot
h sid , 100m ETTE
es o m fr R LIM
o
Bot
f th
e sa m leec IT LIN
tom
E
h
il
edg
eo
fm
iddle
bat
t en
poc
ket
STA
R
B
BAS
OA
R
Pan E LIN D NU
E
270
el s
MB
eam
mm
ER
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 220mm
mm
270
PO
R
Pen T NU
cil li MBE
ne
on R BAS
por
t sid E LIN
E
eo
270
STA
f sa
mm
il
Pen RBOA
RD
cil li
Spa
ne
ces
on LETTE
bet
por
wee
PO
t sid R BAS
n te
RT
eo
Pen
L
mp
f sa E LINE
late
cil li ETTE
il
RB
ne
cor
on
ASE
ner
por
s, 4
t sid LINE
0m
mo
eo
f sa
nB
il
ase
Line
s
mm
100
T
T
T
T
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Leech
Middle Batten
SPACE = 40mm
T
Equal
Width
T
Equal
Height
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 150mm
NU
M
Pen BER
on cil line AND L
bot
h sid , 100m ETTE
es o m fr R LIM
o
f th
Bot
e sa m leec IT LIN
tom
E
h
il
edg
eo
fm
iddle
bat
ten
poc
ket
STA
R
B
BAS
OA
R
Pan E LIN D NU
270
E
el s
MB
mm
eam
ER
TEMPLATE
Equal Height
MINIMUM = 220mm
270
mm
SPACE = 40mm
T
PO
R
Pen T NU
cil li MBE
ne
o n R BAS
por
t sid E LIN
E
eo
270
STA
f sa
mm
il
Pen RBOA
RD
cil li
Spa
ne
ces
on LETTE
bet
star
wee
PO
boa R BAS
RT
n te
rd s
E
Pen
L
mp
ide LINE
cil li ETTE
late
of s
R
ne
cor
ail
B
o
A
ner
np
s,40
ort SE LIN
side
mm
E
of s
on
ail
Bas
eL
ines
mm
100
T
Equal
Width
January 2008 Edition
1. MINIMUM SPACE BETWEEN NUMBERS AND LETTERS IN THE CLASS RULES IS 30mm, SO USE 40mm TO ENSURE THAT ANY SMALL ERRORS IN POSITION ARE STILL LEGAL.
2. LAST FOUR DIGITS OF SAIL NUMBER TO BE ONE DARK, DISTINCTIVE COLOUR OR BLACK. PRECEDING DIGITS TO BE A DIFFERENT, CONTRASTING, DISTINCTIVE, COLOUR,
PREFERABLY RED. ALL NATIONAL LETTERS TO BE ONE COLOUR. THEY MAY BE ONE OF THE COLOURS OF THE SAIL NUMBER DIGITS OR ANOTHER DISTINCTIVE COLOUR.
Bottom Batten
START POINTS
Leech
Middle Batten
SPACE = 40mm
T
T
Equal Width
(Except 1, I, M & W)
MINIMUM = 150mm
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 30mm
Equal
Width
T = Thickness = MINIMUM 30mm
Equal
Width
ANGLED NUMBERS AND LETTERS
UPRIGHT NUMBERS AND LETTERS
LASER 4.7 RIG NUMBER & LETTER SIZES AND POSITIONING
Red Rhombus
i. Sails used in the following women’s events shall carry a red rhombus above the top batten
pocket on both sides;
a. World or regional (continental) championships.
b. Events described as “international events” by the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions.
c. Other events that prescribe in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions that women
competitors should be identified.
ii. The minimum size and approximate position shall comply with diagram "Rhombus".
iii. The rhombus may be retained for racing in other events.
Rhombus
5