A question for the learned panel: A lot of the members here use the marks "S/Y" and "S/V". I have read or heard elsewhere that S/Y means "sailing yacht", and that S/V means "sailing vessel", and that there is a difference between the two: an S/Y is a boat used for pleasure, while a S/V is a commercial vessel. Is this your understanding? In the informal real world, it doesn't seem to me to be something to get worked up over, but is there a place or use of the terms where it makes a real difference?
P.S.: I assume the same distinctions apply to the terms M/Y and M/V (motor yacht and motor vessel)?
In the past things like that meant something but today it’s just a set of abbreviations. HMS, Her (His) Majesties Ship, RMS, Royal Mail Steamer, SS, Steam Ship, POSH etc have all gone by the board today and in a way the loss of custom and tradition is a shame but it’s the way it is so get over it as they say.
All the best,
Robert Gainer
I don't believe there is a clear distinction between s/v and s/y. Both labels are clearly used for vessels which can be powered solely by their sails. I know that the term "yacht" was originally used to describe any light and fast sailing boat - used to convey "important" persons. I assume that is how the word attained a snobbish status. It later became to mean any vessel, sail or power, used for pleasure and racing.
Personally, I would never call an optimist dinghy a sailing yacht, but it certainly is a sailing vessel. Therefore, aside from the commercial use notion, perhaps size would be a distinguishing factor.
__________________ True Blue . . .
sold the Nauticat
Though I don't remember where, it seems I read somewhere that a sailboat over 30' is considered a sailing yacht. Don't know if that's accurate, but it's what I recall.
__________________
John
Ontario 32 - Aria
Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love. JCP
Sailing Yacht Giulietta.......hummmm nice........now, where did I put my white captain hat and my blue blue dress jacket??? Ha I know, by my white pants and my dock shoes!!
Over here, we are all sail boats (veleiro in Portuguese), from Fred's Optimist to the 79' Pugh Farniente.
A yacht here is a large "smokey".
I think we're more modest....
Actually Giu, I think the only time anyone uses the S/V or S/Y is in displaying their boat name. I think everyone here just thinks of them as sailboats as well. I know I do.
__________________
John
Ontario 32 - Aria
Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love. JCP
"Yacht" is a very archaic term from an era when social classes were clearly separated. No one uses it to describe their boat today . . . at least no one I know.
__________________ True Blue . . .
sold the Nauticat
