Boat registration
Registration with Yachting New Zealand is a once-only for boat owners.
If ownership of a boat changes, the onus is on the new owner to re-register the vessel in their name.
Please note: Boat registration and change of ownership applications can take up to 15 working days to be processed.
Why register your boat with Yachting New Zealand?
Registering your boat with Yachting New Zealand helps ensure your boat is properly identified, eligible for racing, and connected to important safety and administration records.
Racing eligibility
To be eligible to race, keelboats, trailer yachts and multihulls must hold a current certificate of registration.
Under RRS 76.1 Yachting New Zealand Prescription, organising authorities shall not accept entries from keel, trailer or multihull boats which are not registered with Yachting New Zealand or with their national authority, or with their International Class Associations in the names of the current owners, and such boats shall not be entitled to race.
A registered boat is also issued a sail number, which helps distinguish it from other boats on the water and in race records.
Current registration also links your boat to other Yachting New Zealand services and records, including:
- PHRF national handicaps
- Safety certification, including Categories 1–3
- Ownership and boat identification records
Safety and emergency support
Boat registration is strongly encouraged for both recreational and racing boats for safety and security reasons.
Up-to-date registration details can help Yachting New Zealand, clubs, event organisers and rescue authorities quickly identify and trace a boat in the event of theft, mishap, or a serious maritime emergency.
Boat owners are asked to keep Yachting New Zealand informed of any changes to ownership, contact details, boat name or other key information. This helps ensure records remain accurate and useful when they are needed most.
Confirm if your boat has been previously registered with YNZ
Visit the Yachting New Zealand Register of Vessels page to see whether your boat has previously been registered with Yachting New Zealand.
Change of ownership or new boat registration?
Change of ownership
Use this option to change the ownership details of a boat that is already registered with Yachting New Zealand.
New boat registration
Use this option to register a boat that has not been previously registered with Yachting New Zealand. The boat will be issued with a new sail number.
NB: New registration for Trailer Yachts
A sail number for trailer yachts cannot be granted until rule 4.4 of the trailer yacht safety regulations has been complied with. Complete the online registration form and a sail number will be issued subject to NZTYA approval.
Choosing a boat name and the YNZ Register of Vessels
The Yachting New Zealand register of vessels lists alphabetically the names of all registered boats. Duplicate or phonetically similar names cannot be registered for safety reasons. If the name you choose has already been taken, it is possible to add I, II, III to distinguish between boats.
The register of vessels held at Yachting New Zealand is a complete list of nationally-registered boats. The online regsiter contains information on ownership of all Yachting New Zealand-registered keelboats, multihulls and trailer yachts including the sail number, boat name and owner.
Change of your registered boat name?
If you want to change the name of a boat you already own and have registered with YNZ, please send the new vessel name and details to the boat registrar at Yachting New Zealand. We’ll update the registered vessel name free of charge.
Have you sold your boat?
If you have sold your boat and wish to have your name removed as the registered owner, please send the details to the boat registrar at Yachting New Zealand.
Please tell us boat name, sail number, your name and the new owners name and email address (if you know it).
Sail numbers and registration fees (GST inclusive)
You pay once - the fee is not an annual fee
Change of ownership / change of boat name - $75.00
For both if completed at the same time, otherwise $75.00 each.New boat or previously unregistered - $120.00
Previously unregistered vessels will be issued with a standard sail number which is the next consecutive registration number.Personalised number - $400.00
Owners may choose a personalised sail number, subject to availability. For details on available numbers please email the Boat Registrar.
Heading offshore - Ship registration Part B (Maritime New Zealand)
If a vessel is New Zealand-owned and is planning on going overseas, it must be registered.
Ship registration provides nationality. A registered ship that travels overseas has the protection of the New Zealand government. The registration papers provide proof of identity.
To determine whether you need to register your ship and, if so, the type of registration you need to apply for, see the Maritime New Zealand website
