CG66 - never heard of it

[Robin]

I was told of it by somebody who once worked for the CG. I know of yachtmasters who have never heard of it. Most people in the marina do not know what it is.

So nobody important then.

I registered a Trident 24 which I sold 30 years ago so CG66 has been around a while. If you listened on VHF dual watch 16/37 as many used to before the constant radiochecks caused mass turnoffs, you would have often heard the CG ask if the boat calling in a TR had a CG66 and with which CG area.

I have also seen the odd mention or three in yottie mags, not to mention on the MCA stands at various boatshows.

 

[Appledore]

I was told of it by somebody who once worked for the CG. I know of yachtmasters who have never heard of it. Most people in the marina do not know what it is.

I find this rather 'alarming', as I was informed of the CG66 registration whilst doing one of the RYA courses. I find it hard to believe or understand how a Yachtmaster would not have heard of it. Makes me wonder (other than this YM) how many sailors have ever actually done a practical RYA course. But that's another matter!

 

[prv]

Makes me wonder (other than this YM) how many sailors have ever actually done a practical RYA course.

You seem to be implying that they all should?

Pete

 

[Appledore]

You seem to be implying that they all should?

Pete

No, not at all. But it does make me wonder about the seaworthiness of some boats and/or their owners. Safety equipment on board and so on? For instance, on the Tamar one can launch a boat and go out to sea with no actual local registration, not to mention boat insurance. Our YC up the river insist on £3 million cover just in case we bump into one of those nice Princess yachts! Again, that's another matter.


Completing the CG 66 form actually makes you think about the stuff you ought to have on board.

Geoff

 

[dylanwinter]

too many ignorant oiks

I think that RYA training to offshore ocean mechanic cook should be compulsory before anyone is even allowed to set foot in a Duck Punt let alone an Ocean greyhound such as a Mirror Offshore.

It is a well established FACT that a solid training course with the likes of a training school such as Liquiid Emotion is a cast iron guarantee of competence.

Every time I T bone another yacht I regret not having gone to the effort of getting properly qualified



Sea Dog of Bucks

 

[prv]

For instance, on the Tamar one can launch a boat and go out to sea with no actual local registration

That's perfectly normal. Our boat is on the SSR because the previous owner registered her and it seemed sensible to update the registration to our names. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered (at least until I decided to go to France) and she wouldn't be registered anywhere.

Most of my other possessions aren't registered either . People seem to expect registration, paperwork, etc around boats because they think of them like cars. But really, cars are an anomaly in the amount of regulation involved.

Pete

 

[Tidewaiter2]

As I understand it, there is a fair bit of process that has to have happened before that can be used though - Secretary of State's Representative and all that. In the unlikely event that I found myself being involuntarily "helped" in this way, I would ask the Coastguard on 16 to confirm that the SOSREP procedure had been invoked. Hopefully the inevitable negative answer would give those involved a pause to realise that they can't just take a vessel in tow against its master's wishes.

Pete

Hi Pete,
yep, MC protested like mad, but still got towed- there was a bit in yottin press that year about it and in the RFOA magazine- I'll try and find the refs for you.

It was an panicky over reaction by an individual watch super, who probably had not followed the drills or RTBM as I remember, ordering the RNLI boat, who were very apolo about at the time- they could see MC was OK, just a flat battery and limited(o/b)fuel and not much wind.

Perhaps SOSREP chain was firmed up/introduced after that- MC still had quite a bit of RN clout back then.

I'll see if I can find the refs in IPC yottin mags and RFOA mag and let you know.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I think that RYA training to offshore ocean mechanic cook should be compulsory before anyone is even allowed to set foot in a Duck Punt let alone an Ocean greyhound such as a Mirror Offshore.

It is a well established FACT that a solid training course with the likes of a training school such as Liquiid Emotion is a cast iron guarantee of competence.

Every time I T bone another yacht I regret not having gone to the effort of getting properly qualified



Sea Dog of Bucks

As an OOMC, Do you like your T bone 'meat rare, rare' whilst drinking beer round a fire under mortar fire then?
?You post seems all very paws on to me

 

[savageseadog]

It will be safe to assume that CG66 and other sorts of regulation, certification etc will become compulsory in time...........if we let it. Don't play their game.

 

[Gwylan]

CG66

I am so utterly useless that I have never filed a routine traffic report either

I am amazed that I have lived this long#

Never communicated with the coast guard either

sometimes I call in for a cup of coffee with the Wells volunteer coast watch people

does that count for anything

Dylan

Discussions of fairies dying suggests that it is all a bit of a fairy tale.

We have used it, usually when going solo on extended trips.

The response when you move from one CG area to another can make one wonder if they do anything with your reports.

Responses on calling up to announce arrival have ranged from "And?" via "Well that's amazing" to " Thank you".

 

[Poignard]

It will be safe to assume that CG66 and other sorts of regulation, certification etc will become compulsory in time...........if we let it. Don't play their game.

Amen to that.

We have more than enough interference in our lives already.

 

[prv]

The response when you move from one CG area to another can make one wonder if they do anything with your reports.

Um, they don't. They don't make any secret of the fact. All it means is that if somebody rings them up and says you haven't turned up as expected, they know what you were planning to do. They don't take any proactive action.

Pete

 

[Sailfree]

Not long ago an elderly chap was on his way home from Holland solo. His wife rang the CG to as if he had been seen & they decided he was "overdue" & called out the RNLI. The RNLI went out & found him & forcibly took him in tow. He was absolutely livid. He was tired but OK, there had been a lot of head winds & progress had been slow. His wife hadn't neen bothered, she knew his progress was dictated by the weather & he could well be a day or two late arriving, she just wanted to know how far he had got & if he was likely to be back that day or the next.

So CG "assistance" isn't always helpful.

We were worried when friends did not phone in that they had arrived in Holland. Phone CG and they said not to worry weather is bad give us a call if you haven't heard from them in another 24hrs.

CG was right as they had battled against headwinds and arribve a day late but started to doubt the value of CG66.

 

[prv]

CG was right as they had battled against headwinds and arribve a day late but started to doubt the value of CG66.

??

CG66 is a record of what your boat looks like (plus a few other bits). It's nothing to do with any individual trip.

Pete

 

[Gordonmc]

Something I queried a year or two ago - why don't we have a reference of some sort to our entry on the CG database?
I thought a window sticker that also advertised the service to others, would be a good idea. Then when you call CG you can use the reference no. and he/she should have instant access to your details.
I know I know, we've got enough numbers - MMSI, O/N, SSR, Callsign etc.
but there may well be unregistered boats without a VHF that are on the list.

I've been a supporter of the scheme since its inception, but I've never seen any first hand evidence of it being used.

Agreed, Bill.
I added my CG66 reference number to the foot of my Mayday/PanPan cribsheet, not to suggest that it is included in the initial shout but to short circuit the likely interrogation which might follow.
Would there be merit in the CG66 reference being the same as the MMSI number or callsign?

 

[Sandy]

Would there be merit in the CG66 reference being the same as the MMSI number or callsign?

With a bit of luck they should cross ref the MMSI/Call sign with the CG66 so you don't need to.

 

[bonny]

Organised!

With a bit of luck they should cross ref the MMSI/Call sign with the CG66 so you don't need to.

That would mean that CG are organised, or rather their systems are.
My RT's have been initiated with a DSC call - so they know my MMSI number.
What a shame their systems don't throw up on their screen information from their MARS database which from the MMSI number would bring up Callsign, Vessel Name, CG66 details etc.

If this was the case I wouldn't need to correct them on my vessel name, and they wouldn't need to ask if we were CG66 reg'd. They often ask for my callsign, but that could just be crosschecking.

Don't get me wrong, I thing the CG do an excellent job, but they can only operate with the tools they are provided.