Coastguard requesting advice of all foreign departures

[Captn D]

I have noticed that the Coastguard, prior to their normal regular security/weather calls, are, as a security, advising that all yachts should report to them all foreign departures. Is this information being forwarded to the UKBA? Or is there some other reason?

 

[onesea]

Would seem like a sensible way to report in and out... So probably not

 

[sailorman]

Would seem like a sensible way to report in and out... So probably not

i have never reported out or in, since the abolition of the 2hr reporting system.
i can see no point in it

 

[wotayottie]

Never reported in or out at all. And never will. Dont see why I should do what many immigrants dont bother to do.

 

[SolentBoat]

It did feel a bit surreptitious the first time I sailed to France. We left under cover of darkness and sailed to foreign parts without informing or receiving permission from any officialdom. And, on arrival, stepped ashore and walked into town with no more protocol than had we sailed to the IOW.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Advice to advise the coastguard of long passages seems sense. But we all know how easily useful advice transforms into compulsion once enough people start doing it.

 

[sailorman]

It did feel a bit surreptitious the first time I sailed to France. We left under cover of darkness and sailed to foreign parts without informing or receiving permission from any officialdom. And, on arrival, stepped ashore and walked into town with no more protocol than had we sailed to the IOW.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Advice to advise the coastguard of long passages seems sense. But we all know how easily useful advice transforms into compulsion once enough people start doing it.

we always tell family of departure & arrivals

 

[Mark-1]

But we all know how easily useful advice transforms into compulsion once enough people start doing it.

+1

 

[capnsensible]

Never reported in or out at all. And never will. Dont see why I should do what many immigrants dont bother to do.

Consider yourself fortunate to live in a country where you can excercise that opinion!

 

[Captn D]

The Coastguard duties as regards to yachts is, to my understanding, has been largely concerned with safety and the use of their facilities to record departures and arrivals is solely a matter of safety and under the discretion of individual skippers. This information is only used if there is concern regarding late arrival requested by a third party or other safety reporting regarding the yacht concerned. Whether the voyage is between UK ports or a non UK port is not relevant.

My question is 'what has changed to make notification of voyages to non UK ports a specific request' - though apparently not a compulsory one, as yet?!

 

[sailorman]

The Coastguard duties as regards to yachts is, to my understanding, has been largely concerned with safety and the use of their facilities to record departures and arrivals is solely a matter of safety and under the discretion of individual skippers. This information is only used if there is concern regarding late arrival requested by a third party or other safety reporting regarding the yacht concerned. Whether the voyage is between UK ports or a non UK port is not relevant.

My question is 'what has changed to make notification of voyages to non UK ports a specific request' - though apparently not a compulsory one, as yet?!

Empire building

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have noticed that the Coastguard, prior to their normal regular security/weather calls, are, as a security, advising that all yachts should report to them all foreign departures. Is this information being forwarded to the UKBA? Or is there some other reason?

Can't say I've heard this from Solent CG.

 

[chanelyacht]

I have noticed that the Coastguard, prior to their normal regular security/weather calls, are, as a security, advising that all yachts should report to them all foreign departures. Is this information being forwarded to the UKBA? Or is there some other reason?

Can you let me have further details - in particular, stations involved?

In response to the "empire building" comments, sorry to disappoint, there has been no national instruction or request covering this issue. Certainly neither we, nor our flank stations, nor any of the others we regularly hear, are doing this.

It's hard enough for us to look up details our neighbours have taken. The chance of UKBA being passed this is, er, nil.

It may just be a local reaction to a large number of international overdues that have ocurred lately.

 

[DJE]

As I understand it they have let it be know for a long time that they would like fewer radio checks and more passage plans lodged. Purely for safety reasons. The request for fewer radio checks seems to have been largely ignored if Saturday around the IOW is anything to go by. So I expect this will be too. We always log our passage plan with a shore contact by text message if heading a long way offshore.

 

[chanelyacht]

As I understand it they have let it be know for a long time that they would like fewer radio checks and more passage plans lodged. Purely for safety reasons. The request for fewer radio checks seems to have been largely ignored if Saturday around the IOW is anything to go by. So I expect this will be too. We always log our passage plan with a shore contact by text message if heading a long way offshore.

I don't think we've ever asked for fewer radio checks per se, but we would encourage them to be done with marinas on departure, flotilla members, etc - or preferably not all at the same time if they are with us!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It isn't happening in the Clyde CG area - but I suppose there isn't much point as the only "overseas" destination for all except an adventurous few is Eire!

 

[snooks]

The request for fewer radio checks seems to have been largely ignored if Saturday around the IOW is anything to go by.

Isn't that a request for no radio check on CH16? Not just fewer checks

 

[Poignard]

. But we all know how easily useful advice transforms into compulsion once enough people start doing it.

Spot on.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Spot on.

Yerbut I still haven't heard that request, not from Brixham, Portland, Solent or Dover (was getting them all last Wednesday). Was the OP trolling?

 

[chanelyacht]

Spot on.

Really?

We've taken passage plans for years - and that hasn't led to any degree of compulsion whatsoever.

By all means, leave a passage plan with shore contact, friend, relative, yacht club, whatever - but - please leave one somewhere, and preferably with a contact who is easily contacted by us if need be.

But if you haven't got any of the above, or are not paranoid, we're a pretty good bet.

 

[Roberto]

Really?

We've taken passage plans for years - and that hasn't led to any degree of compulsion whatsoever.

By all means, leave a passage plan with shore contact, friend, relative, yacht club, whatever - but - please leave one somewhere, and preferably with a contact who is easily contacted by us if need be.

But if you haven't got any of the above, or are not paranoid, we're a pretty good bet.

The French CROSS (MRCC) have decided not to take passage plans any more, I asked in 2009 when I left France for Galicia, and again this year to CROSSAG in Martinique before crossing east, same answer: "we do not take passage planes any more as basically all yachts never contacted us after a safe arrival at destination".
I have some difficulties in understanding the logic of this, ok suppose one does not call back saying "I am ok at my home port", couldn't they simply wait before sending the cavalry ?
Are there other reasons you as an authority might be aware of ? Have logged passage plans some sort of legal meaning like "we logged a passage plan we were overdue you did not came to rescue so it is your fault" ? Just curious.


OTOH, before setting off I leave a comment on the official epirb registration internet web site, writing on the comment line "july2012 sailing from x to y, 4 crews, 12m white sailboat".
Am I correct in assuming that that internet page is the first one being looked at by the MRCC if they receive an epirb distress message ?

thank you