Everyone's entitled to one fluke!

[TheBoatman]

Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

Just returned from an 8-day trip around the East Coast ~ I was "making passage" from Shotley marina to Brightlingsea and as usual gave my safety traffic to Thames CG which included my arrival time at B'sea (1600hrs BST).

On arriving at B'sea I contacted Thames to inform them that I had in fact arrived and I was about to close down the station ~ they promptly started to take the "P" and informed me that I had previously told them that I was arriving at 1600 hrs and it was now 16.02hrs. There was some banter exchanged between me and them following along the lines that I was sorry to be so far adrift of my arrival time & that it was winter nav school 101 for me. The CG operator (giggling on the vhf) said that people like me, who couldn't get their arrival times right shouldn't be allowed out on the high seas etc. I thanked them for their "valuable" advice and I promised to try harder etc, I wished them a quiet and peaceful watch and was gone!

It's nice to know that they are human and I've always found that given the time they are up for a joke or two as well ~ it must break the monotony ~ well done Thames CG.

BTW
After being wind locked in B'sea for 2 days, I was 2 hrs out on my arrival time in the Medway ~ managed to get there 2 hrs early!!!

Peter.

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

They don't know what to do with themselves. We hardly ever ask for radio checks round here.

 

[MoodySabre]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

I never tell my passage plan for hopping round the East coast. I would if heading offshore. Am I at fault? What is normal practice?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[beancounter]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

Did it once (Bradwell to Burnham) - but only as a cunningly-disguised radio check 'cos the VHF had been playing up... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[tillergirl]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

I do it if I'm crossing to Ramsgate but not going up the coast - oh I did a night trip from Mersea to Shotley once and did it. There was nothing else said for the whole of the passage so I felt like calling them to say 'we're near you'; 'we're opposite you'; 'we're passed you'. But couldn't be bothered. I was intrigued as to how long it would take Shotley to answer at 3.30am. The answer was 'instantaneous'. You're right though, they are a nice bunch at Walton. When I sent in the GC66, they rang almost to have a chat.

But I don't think there's a right or wrong. I suspect its handy to use the system. I bet when the bean counters do an O & M review, that's one of the performance things they count. So its probably in our interests to use it.

 

[pyrojames]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

I don't. I do a radio check if I have installed a new unit and that is all. I did put in a passage plan going from the Solent to Cherbourge once, but that is the only "official" one I can remember. Otherwise just let the family know for long (5 day +) passages.

 

[caol]

Agreed. Thames CG is great

A few years ago I was leading a flotilla of boats from a sailing organisation - we had about 14.

We hit unforecast and unexpected thick fog in Dovercourt Bay, after a sunny passage down the Orwell. I was doing the communicating for the group and didn't shut down and inform the CG until I was sure everyone was safely accounted for, which took some time, as we had to send a boat back to find one that we couldn't raise on the radio.

When I got home, I found the CG had actually rung my home number and spoken to my partner, using the details of our boat that they held, to check that all was well.

We don't often have reason to contact them, but when we do, they always impress us.

 

[Danny Jo]

Radio check

I usually sail at times and places where few requests for radio checks are heard, but occasionally I get caught out on the high seas on a summer weekend.

If people want to know if their transmitter and receiver are working, why don't they switch down to 1 watt and call a passing yacht?

And yes, I can think of only nice things to say about all the Coastguard people I have come in contact with. I particularly liked the polite way they responded to requests for radio checks while they were taking industrial action: Ballymorry Coastguard, Ballymorry Coastguard, this is Able Semen, Able Semen*, requesting radio check on channel 16. Able Semen, this is Ballymorry Coastguard. I'm sorry that owing to industrial action we are only taking emergency calls, over. Ballymorry Coastguard, Able Semen. Understood, good luck, out.

*Fictitious names - I don't want to run foul of the Radio Communications Act, or whatever it is called.

 

[actionoptics]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

I don't know how the Solent CG remain so patient. The number of people who still call for a radio check on Ch 16 in the summer , is amazing and some even ask for a check when the CG are "Accident Working" on Ch 16. Two years ago on passage to Weymouth with the wind dying and the tide turning, our engine stopped not far from Dancing Ledges, so we asked Portland CG if someone could help us get into the harbour when we eventually managed to sail close enough to the entrance. "We can do better than that" said the CG and promptly put out an All Ships to see if anyone could give us a tow. A good bunch of lads and lassies.

 

[davies]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

Memorable transmission heard from Solent CG on a busy weekend last summer - "Vessels requesting radio checks - you are all loud and clear!"

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Everyone\'s entitled to one fluke!

Roger
If I'm day sailing then I never bother but if I'm heading in one direction for 5-6+ hours then I always do. The reasons are that 1. It checks my radio without going for the dreaded radio check please. 2. It lets them know my basic passage time and that I know someone else knows I'm out there and lastly for the safety of other boaters ~ if someone else gets into bother the CG are able to quickly calculate my approx. position from the info I supplied and call me if I can help and yes it has happened in the past, they have asked me if I've seen a particular yacht or fishing boat.

Peter.