How to interrupt VHF abuse

[BlueSkyNick]

Sailing towards W Solent from Poole yesterday, about 2 miles short of North Channel, we overheard a conversation on Ch77 between 2 dive boats out of Swanage, ie at least 10 miles away. It seemed that both had divers down, so they were having a cup of tea waiting for them to come back up - the making of tea was part of the conversation. It caried on for at least 10 minutes discussing last night's party, upcoming trip to Europe, recovering black bags from the bottom, and whatever else they could think of to pass the time.
There was no radio protocol, ie call signs at the beginning of each transmission, or 'over' at the end, but a few soft swear words thrown in for good measure. Only indication of their identity were their names, Dave and Pete.

This is clearly a misuse of radio but how does one stop them, particularly when doing more important things like helming, sail trimming etc.

One option was to interrupt by over speaking them but this would have required 25W which would have gone right down the Solent, causing a nuisance to others. 1W wouldn't have reached them. Second option was to leave them to it (SWMBO thought some of the conversation was quite interesting!), which we did as we weren't actually trying to use the channel at the time. If we had been it would have been extremely annoying.

They might even argue that they are professionals using the sea to make a living, and what right have I as a yachtie telling them what to do.

So what's the best way of dealing with these situations?

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[Angela101]

Lifes full of problems, why let this get to you? Prefer to believe that had you had to use the VHF they would have abated their conversation until you had finished your broadcast. Sent you a message apologising, invited you to join them for lunch and sent you back to your yatch with a rather nice bottle of red to make up for any inconvenience caused. Now doesn't that seem a nicer way to think about it?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Damn those customers I could run this shop better without them!

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[claymore]

Is it compulsory in the Solent to listen to ch77?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[steve_cronin]

Lady,

I'm a reconing thart yous'a livin in that thar "fairyland"!!

(Ducks for low flying pig)

Bavaria Owners do it in comfort - OFFICIAL!!

Steve Cronin

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[vyv_cox]

In many places the discussion would have been on Channel 16, so I suppose things could be worse ;~)

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[BlueSkyNick]

No, it was just that we were on cruise with other boats, and had agreed to use Ch77 when necessary.

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[steve_cronin]

You ultimate proposition is IMO probably the most likely. They would see it as you might if some weekender started laying down the law the moment that he had opened the security shutters on a Friday evening at his holiday cottage in your village high street.

(Notice I said "laying down the LAW")

Steve Cronin

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[claymore]

Aahh - unreasonable sods.

Perhaps a call to the other boats you were cruising with and an alternate channel found...that and a call to the two offensive divers telling them to get off your pre-ordained channel and not to use it again when they should know you would be wanting to use it.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Angela101]

Re: Lady,

Nope, just playing devils advocate. I've had a few bottles of grape juice this aft and am in a good mood.... Catch me after the kids have kept me up half the night and I'd have got on the VHF and told them to *bleeping* well *bleep* off my *bleeping* channel cos it's *bleeping* well the channel me and me mates wanna *bleeping* well wanna use *bleeping**bleepers*.....not really...wot dus the red button do????????ooooh look a helicopter!

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[steve_cronin]

Re: Lady,

Leetel tip on your new Bavaria.

Replace the main domestic battery switch. The ones Bav fit fall to pieces within a year. OK you can claim under warranty but it's a bit inconvenient when it happens with the anchor down in 25 metres and the windlass won't work.

Steve cronin

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[Angela101]

Re: Lady,

Er, I'll pass it on to Steve. Swop the switchy fing for the battery or we'll flote away! Gotcha.

Thanks Steve

xxx

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[wakeup]

Re: Lady,

"Er, I'll pass it on to Steve. Swop the switchy fing for the battery or we'll flote away! Gotcha.

Thanks Steve

xxx "

Aha so it is Steve 101 and not his wife!!!!!

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[Angela101]

Re: Lady,

woz fankin Steve "Cronin", ar u foxy mulder cos u is seein conspricay faries evrywear. Hubby tux up on uva forum arguin abart if boats fall t'bits!

xxx



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[l'escargot]

Is that the real issue - that they were using "your" channel?

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[rich]

Yer not supposed to repeat wot wos SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's private......

<hr width=100% size=1>rich ) <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jersey-harbours.com>http://www.jersey-harbours.com</A>

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Using \"our\" channel.

Far from it !!!

We had agreed to stay on 77 to keep in touch with 4 other boats as necessary, but hadn't done so for about 3 hours.

The real issue is that I go sailing for some relaxation, and real peace and quiet. This is not possible when two people prattle on for over 10 minutes, on one of only 4 working channels shared by about 5000(?) boats in the area, using Hi power when they are about 200yards apart, on topics which should be discussed on the telephone.

Apart from being illegal, it was really irritating.

Apologies if I am just making a mountain out of a molehill - having spent all weekend on the boat, it was hard to concentrate on work yesterday and I had to find something else to do !!

Out.

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[Twister_Ken]

Portland CG?

If it really was abuse (and it sounds like it was) I'd have thought a report to Portland CG on its working channel might have been in order.

Especially as dive boats seem to be responsible for quite a lot of the shouts in that area, and the dive boat skippers will therefore want to stay on the right side of the CG. They probably all drink in the same pub, anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Angela101]

It\'s a subjective thing isn\'t it!

When you're not eating and somebody is eating crisps, they're making a right racket, when you're eating 'em too who cares.......plus it's down right wrong (chatting on VHF not eating crisps)

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[l'escargot]

Regulation

No other country outside of Eastern Bloc/Communism attempts to regulate people speaking to each other. England on the other hand not only restricts the frequencies used (I do accept that some should be set aside for "official" use) but actually attempts to dictate how we construct our sentences when using them.
When citizenband was introduced 20 something years ago it was going to breakdown society, force emergency services off air and bring planes crashing down on us. It was effectively deregulated and all but vanished. It is about time that everyone realised that vhf is an outdated primitive form of radio communication and doesn't warrant regulating.
The old operators maxim of Acuracy, Brevity & Clarity is all that is needed, as demonstrated by the professionals in the other thread in this forum. If you are pottering around off the coast like the majority of weekend sailors, switch your mobile on and your vhf off unless you want a bit of light entertainment or are coming in or out of Portsmouth or somewhere similar.

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