Mayday call from yacht sparks big response

Who knows? A high level of water in the boat, cant find the source, level increasing, call for assistance, time goes on and source of leak is found. Maybe that is a reasonable response by the person on the boat, if that was the situation. I would not be inclined to judge someone as overreacting based on the PBO news report.
 
I was thinking of the coastguard not the skipper. Perhaps it's just the way it was reported sounds like a massive rescue effort was mobilised. Perhaps the skipper made a pan pan call but this ends up in the news as a mayday?

It may have been a genuine emergency, or simply misreported, in this case but we yachtsmen are at risk of being seen as too ready to call on the emergency services rather than looking to help ourselves.
 
I would think that the only assets which the CG launched were the AWLB and the helio. The other responders, who it seems were stood down, would have heard the may day via Ch16 and offered assistance.
 
galadriel said:
I would think that the only assets which the CG launched were the AWLB and the helio. The other responders, who it seems were stood down, would have heard the may day via Ch16 and offered assistance.
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+1, most grp boats with rapid water ingress would be sweating, ??stern gland/skin fitting gone, when will battery box be flooded, VHF fail, water making over the pump(s), all good reason for making a Mayday, not Pan Pan- the water is very cold right now+wind chill, a soaking wet crew wouldn't last long in or out of a Liferaft before going hyperthermic.
You can always downgrade to a Panpan, but maybe post crisis 'adreline slump' affected the crew, or the help turned up as they went 'phew, that's stopped it'. We were not there, on board.

It's good that so many other nearby vessels did their duty and responded to the Mayday- you do hear of some that don't for no good reason. If they had gone in the water, would have improved pick up chances, esp. with helio overhead.
'There but for the favour of the Gods'.. I always think.
 
Many many years ago, 1995 I think, I called a Mayday as we were taking on water, batteries about to be submerged, alternator failed (which was the warning sign, we were motoring in no wind) The response was quite similar.

Heli launched and lifeboat, within minutes. No other boats heard the call or responded but sounds like a similar event. We also discovered quite quickly what the problem was and that we weren't imminently sinking but I was glad I'd called. Had it been uncontrollable we may have been in a liferaft not knowing our position with a handheld vhf with limited range. The call whilst we still had vhf at the mast was a good move and not a panic reaction. We downgraded the call once we worked out what was going on. We also got towed back but to Falmouth for a large round of fish and chips and beers.
 
Difficult to see what else should have been done.

I would class a significant unidentified leak as an immediate mayday as there is a risk of losing the VHF and the sooner help gets there the better. Similarly launching the AWB must have been the right call.

Not so sure about the heli - that might have been a step too far but better safe than sorry.
 
bedouin said:
Difficult to see what else should have been done.

I would class a significant unidentified leak as an immediate mayday as there is a risk of losing the VHF and the sooner help gets there the better. Similarly launching the AWB must have been the right call.

Not so sure about the heli - that might have been a step too far but better safe than sorry.
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+1

Ian
 
tony_lavelle said:
Six vessels and a helicopter mobilised to assist a skipper with a panic over a leak. Is it just me or is this sort of over-reaction becoming more typical?
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The story is not quite as you stated, "Half a dozen vessels and a helicopter were ready to help" [source http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/533731/mayday-call-from-yacht-sparks-big-response]

No, it is the normal reaction, as it should be. We all have a responsibilty to assist and that is what everybody was doing - they should be thanked.
 
bedouin said:
... better safe than sorry.
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Was once told by an "Official Receiver of Maydays" to not be so bothered by the type or correctness of the call. The important things to him were:
1) I need help
2) Where
3) type of boat and how many onboard.
With 1 and 2 he said he could start operations. With 3 he could dimension the operation better. With additional info such as nature of problem, etc, the dimensioning would be even better.

But the critical items are 1 and 2.

For 1) and 2) he said a shout "help, help, I'm in such a place" is enough, if that is all you have time for or the ability to say AT THE TIME. We all can get flustered !!!

If the VHF is still OK, you can continue to elaborate, give better info, downgrade the severity, or whatever.

The initial call is critical -- it may be all you get time to make !!!!

Plomong
 
Camelia said:
The story is not quite as you stated, "Half a dozen vessels and a helicopter were ready to help" [source http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/533731/mayday-call-from-yacht-sparks-big-response]
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Agree that most of the vessels simply responded to the call, as they should have, and weren't needed to actually participate. The windfarm guard boat would have been nearby anyway and with not much to do, so it makes sense for them to come and help. But we don't quite know what the helicopter's role was - the story just says "involved [...] a rescue helicopter from Koksijde in Belgium". "Involved" could mean anything from "were alerted in case they were needed later", "took off but were turned back en-route as no longer required", or "cost a lot of time and money hovering over the casualty vessel to no obvious purpose".

Pete
 
I witnessed a mayday call to the ex Heath yacht Opposition

Eventually there were two fast ribs an AWB and a chopper in attendence

This excludes the numerous other boaters that were close to scene.

Three pumps were needed as water was up to their knees in the cabin due to skin fitting failure.

A Second Mayday came from Helo as he had to make a rapid return to overland with a gearbox fault.

I dont think response was over the top.

I am sure the YBW headline would have been much more interesting if they hadnt done a good job on making her safe.

Opposition Sunk In Muddy Hollow mystery.

This is how RNLI report it.

15th 11/07/10 09:56 Both Pwllheli and Abersoch lifeboats were launched on Sunday morning after the 41 foot yacht Opposition started taking in water nine miles south west of Pwllheli while on passage to Cowes on the Isle of Wight . Four persons were on board. With a heavy swell running, the Abersoch lifeboat managed to transfer a pump from the Pwllheli all weather lifeboat to the wooden yacht which had around three foot of water in its hull. A helicopter from the Search and Rescue 122 squadron also stood by.
It was soon apparent the salvage pump would need more fuel so Pwllheli ILB launched with spare cans of diesel to take to the pump.The four crew members could not find where the water was entering the boat because of the amount of water, but after the pump was put on board it was discovered that a through-hull fitting had failed and a plug was placed to stem the leakage. The vessel was then towed to Pwllheli marina by the ALB entered the harbour and berthed at Pwllheli marina. Duration 3.5hrs Wind SW 3-4
.
 
tony_lavelle said:
Just seen today's headline news on YBW.com: http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/533731/mayday-call-from-yacht-sparks-big-response

Six vessels and a helicopter mobilised to assist a skipper with a panic over a leak. Is it just me or is this sort of over-reaction becoming more typical?

Tony
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That's not what's in the report; however, when lives are at stake a rapid response is essential, and you don't necessarily know who's going to arrive on scene first.

Within a few hours of your quoted incident there was this one; similar sized sized boat, three souls on board - it sounds like you wouldn't have sent the helicopter: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21539992

Fortunately I haven't had to call on assistance, but I've never hesitated to head for a 'shout' if I was close enough to respond; it's the correct reaction, not over-reaction.
 
No point second guessing the skipper, his call.
I responded to a MOB in Carlingford last year, as did a nearby boat,turned out to be a false alarm but we both continued searching till CG called it off.
I,d like to think that if I ever did have to make the call that it would be answered by all in the vacinity, leaving the final say to the CG.
 
Plomong said:
Was once told by an "Official Receiver of Maydays" to not be so bothered by the type or correctness of the call. The important things to him were:
1) I need help
2) Where
3) type of boat and how many onboard.
With 1 and 2 he said he could start operations. With 3 he could dimension the operation better. With additional info such as nature of problem, etc, the dimensioning would be even better.

But the critical items are 1 and 2.

For 1) and 2) he said a shout "help, help, I'm in such a place" is enough, if that is all you have time for or the ability to say AT THE TIME. We all can get flustered !!!

If the VHF is still OK, you can continue to elaborate, give better info, downgrade the severity, or whatever.

The initial call is critical -- it may be all you get time to make !!!!

Plomong
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Big + 1
 
I hear MayDay calls frequently. Most by voice some relayed by DSC from Coast Gaurd Radio Station.
I tune in right away.
Then listen for where. is it in my area. ot far away
If thats all I hear.
I Respond.
I advise RCC where I am how long to get there and what I can do.
They task me or stand me down.
If tasked I go until stood down.
some times im close sometimes not. usually im not. one of my coleages is usualy closer.
if i get more info I can prioratise.
Sail boat with flat Battery. out of gas sorry petrol. Coast gaurd will ask if they are in imediate danger. if they are i respond if not they can call for comercial assistance.
Fire I respond. until stood down
Person in water I respond until stood down.
Aground. depends on if in imediate danger. and if i can get there often can't
Overdue or missing diver I respond(I don't like those never seams to end well)

Vessel taking on water. you bet your ass I respond.

Most often I head towords a casualty until help arrives before I do then stand down a resume orriginal Voyage.
2 or 3 times a year I arrive first and provide assistance.
None have been particulary dramatic.
A couple have been trajic

I have sailed with many who act in a simmilar way.
I have sailed with a very small no who required my advice prior to responding.
I have sailed with one who I informed after entering his lack of response into log book I would advise authourties on docking if he did not respond to a person in the water. we responded.
I have never toted up the bill. Nor have any owners ever complained.
1 passenger got angry other passengers told him where to go.

As far as I know the vast majority of mariners ameture or profesional act the same way and are happy to assist if they can.
 
Well this is supposedly the 21st Century, and while we don't yet have International Rescue and Thunderbirds it doesn't take too much effort or fuel to launch helicopters and lifeboats, and I suspect the crews are glad of something to do to prove their undoubted worth !

Any decent sailor or flyer will respond to a Mayday call with maximum effort.
 
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centaur1 said:
No point second guessing the skipper, his call.
I responded to a MOB in Carlingford last year, as did a nearby boat,turned out to be a false alarm but we both continued searching till CG called it off.
I,d like to think that if I ever did have to make the call that it would be answered by all in the vacinity, leaving the final say to the CG.
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+100

Judge not.......
 
As I've mentioned recently, a few years ago Solent Coastguard put out an alert to look out for a lady knocked overboard by the boom on a rough day - sadly she was lost, but there were a lot of boats, 20 or 30 ' civilian ' yachts doing a remarkably well organised search along with a helo and the RNLI trying to save her, this has to be the best use of assets.
 
Seajet said:
As I've mentioned recently, a few years ago Solent Coastguard put out an alert to look out for a lady knocked overboard by the boom on a rough day - sadly she was lost, but there were a lot of boats, 20 or 30 ' civilian ' yachts doing a remarkably well organised search along with a helo and the RNLI trying to save her, this has to be the best use of assets.
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Yet those with thier VHFs switched off may well have blissfully unaware of all this and not been able to assist
 
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