Mayday

[Sailfree]

On Friday 22 August night we left Hamble to sail overnight to St Vaast la Hougue. While sailing down the Solent A Mayday was called from a Dory off the Nab tower. We kept a listening watch. The Bembridge lifeboat and a Coatguard helicopter were involved. As we rounded the east side of the Isle of Wight I considered calling in to see if a further search vessel could assist when the search appeared to be abandoned. We never heard any Coastguard message ending the Mayday. I realise the authorities use another VHF channel (0?) which we can't. During our 9 days in France I wondered the outcome of the Mayday and hoped the people were safe. On my return I checked the MCA and Bembridge lifeboat website hoping to read of a successful rescue but I could find no reference to the incident. Does anyone know the outcome or is it bad form to enquire?
On a separate note I was impressed with professionalism of the Coastguard's handling of the incident as I am impressed by their patience in replying to the many "Radio Check Please" calls but why when attending the RYA VHF course do they suggest requesting a radio check with the coastguard or has this been changed now?

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[Badger]

<why when attending the RYA VHF course do they suggest requesting a radio check with the coastguard>. They don't.Where did you do your course ?

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[whisper]

They did when I took the course, but that was atleast 5 yrs ago.

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[Little_Russel]

I think it was decided that it was a hoax. I heard something about it on Isle of Wight Radio. There have been a couple of them recently I believe. Whoever it is must be a right knuckle-head.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sail the Se7en seas...

 

[Sailfree]

I was suprised when the authorities appeared to give up and no conclusion announced. If it was a hoax there are some sad people out there. For the week of our holiday in France I found myself thinking about the Mayday and hoping they had been rescued and that I had missed the conclusion message.

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[Dave99]

Regarding Radio Checks - I beleive you are wrong - I did by VHF DSC a year ago with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth and radio checks were in that course and in Sue Fletchers book. It comes under test call should be less than 10 seconds long I believe. I know that the c/g in the solent do not like radio checks on CH16, but that is recent.

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[HMCG]

The incident in question was regarded as a hoax call. The area was checked by lifeboats, coastguard teams and a helicopter with nothing found and no further information received. A lifting silence broadcast was transmitted at 0140 UTC. Unfortunately we have received a spate of hoax mayday calls in that area.

I hope that this information has put your mind to rest.

Regards,

HMCG

<hr width=100% size=1>These are my own thoughts not the MCA's

 

[Sailfree]

Re: Coatguard Reply
If you can triangulate the position and hence the origin of the Mayday and if I am in the area, I would be happy to make sure the Mayday becomes a genuine one!

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[TheBoatman]

I know it's out of your patch but do you have any info on the incident on the River Medway Sat 13th. Sheerness AWLB and SAR helo were used?
The search seemed to be in the vacinity of Medway 26 -32 buoys.

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[HMCG]

Unfortunately as you say that is out of my area so I cannot comment.

Regards

HMCG

<hr width=100% size=1>These are my own thoughts not the MCA's