MOB - English Channel

[Sans Bateau]

Did anyone else hear on Ch 16 the MOB Mayday unfolding late yesterday afternoon, mid English Channel?

It was extraordinary! As far as we could make out from the dialogue of Solent Coastguard, single handed yachtsman had gone MOB, his boat had been found. It was then established that the last contact had been about 0800 Sun morning. Solent established that the boat had been sailing in company, the other skipper gave starting point, current position, course changes etc to Solent. Over the course of the next, about 30 Mins Solent talked to several boats in the area.

On our boat we were all feeling a bit glum, we felt that this poor chap stood no chance, must be lost. Solent then coordinated with Alderney and Cherbourg, within minutes both had helicopters heading for the area for a search. When it arrived in the area, Solent gave the search area lat and longs to the French SAR helicopter.

With total disbelief and a cheer from all of us the French SAR found the MOB alive within minutes of starting a search pattern!!!!!!!!! That chap must be the luckiest MOB to live to tell the tale, amzing!!!!

What was also very reasuring was the very very cool and focused way that the operator at Solent managed the whole coordinating. What would we do without them?

 

[jonjo]

This might explain the polyphonic DSC alert that could be heard around my marina at about 5pm yesterday.

 

[Sans Bateau]

To my knowledge there was no DSC alarm, it didnt sound on ours anyway.

 

[damon]

Yes, we heard that, the boat was Mordor I believe, discovered adrift by I believe 'Audacious' or similar. They relayed to Solent CG the log info, size, position, estimated course etc. The CG then put together a search pattern for 'Rescue Golf XRay' the french helecopter, who spotted him in a matter of minutes. Outstanding work by Solent CG and a very happy result, SWMBO was almost in tears when the news came through that they'd found him. Don't know how long he'd been in the water, but it could have been several hours, I hope he's alright.

 

[fontmell]

Bet he was as the US coast guard puts it (seriously so many people lost it is an official catogory) - caught with flys open ie having a piss over the back. yes the DSC did go out and yes he was lucky that he was sailing in company and his mates couldnt radio him so raised the alarm. The bit you heard 0800 was when physical sighting was - The Helo used thermal imaging so can cover wide area - you have seen it on car chases with cops on the TV

 

[Sans Bateau]

There was a DSC alarm? Strange it did'nt sound on our radio.

 

[[2574]]

We are very lucky to have the emergency services that we do. The Coastguard and rescue services do a stunning job despite the (often) lacklustre skills of their clientelle. There was a chap saturday who issued a Mayday because he had gone aground in S'hampton water - it obviously seemed like a Mayday to him; he couldn't confirm his geographic location (could give lat and long) and the CG dealt with it with the same professionalism as a serious mayday as the MOB to which you refer. There was a chap on a rib that called a pan pan on Saturday that reckoned he was south of Ryde and despite the CG giving him three opportunities to check his position he was adamant! All dealt with again in usual professional manner.

We're very fortunate.

 

[IanR]

Yes a real credit to all involved we listened to the drama unfolding as we sailed back from Chi to Hamble.

A fantastic job

Less impressive was the sheer number of Pan Pans and Maydays going out over the weekend for apparent minor needs including Yachts going aground (Southampton Water) and Motor vessels getting lost...also the Pan Pan Medico that having called up and started a dalogue seemed to lose interest.. Shame on all the frivolous ones that keep the Coastguard tied up including the inevitable radio checks.

 

[Sans Bateau]

We must have passed each other, I was going the other way! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[SteveB_Sigma33]

I can confirm there was a DSC alarm.

 

[Lizzie_B]

In the US radio check services are often offered by local marine companies such as chandleries and marinas, or failing that carried out by sending 'boat name 'and 'radio check' this usually illicits a response from another vessel including the other vessel's position so you know how far you can be heard. Certainly frees up the Coastguard.

 

[gjeffery]

We were trying to work out what his problem was. He grounded on the flood, shortly after low water. CG were superb, but apparantly over relying on them to solve routine problems may fuel suggestions that we should pay for the service.

 

[ashanta]

That's why I use a little piss bucket that you make sand castles with. It's small but big enough and it means that I don't have stand along the toerail with my flies undone.

Very lucky man indeed!

Regards.

peter.

 

[IanR]

Probably would have seen us, we enjoyed a 4 hour Spinnaker run flying our big Pink and Black Triradial cut spinnaker.

Lovely and caught some mackerel too, what more could one ask...

 

[Nick_H]

Also heard the whole thing unfold and feared the worst, and agree the coastguard operator was exceptional. Hearing he was OK was a great end to a great day.

 

[wooslehunter]

Heard the Medico too & was a bit surprised to find it didn't appear to be followed up.

I heard another message soon after saying Solent were in touch via mobile phone.

 

[powerskipper]

I was helping to teach a YM theory course, one year and one of the coastguard Ladies was on it, learn a lot about how they work and have never met anyone who could plot as accurately as she could.

 

[TheBoatman]

Maybe we should all watch?

There's going to be a prog next week on the beeb outlining the miss givings and short comings of our CG service.
Before anyone asks it's a Fiona Bruce thing, on next Monday.

BTW
I think our CG service is one of the best!!

Peter. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rob_Webb]

Re: Maybe we should all watch?

I've just started with the volunteer CG service here in NZ (Auckland), having been through 5 weeks of initial training. Decided to try to apply 25yrs of general boaty/yachting experience to constructive use, esp. now that I live within 5 mins of the RV (rescue vessel) and can be the first one on the scene.

The options for service include mobile units, air patrol and Ops Room. They all provide their own specific training but not surprisingly it the Ops Room that has the most stringent requirements and level of competency, to ensure operators can cope with exactly the kind of complex scenario you guys witnessed the other day in this case.

Me? Yeah, I reckon I could handle the Ops role fine but I spend enough time in the office during the week and so it's a no-brainer for me to get out on the water instead.

And hey, I get to 'play' with a 300hp 8.5m RIB without paying for the fuel!

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: Maybe we should all watch?

Rob

Well done and good luck, time well spent on a good cause.

Stephen