NEWS FLASH: Women boarded/aggression in Saint Lucia

[Jamesuk]

Hi All,

More facts will arrive in the morning here.

A vessel in the Rodney Bay Anchorage was boarded late this evening (Saturday night) at approximately 0000 Local (0400 hours GMT) by (at this stage) an unknown number of individuals.

Lady said to be German sent information consisting of:

"I am at anchor opposite the Sandals resort", and I am being boarded. Then moments Later "MAYDAY"

French Coast Guard in Port de France picked up the call. They have since taken charge in contacting the relevant parties.

I picked up the call on channel 68 where another vessel in the marina was trying to call other vessels in the Anchorage on 68as that is our local hailing station. Sadly and strangely "NO" vessels responded and this afternoon on memory I would say at least 25 yachts were at anchor.

UPDATE:
Local IGY Marina staff and coast guard have brought the lady to safety. That is all the information that I have available.

 

[Resolution]

Hi All,

More facts will arrive in the morning here.

A vessel in the Rodney Bay Anchorage was boarded late this evening (Saturday night) at approximately 0000 Local
I picked up the call on channel 68 where another vessel in the marina was trying to call other vessels in the Anchorage on 68as that is our local hailing station. Sadly and strangely "NO" vessels responded and this afternoon on memory I would say at least 25 yachts were at anchor.

.

And I would expect that at midnight in an anchorage most were either in bed asleep or at the least relaxing with the VHF switched off. Or do you always leave the VHF on loud enough to hear every transmission?

 

[Frankie-H]

There is so much rubbish on ch16, some of it really obscene. That my VHF stays off most of the time. The rule in most anchorages is a rapidly sounded fog horn, in dragging or emergency situations. Back it up with a powerful torch, when attention had been attracted.

 

[TQA]

Cruisers in this area often monitor 68 as an alternative.

 

[Conachair]

And I would expect that at midnight in an anchorage most were either in bed asleep or at the least relaxing with the VHF switched off. Or do you always leave the VHF on loud enough to hear every transmission?

In the caribbean yes, in that anchorage it's likely that some vhf's would be turned on and tuned to 68. Even at that hour.

 

[Jamesuk]

Yes many of us tune into 68 and listen to the cruising network with net controller Les doing the 0830 briefing.

We hail people on this channel. You are right in every anchorage we always turn VHF off but in Rodney bay it is a community and many of us keep it tunes in on 1w, so not to "broadcast" to Martinique.

 

[onesea]

many of us keep it tunes in on 1w, so not to pick up Martinique.

Just to be pedantic, you tune the radio you channel 68. You reduce the transmit power to 1watt, so YOU do not interfere with Martinique.

1w/25w has no effect on receiving power, the squelch can help there but keeping it on maximum is considered bad practice.

I am guessing you already knew that and made a mistake

Something Solent yachties should get in the habit off ...

Sitting back ready for barrage of I knew that and already do's...

 

[jamesjermain]

'Something Solent yachties should get in the habit off.'

Just to be pedantic: 'A habit into which Solent yachties should get.'

 

[Moonshining]

'Something Solent yachties should get in the habit off.'

Just to be pedantic: 'A habit into which Solent yachties should get.'

This is the sort of nonsense up with which I will not put!

 

[snowleopard]

Don't put too much faith in maydays in the Caribbean. I had cause to do a mayday relay once from English Harbour Antigua and got absolutely no response from any of the hundreds of boats moored there or from any Antiguan coastguard. After about 20 minutes I did eventually get a response from Fort de France.

I imagine very few cruisers leave their VHF on tuned to ch16, especially at night. If the set is on it is more likely to be on the channel for local information nets.

 

[Jamesuk]

Just to be pedantic, you tune the radio you channel 68. You reduce the transmit power to 1watt, so YOU do not interfere with Martinique.

1w/25w has no effect on receiving power, the squelch can help there but keeping it on maximum is considered bad practice.

I am guessing you already knew that and made a mistake

Slip of mouth on that one. Les will broadcast on 6w so he gets to most of the people in the bay and nearby.

 

[TQA]

OK I have a report from a boat in Rodney bay that says

" The problem was a domestic NOT a boarding . The matter as been resolved and the women is safe and well. "

 

[binch]

Caribbean VHF

We once wrote an article for YM consisting entirely of channel 16 messages and T-shirt texts.
One of the former I remember off-hand was a plaintive voice in English Harbour
"will someone get that frog off channel 16!"