Pan Pan "An alternative view"

[Sybarite]

Re: Pan Pan "An alternative view"

When sailing into a marina you won't normally sail into a finger berth ( however at La Trinité I saw a French "Requin" - a sort of bigger dragon - do about half a dozen tacks up between the jetties right to the innermost position and into the finger berth all under sail - I also watched the dragon fleet at Deauville tacking out though the lock.. - highly impressed I was) but will choose a hammerhead or to come alongside another boat. The key is to sail slowly, go past the berth first ensuring that there are people there, explain your situation to them and ask them to help fend you off and then approach upwind spilling wind the whole time. I had to do this at La Trinité when the motor wouldn't start.

The French Git

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[snowleopard]

Re: Pan Pan \"An alternative view\"

<a pan-pan call always results in a lifeboat call-out>

is this true? anyone out there who is on the other side of the fence (HMCG/RNLI)?

if i had known that was the case i most certianly wouldn't have made a pan pan call (see other pan pan thread). what would you do to put the coastguard on a watching brief - just an ordinary station-to-station call perhaps?

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[Sybarite]

Re: Justified response?

One should be very careful never to run dry in a diesel because you damage the injectors. These are very high precision items with tolerances of 1/10th of a micron (at least on car diesel injection pumps) and are lubricated by the diesel oil.

John

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[Rob_Webb]

Re: Pan Pan "An alternative view"

I lost my engine in very light winds crossing Lyme Bay heading for Dartmouth last year. I called Brixham CG and purely advised him of my situation and the steps I was trying to take to deal with it. This act put the CG (and any other listening stations) on alert that I could eventually become a 'casualty' requiring assistance, but in the meantime I caused no-one any bother. CG asked me to report in every hour and as it was I made it into Dartmouth unassisted - I felt that this struck the right balance between communicating my predicament to the wider world whilst not causing undue alarm. I then had the option to call it either way with no huge surprises.

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[SteveA]

Re: Pan Pan \"An alternative view\"

Rob,

I did exactly the same when our engine died on a cross from Dublin to Holyhead.I called the coastguard in the normal way and told them of our problem - "need any help?" "no thanks" we said "O.K. but please call in every 15minutes". Even after sorting the problem out ( blocked fuel filters) the CG insisted we kept calling in until we reached out destination. It gave great confidence to know that they were there.

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[Robin]

Re: Pan Pan \"An alternative view\"

Yes that is the sensible option, as said elsewhere the CG will usually ask for a regular call to advise of progress. You feel reassured, Mr CG is ready if required and no need for PAN PANs or lifeboats.

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[Observer]

Re: Pan Pan \"An alternative view\"

Yes, a call to CG to advise them you are in an uncertain but not (yet) difficult situation is the right way to do it.

I have done so on two occasions - both in the Solent - in a motorboat. Once when the engine temp alarm kept going off and I had to keep switching off to top up the coolant and then leave the engine to cool down for 15-20 minutes before restarting. I managed to limp home, with three or four stops on the way, so needed no assistance. However, as I had several children on board, it was sensible, I think, to put CG on notice that I may have needed assistance.

On the second occasion I was single-handed with two 11 year olds and found 4 inches of water in the aft cabin. Again, as it turned out, not a problem but I called CG and advised them of the problem, just in case.

A call of this nature doesn't waste resources but it does alert CG to a potential problem and serves to reassure passengers and/or crew.


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[Aja]

Re: Pan Pan \"An alternative view\"

We 'lost' our engine - exhaust elbow cracked - in Tobermory. Sailed all the way to the Crinan canal... into sea lock and arranged a tow from another boat to get us through. Cast off at Ardrishaig. Sailed to mooring.

Scariest moments? In flat calm with 290+ boats bearing down as part of West Highland week unable to get out their way... got a few odd looks and waves from those that knew us...
In F7 under working jib only from Ardrishaig to Kames.. considered Tarbert but entrance a bit tricky.

At Kames picked up mooring under sail off parents house still F7. Got all tidied up. VHF crackles into life - my father - "no engine then, eh?"

For the three days my stomach was in a knot with worry. Next weekend 'fixed' elbow with Chemical Metal. Worked a treat. Now never go anywhere without it!

Regards

Donald



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