VHF reception across the channel

[vandy]

Not sure if this has been covered before - those of you who have done regular cross channel trips, do you have any idea of VHF reception? I mean boat to CG station?

I am hoping a cross channel trip over the next coming weeks if there's a good weather window so this is one of the items on my list to make sure is sorted..

 

[neale]

Which bit of the channel? Dover/Calais no probs with a good fixed set installation.

 

[vandy]

sorry! must've mentioned... heading off from Poole to cherbourg

 

[prv]

Well, I can often hear Jobourg Traffic in the Solent and Solent Coastguard off Cap de la Hague - does that answer your question?

Pete

 

[omega2]

A mayday or pan pan will be answered from almost anywhere in the world, but if you want to chat about the kids or the mother-in- law, or any such trivia then you probably be blanked.

 

[prv]

A mayday or pan pan will be answered from almost anywhere in the world

Not on VHF it won't!

(In the English Channel it will though)

Pete

 

[omega2]

I bow to your superior knowledge, but hope you do not have to use it. Ordering fish and chips will be ignored. LOL

 

[fireball]

Poole to Cherbourg will be fine - If your set is working fine then Solent CG should be able to hear you - but I wouldn't bank on it - however, if it's for comms with home then by the time you're 13 miles off Cherbourg you will have a mobile signal - enough to drop a text off if nothing else.
Emergency calls on the VHF will be answered - if you're on the French side then you'll deal with them, if in UK waters then you'll get our Coastguard.

For cross channel trips we had a shore contact (family member) who we let know what was going on - on the assumption that had they not heard from us in a suitable time window then they'd alert the CG.

 

[rlw]

No real life experience but have read up the theory in the link below. Seems like a good starting point.

http://www.frugal-mariner.com/Ranges.html

 

[Imperial One]

Always a good idea to tell the CG you are heading for Cherbourg, ETA, POB and they will track you on your voyage - remember to tell them you have arrived as well.:encouragement:
Have a good trip.

 

[prv]

Always a good idea to tell the CG you are heading for Cherbourg, ETA, POB and they will track you on your voyage

Wee-eell - ish. They'll make a note in the watch log of what you tell them, but they do not monitor your progress or take any action if you fail to report in. The marginal benefit is that if your non-nautical great aunt who you were going to meet in Cherbourg phones up to say you never arrived, but all she can tell them is that your boat is "a white one", doesn't know where you were coming from and has no idea when you left or expected to arrive, then the CG can look up that information you gave them. But that is all - except in exceptional circumstances, they rely on someone calling them to report you overdue.

I've had this first-hand from a watch officer at Portland Coastguard.

Pete

 

[Salty John]

Not sure if this has been covered before - those of you who have done regular cross channel trips, do you have any idea of VHF reception? I mean boat to CG station?

I am hoping a cross channel trip over the next coming weeks if there's a good weather window so this is one of the items on my list to make sure is sorted..

About 60nm in normal conditions. Somewhat further in certain atmospheric conditions, but can't relied upon.