VHF

[powerskipper]

The Vhf courses are going to be changing slightly, it does not as far as I know effect any holders of it already, but will be a bit more of a online prep pre course requirement.
So I will be reviewing my teaching stuff for a better word for the course.

So anyone who has done one with me instructing and a few of you have , will know I use scenario cards as examples of what call when, etc.
Well I have asked before but thought I will ask again as everyone was very helpful before.


Have you had to use the VHF radio to make a call , Mayday, pan pan or other, or have you heard a call that could be used as an example, and if yes, would you mind sharing it, if you do not want to go on open forum, PM me. I never use original boat names or peoples names, as I have far to much fun making up boat names to use.
Thanks in advance.
Julie

 

[jfm]

I heard one the other week which I thought was nicely done. It went as follows

Securite x3
This is 25m motor yacht zzzzz
Position xxxx yyyy, approx. 1.5 miles due west of entrance to Bonifacio harbour
We have just struck a large log. We believe no damage to our vessel, and this transmission is just to warn other boats of this hazard. Log is approx. 10m long and 0.5m diameter
I repeat, position xxxx yyyy 1.5 miles due east of entrance to Bonifacio harbour
That is the end of this securite. zzzzz out and listening on ch16

FWIW, the local coastguard listening station then called him back and asked for more info, in a cackhanded and pointless manner, which clogged up ch16 and added nothing to the securite, but nothing you can do about that. I was a couple of miles away from m/y zzzzz and heading for the area, and on plotting his position I got a visual on him and altered course to miss the thing by a mile, so it was a v useful transmission for me. I also sent him a quick thanks trnasmission

 

[powerskipper]

That's great,
Did you hear by any chance if it was repeated by local coastguard or not. being nosy.

 

[jfm]

That's great,
Did you hear by any chance if it was repeated by local coastguard or not. being nosy.

No worries about nosiness. Yes, it was repeated by local "signal station" as they call themselves in France, after a few minutes, iirc. Presumably the logic of the coastguard was that they had a bigger transmission range than the m/y zzzz

For my part I remembered that nice feature on Garmins where you can replay the last 20 seconds, which allowed me to listen to the lat/long at my own pace and enter it on the plotter.

Also, full marks to the transmitting skipper in my book for not just saying the lat/long (which kinda means nothing to the listener) but adding the "approx. 1.5 miles due west of entrance to Bonifacio harbour" part. Excellent technique and thinking, imho. It immediately alerted me "this is relevant to you jfm - better take some notice!"

 

[powerskipper]

Yes , I recommend, if you can, to give a general area and a bearing from something , a lat and long can be passed in further communications, thank you that has reaffirmed what I think too, ooo I almost sound efficient.

 

[benjenbav]

I recall one which is of no use other than it cheered me up. I may not quite have it word for word.

USS... Approaching Portsmouth. Looking good. Planning some R&R for the guys

Solent CG: Please use a working channel

USS... Yes ma'am

 

[powerskipper]

LOL

 

[powerskipper]

So no interesting moments this year then.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Have you had to use the VHF radio to make a call , Mayday, pan pan or other, or have you heard a call that could be used as an example,

Hi Julie, I'll pm you later. We've unfortunately had to handle RT for three distress incidents involving other craft (a fire, a sinking vessel, an engine failure lee shore), and an advisory call for another vessels grounding in benign conditions not warranting an urgency call, instead advisory info to CG till rescue arrived. We seem to have been in the wrong(right) place too often for comfort. However all folk rescued ok without physical injury despite one total vessel loss, and one partial sinking refloated shortly afterwards being towed to safe harbour with four pumps running! Noel

 

[powerskipper]

Hi Julie, I'll pm you later. We've unfortunately had to handle RT for three distress incidents involving other craft (a fire, a sinking vessel, an engine failure lee shore), and an advisory call for another vessels grounding in benign conditions not warranting an urgency call, instead advisory info to CG till rescue arrived. We seem to have been in the wrong(right) place too often for comfort. However all folk rescued ok without physical injury despite one total vessel loss, and one partial sinking refloated shortly afterwards being towed to safe harbour with four pumps running! Noel

look forwards to it, thanks

 

[JerseyDiver]

From this years events. Issuing a pan or mayday unless you need really urgent help could be a hindrance. If you are within range of CG it may be easier to call them and advise of any issues or assistance required. they can issue the mayday or pan on your behalf and also respond to the numerous vessels offering assistance and coordinate that effort.

My event was that the wife onboard the boat with 4 of us diving, unfortunately she wrapped a tarpaulin round the propellor and while using the other engine wrapped that up too. Drifting away from the divers she called the CG on 16 who asked to change unless urgent. She gave position and situation and maintained visual contact and some flag waving to the divers to advise there was a problem.

The CG issued a mayday and had quite a few boats reply which would be overwhelming depending on the scenario if you are trying to deal with other issues.

Hope this helps.