I have to make this short but will follow up with more details soon However, I need to get this out to all just incase you are heading that way. I have over 45years of sailing and this is the first for me.
1. Planed trip to RYE NH from Rockport ME. with one stop at Southport, ME at Newagen inn.
2. Arrived 3:00pm at Harbor and proceeded into channel and went up on rocks at the mouth of the channel. Chart Garmin did show 12-18ft. at low tide so thought I was safe. verified with active Capt. all good. NOT.
3. On my Standard Horizon 2016 new radio I set off my DSC for help no response from USCG
4. Called hotel and asked them to contact USCG to give my cell number to them. Had little time so MAYDAY radio for me was not an option under the circumstances I was In. Tide was High going to low. It had dropped 1.5 feet already. Rocks were about 2 feet below and knew I had to get of now or waves would destroy my vessel.
A working vessel showed up with 6 people on board and threw them my main halyard and it worked, forcing the bow to downward position and lifting the stern in the air pulled me free with some damage to keel and rudder but still functioning properly.
5. USCG did call me and was very supportive to the situations. However, The Capt. did tell me that they did not receive my distress call. This had me very concerned because why did it not work? I ran a loopback test and it works fine. Proceeded wile they were on the phone... no DCS. My mmsi is good too. I will never trust that one button does all again.
CH16 MayDay is for me.
Again, this is the short version and will repost full after a bit.. Capt. Rob StarGazer II
1. Planed trip to RYE NH from Rockport ME. with one stop at Southport, ME at Newagen inn.
2. Arrived 3:00pm at Harbor and proceeded into channel and went up on rocks at the mouth of the channel. Chart Garmin did show 12-18ft. at low tide so thought I was safe. verified with active Capt. all good. NOT.
3. On my Standard Horizon 2016 new radio I set off my DSC for help no response from USCG
4. Called hotel and asked them to contact USCG to give my cell number to them. Had little time so MAYDAY radio for me was not an option under the circumstances I was In. Tide was High going to low. It had dropped 1.5 feet already. Rocks were about 2 feet below and knew I had to get of now or waves would destroy my vessel.
A working vessel showed up with 6 people on board and threw them my main halyard and it worked, forcing the bow to downward position and lifting the stern in the air pulled me free with some damage to keel and rudder but still functioning properly.
5. USCG did call me and was very supportive to the situations. However, The Capt. did tell me that they did not receive my distress call. This had me very concerned because why did it not work? I ran a loopback test and it works fine. Proceeded wile they were on the phone... no DCS. My mmsi is good too. I will never trust that one button does all again.
CH16 MayDay is for me.
Again, this is the short version and will repost full after a bit.. Capt. Rob StarGazer II