Mayday calls

[Sailm8]

I agree about cell phone 10 miles offshore but in our area the CG station that answers our calls is in Tampa. I feel like a faster response will be obtained from my local services when I can contact them. Since the majority of us are coastal sailors or sail in local protected waters a cell phone for me would be a first choice. Obviously if you are out of range, cell will not work and just as obviously you will have or should have, the appropriate technology for the situation.

 

[Joe]

It is much more likely that there is nobody monitoring a VHF. A cell phone call to the Mt. Arlington, Jefferson or State Police would give us instantaneous response.

That must be peculiar to inland lakes... probably why one of my Arkansas cousin's $40,000 bass boat has every electronic device but a VHF. Around here, of course, the lifeguard service, harbor police, coast guard, Navy, marina offices and all vessel assist operators monitor channel 16. The laminated cards with VHF emergency operating instructions are very common so there's no excuse not to have one. That could be a very good promotional item for SBO to offer.... make the price under $5.00 an it's a winner.

 

[higgs]

On the Great Lakes someone will pick up your VHF. The CG has towers that pretty much cover everything. A mayday certainly gets their attention pronto. I was in the BVI and a guy on board was having chest pains, but was in no immediate danger. I did a pan pan, but got no response so switched to a mayday and immediately got the CG in Puerto Rico who contacted the BVI rescue team.

 

[Mitch]

I too have a card by my radio. Sorry no picture but looks something like this:


MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY OUR POSITION IS

_____________________________NORTH LATITUDE

_____________________________WEST LONGITUDE

I WILL REPEAT

MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY OUR POSITION IS

_____________________________NORTH LATITUDE

_____________________________WEST LONGITUDE

THIS IS THE SAILING VESSEL GALILEO.

OUR EMERGENCY IS: (STATE NATURE, FIRE, SINKING, MEDICAL)

**********REPEAT THE ABOVE***********
After repeating, release button on microphone
And wait for a response.

Answer all questions the BEST YOU CAN.

I was told by a 40 year CG captain veteran that your position should come after the mayday. He explained that you may have 60 seconds before you sink or your engulfed in flames. At least your position will start the ball rolling while listen for more info. Mine is lamitaded also and a grease pencil allows me to write in the LAT and LONG every half hour in case someone on board cannot read the charts or GPS unit. I am going to get one of those underwater chalkboards so I can write info at the helm then velcro it by the nav station with other info that may change.

 

[kenn]

Our 19' trailerable boat came with a good VHF radio and masthead antenna, but if it hadn't, those would have been part of the first shopping trip.

On the Great Lakes, VHF is just about a given. A cell phone can't hurt either.

 

[higgs]

My understanding is that cell phones have a GPS chip in them that allows authorities to pinpoint your position. I believe this was required via legislation.

 

[Joe]

My understanding is that cell phones have a GPS chip in them that allows authorities to pinpoint your position. I believe this was required via legislation.

Doesn't the cell phone need to be ina a covered area for that to work?

 

[Allan Frey]

I have the radio on the pedestal at the wheel and the following I made up as a laminated card affixed to the pedestal by the wheel. Also, for new people, I have them use the radio at low power with a few words at a talk frequency while I respond with a handheld from down the dock.

Allan
If in immediate danger

Press “find ship” on chartplotter
Set radio on channel 16 and say
Mayday, mayday, mayday
This is Kokopeli, Kokopeli
We are located at latitude ..., longitude ...
Our problem is ....
Number of people aboard is ...
We are a 38 ft sailboat with a white hull
Mayday, mayday, mayday
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Calling channels: 16, 9
Discussion channels: 68, 69, 71, 72, 78
Bridges, pilots, skippers: 13

 

[rpwillia]

One more option

Most of the newer VHF radios have Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and can accommodate an input from the GPS. If so, then all the crew has to do is lift the little plastic cover and hit the red button. Boat ID, latitude, longitude and time go out in a digital encoded message leaving no doubt who you are and where you are. Much easier to remember and pretty simple to set up.

A lot of the new handhelds now have GPS built in so I expect they would work about the same. Here is a picture of mine.

Note: I added labels because PaulJ really likes labels.