52 BASIC POWERBOATING. SAFETY & RESCUE FOR SAILING INSTRUCTORS


Vessel-to-Vessel Operating Procedures E Switch briefly and listen to working channels to find one that is clear. E Return to Channel 9 or 16. E Call the boat you wish to contact. E Say: (Name of boat being called) This is (your boat’s name and call sign)


E Once contact is made on Channel 9, you must switch to a ship-to-ship channel.


E After communications are completed, each ship must give its call sign and switch to Channel 9 or 16.


Vessel-to-Shore Operating Procedures


The procedures for calling a shore station are the same. However, if the shore station has an assigned operating frequency call them on that frequency instead of Channel 9 or 16.


Distress, Urgency and Safety Calls E Distress calls are transmitted when a vessel or person is threatened by grave or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. The call includes MAYDAY (French pronunciation of “m’aidez,” or “Help me!”) spoken three times; the words, “This is...”; and the call sign (or name, if no call sign assigned) spoken three times, followed by the distress message (remember the three W’s: WHO you are, WHERE you are, and WHAT is your type of distress, situation, and seaworthiness). a Distress signal: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY” a Identify: “This is yacht Lead Balloon, Lead Balloon, Lead Balloon.”


a Position: either a GPS readout of lat/long, DOUBLECHECKED, or “5 nautical miles east of Cape Fear Light.”


a Nature of distress: “Sinking,” “On Fire and Taking Water,” etc. a Assistance required: “Request immediate assistance.” a Number of persons on board: “Two adults on board.” a Any further information: boat length, color and type of vessel, “sending up red parachute flares,” or “activating EPIRB” − anything that may help you to be found or identified.


a “OVER.” Now wait for acknowledgment. If none comes, try again after a minute or so.


E Urgency calls are sent when there is a very urgent message concerning the safety of a vessel, or of some person on board, or within sight, that is not life threatening (such as engine or rudder failure). The signal is PAN-PAN (pronounced pahn) spoken three times. When medical assistance or advice is needed, sometimes the words “pan-pan” are followed by “medico,” creating a “pan- pan-medico” message. The Coast Guard may “patch” you through to a doctor.


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