Interesting situation

[Megwyn 2]

I lodge TR's with CG everytime we go out over the bar. I often don't bother when we are just out for a harbour sail.

 

So once out there (over the bar), I stay in contact with CG, changing channels as we sail up or down the coast.

 

Last Feb, we sailed to GBI. I logged in and out with Waihi Beach, Whangamata, and Whitianga, and then in with Emi at GBI radio. When we left GBI, we logged out with Emi, but did not bother with logging in with Auckland. Three days later, I had a call on my cell from CG asking where we were. Someone had started a check to see were we where. It seems it was someone from Waihi Beach who was concerned that we had not been heard from in some time.

 

I had been updating on fb, and knew everyone who knew us knew exactly were we where. I still do not know who started the process, but I assured CG that we were safe. The man insisted we file a TR every day with CG even if we stayed put.

 

So now I do just that. I let CG Waihi Beach know we will be away for so many days. If longer, I call them from the cell. When in the Cove at GMI though, I cannot call in each day, so I tell them we will be off air for approx so many days and will call them when we leave.

 

Having them follow me up like that really amazed me, and made me feel like such a naughty girl!

 

The Bowentown bar is one which CG requests all vessels log a TR when crossing. Our last crossing was really fun with triple hull surfing down a breaking wave at over 16kts. I only shook for half an hour this time

[ScottiE 173]

16kts - you say?  yeehaa - mast head genne flying, calling the puffs.

 

Hope you wear inflatable pfd's and not life jackets

[grantmc 59]

Have read the thread with interest. Just a comment on third parties that call authorities (such as Wheels friend watching  the facebook page). Recently had a similar experience because the wife (still at home) of one of the crew hadn't received the usual daily phone call. We were cruising slowly around the north west of D'Urville Island and no cell coverage at all. After 2 or 3 days of no contact she became worried and called Coastguard who in turn contacted Police. Much to our surprise, crew of the Lady Liz IV knocked on our cabin door at the entrance to Port Hardy. Whilst they weren't specifically searching for us they still found us.

 

Cell phone coverage is crap in many places not so far away. For most of Cook Strait, for example, I don't get Vodafone coverage. But back to topic. My point is that people back at home (especially when they're not really aware of how difficult it can be to make contact can become worried). I think devices such as GPS trackers will result in far more such calls from worried people 'watching' at home.

 

Last year I did an international trip and one of the crew had a Spot Tracker. Cool I thought and I passed on the details so my family could all watch the trip as it proceeded. And twice a day a new position popped up on their maps. But when I returned home I wondered what might have happened if updates stopped occurring. If it were me watching at home, and one of my family were sailing in the wide open ocean, and no updates arrived then after within a couple of days I would be tearing my hair out with worry. And yet I well know there are many reasons why the updates might stop; flat battery, dropped in the sea, forget to enable it to send, operator error, run out of credit cos the bill wasn't paid. Is out of range still valid? I've no idea. 

[drbob 0]

Once heard a TR being lodged for someone leaving Issie Bay, bound for Motuihe Island.

A couple of years back we were on a mooring and there was big forecast (Predict Wind had run out of colours). There was a little fizzy in the bay too, nice couple. They decided to tie up to a jetty and they tied it and tied it and tied it - a sky crane could've ripped the jetty out of the ground by pulling on the boat.

 

After the blow they eventually got themselves untied and left the bay. Then we heard them make a TR - they were towing the boat from Picton to Havelock, by road

[drbob 0]

the endless racket of pointless TRs on ch80/82 is mind-numbing and spoils a nice sail. 

 

This is why I got a DSC VHF and programmed my MMSI number and those for my friends - I can turn the volume down to zero and still be alerted when a friend is trying to get me (poor cell phone coverage areas). They've selected the channel they want to talk on, so the radio has switched to that channel and sounds a call alarm - that way we don't even add to the noise on the calling channel/s (like 16, 63, etc)

[harrytom 270]

on my last week away I did trs for the simple fact,cell phone coverage by 2 degrees is rubbish in the gulf,my thought being if wife needs to know where are c/g can give them our position. having a 15/13 yr old boys onboard who can sail/start motor etc but really have no idea where we are,still teaching how to read a chart,should anything unexpected happen to me,stroke/heart attack at least c/g know we left position A heading C via B,gives them a starting point.

after lodging tr always tell them listening 16 to cut out chatter.

[ricka 1]

On coastal trips TR with Maritime radio at pre planned times - 30 minutes later wife phones op center at Maritime Radio and speaks with the (often same person that took TR update) to confirm up date has been made. Simple.

[erice 332]

Looks like I better work hard toward owning an EPIRB then.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/parts-accessories/radio-electronics/auction-1020927654.htm

[wheels 375]

Good spotting Watson....i mean erice.

[erice 332]

for brand new 

 

these appearer hard to beat at $315

 

$31.50 a year over the 10 years of the battery 

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/parts-accessories/safety/auction-1021801904.htm

 

i went for a smaller

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/parts-accessories/safety/auction-1023211366.htm

 

2nd hand unit, at great price

 

for boat to boat portability, (even climbing?) and being able to clip on the top of the vest etc

 

but reduced transmit time once activated

 

perhaps if ever used it in fear

 

it'd be best to cycle it off after 5? hours

 

then on for 5? hrs etc