Excitment in Torbay Today

[lakelandterrier]

Was bouncing around in Eastern Torbay today after binning a run to Salcombe as there was was a nasty westerly sea buiding past Berry Head, when heard on Ch16 a 28ft boat had lost all power "near the Oarstone about a mile from Torquay".

Being quite close, I responded, but could not reconcile the boat's position with the reported postion - no Lat /Long given. Atyer originally heading in the wrong direction -following their DR postion and seeing nothing - it was quite choppy and very few boats were - out I looped round and saw a a boat wallowing about 1.5 miles away on a line to Berry Head some way from reported position. On closing I ascertained this was the disabled boat and reported it's actual postion to Solent Coastguard, then stood by until Torbay Lifeboat was tasked and arrived on scene.

A few takes from this:
1. The importance of keeping active listening watch on Ch16
2. Being able to report a postion accurately (plotter/GPS)- the vessel in distress was not where it has reported itself to be and had not reported Lat/Long
3. Being aware a vessel may not be where it says it is
4. Being a stand-by vessel - even if not able to take in tow - to ensure comms with Coastguard and reassure the casualty vessel is valuable
5. Know how your radio works - the casualty did not know how to keep dual watch on CH 16/67 - also being competent on voice procedure/ confidence to use your radio
6. Carrying adequate anchor line: the vessel was in 50 ft-ish of water and could, not anchor as it it only carried 50'of anchor chain / line - That's OK for less than 20' of water.
7. The appearance of a Severn Class lifeboat powering toward you is quite impressive
Tow quickly passed and casulty towed to Brixham, so all good
Made for an interesting hour
However....it could be me tomorrow with no power so always worth evaluating the experience.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Good result and a bit of learning thrown in for you too you never know as you say well done

[The Black Pig]

All Important points and good if a vessel is nearby to relay messages if not whithin earshot of the coastguard

[nw04jen]

Well done - so reassuring that people out there do respond when others in trouble. Does the DSC button not transmit position?

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by nw04jen

Well done - so reassuring that people out there do respond when others in trouble. Does the DSC button not transmit position?

It goes but how I get my radio to use it as a way point and navigate there

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by nw04jen

Well done - so reassuring that people out there do respond when others in trouble. Does the DSC button not transmit position?

Not always. Older DSC units would only transmit position if they had a position input. An awful lot of people installed DSC VHFs in their boats but never networked them with the GPS unit meaning there was no position available in the event you hit the big red button. Standards for new DSC units have now changed and they must now contain their own independent GPS receiver, meaning any VHF DSC you now buy (unless its old stock from years ago) will transmit its position without any other input.

[CherMac]

"The appearance of a Severn Class lifeboat powering toward you is quite impressive."


Indeed!

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by nw04jen

Does the DSC button not transmit position?

The original call was a straight radio voice call to Solent caostguard, not a DSC distress call. I was able to really the exact position by voice as it's quicker and clearer to anyone listening in.

To be honest I find receiving DSC a pain in a small open rib - trying to read / clear all the alerts - many of which are of no interest at all. For most traffic I find voice easier.

That said it is great if you do need to send a distress call, but still needs to followed up with voice and more detail.

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by nw04jen

Well done - so reassuring that people out there do respond when others in trouble.

I'd hope and expect that to be the normal reaction from any responsible mariner- that
1) people do keep listening watch on CH16,
and
2) if close to an incident, other boats try to render assistance or at least stand by if they are able to with putting themselves in danger

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I'd hope and expect that to be the normal reaction from any responsible mariner- that

1) people do keep listening watch on CH16,

and

2) if close to an incident, other boats try to render assistance or at least stand by if they are able to with putting themselves in danger

Indeed, AFAIK it’s a legal requirement.

[CherMac]

You are truly a great person!

[Obsidian]

Really interesting account and good points too!

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Indeed, AFAIK it’s a legal requirement.

Regulation 33 of SOLAS (which applies to everyone on here)

Distress Situations: Obligations and procedures

1. The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance on receiving information from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so. This obligation to provide assistance applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found. If the ship receiving the distress alert is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to their assistance, the master must enter in the log-book the reason for failing to proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress, taking into account the recommendation of the Organization, to inform the appropriate search and rescue service accordingly.

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by CherMac

You are truly a great person!

Thank you, but no, I'm not a great person, just an ordinary person doing the right thing. There's nothing "great" about trying to assist a fellow mariner in difficulty....it's our obligation and moral duty as long as it does not put ourseleves / crews in undue danger.

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Was bouncing around in Eastern Torbay today after binning a run to Salcombe as there was was a nasty westerly sea buiding past Berry Head, when heard on Ch16 a 28ft boat had lost all power "near the Oarstone about a mile from Torquay".

Being quite close, I responded, but could not reconcile the boat's position with the reported postion - no Lat /Long given. Atyer originally heading in the wrong direction -following their DR postion and seeing nothing - it was quite choppy and very few boats were - out I looped round and saw a a boat wallowing about 1.5 miles away on a line to Berry Head some way from reported position. On closing I ascertained this was the disabled boat and reported it's actual postion to Solent Coastguard, then stood by until Torbay Lifeboat was tasked and arrived on scene.

A few takes from this:
1. The importance of keeping active listening watch on Ch16
2. Being able to report a postion accurately (plotter/GPS)- the vessel in distress was not where it has reported itself to be and had not reported Lat/Long
3. Being aware a vessel may not be where it says it is
4. Being a stand-by vessel - even if not able to take in tow - to ensure comms with Coastguard and reassure the casualty vessel is valuable
5. Know how your radio works - the casualty did not know how to keep dual watch on CH 16/67 - also being competent on voice procedure/ confidence to use your radio
6. Carrying adequate anchor line: the vessel was in 50 ft-ish of water and could, not anchor as it it only carried 50'of anchor chain / line - That's OK for less than 20' of water.
7. The appearance of a Severn Class lifeboat powering toward you is quite impressive
Tow quickly passed and casulty towed to Brixham, so all good
Made for an interesting hour
However....it could be me tomorrow with no power so always worth evaluating the experience.

It happens a lot this time of the year, mostly boats that arefirst time out in the season and using last year's fuel !


It is these situations where AIS fits in perfectly !


However, my AIS is always on (I never bother to run silent), and I have been called by the coastguard a few times to respond to another boat in trouble as the CG can see my position, which can be a PITA.


Having been banned from the boat for a few weeks due to a stubborn UTI, followed by COVID (don't ask, I caught COVID at my surgery), my last time out was in late January, and I was called to assist a 28ft boat with a broken timing belt !. I was fishing the wrecks and the boat was about 5 miles from me. Being in 220ft the anchor was not really an option, so I took it in tow and headed slowly into the wind to hold position until the orange and blue tug turned up.

[CherMac]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Thank you, but no, I'm not a great person, just an ordinary person doing the right thing. There's nothing "great" about trying to assist a fellow mariner in difficulty....it's our obligation and moral duty as long as it does not put ourseleves / crews in undue danger.

And modest too!

[ribraff]

May I ask why you couldn’t take the boat in tow?

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by ribraff

May I ask why you couldn’t take the boat in tow?

Fair question, but why would I?

Basically I was single handed, the other boat was significantly larger / heavier, and was not in actual danger - lots of sea room and it was quite lumpy.

Had the other vessel been standing into danger, of course I would have passed a tow and tried to keep it safe and I do carry the lines t do this, but it wasn't necessary.

If i had taken on tow, it would have been a very slow pull across Torbay, and I wouldn't have had the power / ability to manovere a boat that size safely to a berth.

I have towed other RIBs of similiar / larger size considerable distances - e.g. Start Point to Salcombe in seas, so have the ability / confidence, but the other boat was much larger than me.

My judgement was better to stand by and wait for a better solution than pass and manage a tow single handed in that situation putting an unnecessary strain on my A-Frame / engine.

Others may have done differently, and if I was in an 8m boat with a 300HP and crew I may have been keener to tow the other vessel in myself.

[Obsidian]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Fair question, but why would I?

Basically I was single handed, the other boat was significantly larger / heavier, and was not in actual danger - lots of sea room and it was quite lumpy

I reckon that shows great judgement, why risk making the situation less optimal for no real gain to anyone

[Jon Tallis]

Originally Posted by Obsidian

I reckon that shows great judgement, why risk making the situation less optimal for no real gain to anyone

Ditto that. Recon the OP's judgement was spot on. It's always tempting to wade on in but the last thing the cavalry need when they turn up is an extra casualty to deal with