Vhf or mobile phone, that is the question again and again and again........

[Pikey Dave]

https://www.facebook.com/MCA/posts/1497950273576083

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

https://www.facebook.com/MCA/posts/1497950273576083

Lost power and radio comms.... so sounds like he had both?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Poly

Lost power and radio comms.... so sounds like he had both?

True, & ironically it was the much maligned mobile that ultimately saved him. I think the point the MCA is making, is that had he been prepared & had well maintained proper kit I.e. A functional VHF, his rescue would have been quicker & easier.

[rnwright1969]

It's a 'good news' story insofar as no-one was injured, the question is how many means of calling for aid should you have?
Obviously they should be in good working order, that is a given but should you take a little, battery operated hand-held VHF to augment your main VHF? If I am diving then I have an EPIRB nailed onto my kit...years of deep mid-channel stuff means that I always carry one.
As an aside there has been a replacement mast installed at Seahouses a couple of weeks ago which has significantly improved reception, although there is still a bad spot on the outside of North Wamses, perhaps he was lucky that this upgrade has recently taken place!

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

True, & ironically it was the much maligned mobile that ultimately saved him. I think the point the MCA is making, is that had he been prepared & had well maintained proper kit I.e. A functional VHF, his rescue would have been quicker & easier.

VHF certantly has more ears than the mobile is the point they make my mobile is crap on land in my house so relying on it at sea isn't an option for me OMO

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

VHF certantly has more ears than the mobile is the point they make my mobile is crap on land in my house so relying on it at sea isn't an option for me OMO

[emoji106]I liken using a mobile to whispering to one person, whereas using a VHF is shouting from the rooftops.

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

VHF certantly has more ears than the mobile is the point they make my mobile is crap on land in my house so relying on it at sea isn't an option for me OMO

Oddly they work much better in some areas get 3G in the middle of the Bristol Channel I Don't get that in the house.

[lakelandterrier]

Sounds like he did have a fixed vhf but no battery, the mobile was the back up, not as if he had no comms. Isn't that when a flare can be used if in distress?.

I wonder how many yachties carry a hh vhf as well as fixed units?

Not sure I'd be out today with aftermath of the storm still making itself known unless it missed the NE

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Sounds like he did have a fixed vhf but no battery, the mobile was the back up, not as if he had no comms. Isn't that when a flare can be used if in distress?.

Who was going to see and report a flare? More use when CG tell other craft in the area that they want assistance locating someone.

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I wonder how many yachties carry a hh vhf as well as fixed units?

Quite a lot. Only recently have Fixed VHFs lent themselves to use from the cockpit (waterproof, RAM mount options). So most Fixed VHFs on yachts are still at the 'chart table' - so they often have a HH for use in the cockpit for talking to marina's etc when you probably wouldn't want to leave the cockpit to say "can you open the lock gate"

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Not sure I'd be out today with aftermath of the storm still making itself known unless it missed the NE

May not have been AS strong as elsewhere. But >60MPH

[Iron Dials]

There is some guidance from the people who have to go find people on the water.

https://twitter.com/RNLI/status/920628078585499651