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Nothing on this website or in direct communications received from us, or in our articles in the media, should be construed to mean or imply that offshore voyaging is anything other than potentially hazardous. Dangers such as, but not limited to, extreme weather, cold, ice, lack of help or assistance, gear failure, grounding, and falling overboard could injure or kill you and wreck your boat. Decisions such as, but not limited to, heading offshore, where you go, and how you equip your boat, are yours and yours alone. The information on this web site is based on what has worked for the authors in the past, but that does not mean it will work for you, or that it is the best, or even a good way for you to do things.
The GRIB charts are really useful, not only for the sailor but the recreational aviator (the next best thing to sailing!). Since you introduced the GRIBs on your website, I have used them to get an idea of the low/high areas and wind strengths as they approach Eastern Scotland. Helps in deciding when to fly during the coming week or at least have a chance of getting up in the air.
I would want readers to be aware that all of the above functions (with the possible exception of advancing the boat along course – I will look into that cool function) can be accomplished through SSB connections. Sailmail is the commercial end with a very modest fee and deserves the support John suggested. Airmail/Winlink is the Amateur Radio (Ham) network, is free, has (within a reasonable cruiser’s needs) virtually unlimited download time, and has a huge array of weather downloads (such as weather faxes which often come through much clearer than a direct fax through SSB). With lots of download time (as opposed to Sailmail), download sizes are dictated by propagation quality and the proximity of good land stations. Virtually all my weather needs were met by Winlink for 8 years living aboard. The last couple years internet (Med & Atlantic coast) has become so accessible that the SSB is more relegated to offshore passage use. I have no experience in the very high latitude use of Sailmail/Airmail but there has only been a few days over all the years that I have been unable to get weather because of propagation or other problems. Regular use of SSB also keeps one competent in the event of an emergency. I would like to underline also the accomplishments of Stan Honey & Jim Corenman. It is volunteers such as these who put their minds to a problem that make the cruising community the wonder that it is.
All great tips, thank you. I’m not a Ham and so have no experience with that option, but it sounds great.
One thing I would say, though, is that these days I would be cautious about over reliance on SSB for distress calls, because, since the pretty much universal demise of commercial SSB use, many coast radio stations are no longer listening on 2182. And, even if they are in theory, I’m guessing that the short wave radios get very little attention from the operators because calls on them are so rare. In fact, it would not surprise me if the volume was turned way down on the shore station receiver.
We have been sailing the waters of Northern Norway since June 2011, wintering at 70°N. I am using Winlink/Airmail via my ham radio on a daily basis to download the GRIBs, get emails, and send our position reports with no problems. If I am not able to make contact right away (because of propagation or northern lights) I try again later in the day; it has always worked out so far to get the data, even though I always request the GRIBs for almost the whole northern Atlantic to see what’s coming. All at no cost, except a bit of electricity. Also, there are some very professional working sailing-nets run by ham operators who are happy to provide us with very detailed weather information.
It has been 5 to 6 years since I sailed waters (Central America, Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas, U.S. East Coast) where a call to the USCG was likely to get a response but, when in those waters, once or twice a year I would put out a call on their emergency frequencies (4, 6, 8, 12 megs according to time of day and likely propagation) and I always got a nice polite response. Not carrying a sat phone, the USCG and the Ham Mobile Maritime net (manned many hours a day and monitored almost 24/7 by many Hams) were my 1st attempt at communication. Please note that in an emergency, non-Hams can use the Ham frequency without problem. If the CG has become as lax as you suspect, and I very much hope they have not, then the MM net would be my 1st choice. They are set up to handle emergencies and contact the CG.
BTW, the CG is not most easily contacted on 2 megs. As a safety channel it is relatively useless and this has been recognized for years. Probably a decade ago the CG started monitoring the freqs I mentioned earlier and those are where I reached them with ease. They monitor 2 of those 4 freqs 24/7, changing as propagation changes. I would share the specific freq numbers, but I am concerned about giving out safety data that I have not confirmed for years. They can be easily obtained on their web site.
John, I will share another concern that spins off your reply. I have heard the same comments (among others) repeated by many who shy away from the learning curve of using SSB, marine or Ham, and head off shore with only a Sat Phone. They contend that SSB is outdated and all can be accomplished with a sat phone. Your supposition about the CG turning the volume down, if true, is lamentable and, if not true, may further push those on the fence to reject SSB. In many parts of the world, the best routing and weather data often comes from “amateurs” on SSB. The “party phone” aspects of developing and maintaining a wonderful feel in the cruising community should not be ignored as well as many other advantages to SSB competency.
Hi Dick,
I agree with everything you say and I was not taking a shot at SSB or the the US Coast Guard.
Having said that, there is no denying that SSB is no longer the prime focus of the authorities when it comes to distress calling. In fact, these days, it is standard procedure by both the US and Canadian Coast Guards to ask you for a mobile phone number (cell and/or sat) as part of many communications (this is first hand knowledge).
And, in the event of an EPIRB activation, the rescue coordination centers will try your sat phone if so equipped.
On the other hand, not once in the last 5 years have I had a government station ask me if we were SSB equipped (we are).
Whether we like it or not, Sat Phone is the focus of communications in the future.
And, increasingly, Customs authorities are assuming that you can call them from offshore to arrange clearance, something that, with the demise of coast radio telephone patch services, is not doable (unless you are a Ham) with SSB.