VHS Protoca

[davidpm]

What is the proper Protocol in these two situations:

It's in the dark and someone is closing slowly on your stern (overtaking). You have reason to expect they don't see you.
Now if I knew the name of the boat was "clipper" for example I would say:

Clipper, Clipper, Clipper this is Dead Duck please back off from my stern.
Or maybe depending on how fast he was going:
Clipper, Clipper, Clipper this is Dead Duck
When he responds I would say
Switch to channel 68
Then read him the riot act.

But of course I don't know the boats name so saying:
Idiot riding my stern in white sloop fooling with your spinnaker and not looking where you are going, Idiot riding my stern in white sloop,Idiot riding my stern in white sloop this is dead duck"
Is probably frowned upon.
So what is the proper way to phase the call?

Of course their is the horn !!

#2
I'm at N41 degrees 09.26 minutes and W072 degrees and 30.41 minutes.
If I have to report this location what is the official way to phrase a lat and long?

As CG guy answered this one a few days ago but I can't find the post.

[jimmalkin]

In like situations, I get on 16 with something like: "sailing/motoring/whatever vessel eastbound off of Sandy Hook, this is the sailboat 200 feet off your bow." If no response, I'd do it once more, then on 13, then on 9. If no response and they are gaining on me with no indication that they have altered course to avoid me, I'd get on the horn and shine a light on my sails or hull. If still no response, I turn 90, sound the appropriate horn signal and get away from the deaf/blind SOB.

[JohnRPollard]

In situation #1, I wouldn't waste time on the VHF, especially not knowing if they're even monitoring. I would instead employ visual and sound signals to make my presence clearly known.

[nk235]

Not sure of the exact protocol but if he was very close I would switch my VHF to low mode, that way I wouldnt have to worry about other boats further away replying. I would then hail the following vessel trying to describe their boat the best you can in a short concise manner. Maybe saying sometihing along the lines of , "Hailing large white center cockpit ketch flying rainbow spinaker," this is (your boats name).


If I were on that boat and had the radio on to the channel you are broadcasting and heard that description two or three times I would at least answer back even if I wasn't 100% sure they were talking about the boat I was on.

I think the biggest problem is that not everyone has the radio on to the proper channel or if they are on deck wrestling the sails they won't hear your call over the radio. If I were you I would keep trying on the radio but also change your own course even though they are the ones overtaking you. If you didn't and they did hit you, yeah you would prob be the right of way boat but your boat would still be all f'ed up.

[speciald]

Best to shine a light on your sail to make yourself more visible. Dependent on the size of the approaching vessal, an AIS reciever may help to identify the boat and allow you to call her by name. The FCC will eventually approve class B AIS for smaller vessals (less Than 65 ft).

[Karletto]

use your horn, flashlight, whistle (all 5x short), scream.
on the radio you usually say the position in degrees, minutes and seconds with west/ north on the end. but saying the position through the radio usually doesn't make the effect you would like. he doesn't have the chart/ the chart is lost in the cabin/ it's dark/ doesn't know to read etc
to pull up the sail could be an option too -> you make yourself more visible

[davidpm]

Thanks for the comments.
What about this part?
#2
I'm at N41 degrees 09.26 minutes and W072 degrees and 30.41 minutes.
If I have to report this location what is the official way to phrase a lat and long?

How about North,four,one degrees zero,niner,point,two,six minutes
West, zero, seven, two degrees, three,zero point four, one, minutes

I'm pretty sure they don't want fortyone.
I'm pretty sure they want minutes but not seconds.
Not sure though

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by davidpm

Thanks for the comments.
What about this part?
#2
I'm at N41 degrees 09.26 minutes and W072 degrees and 30.41 minutes.
If I have to report this location what is the official way to phrase a lat and long?

How about North,four,one degrees zero,niner,point,two,six minutes
West, zero, seven, two degrees, three,zero point four, one, minutes

I'm pretty sure they don't want fortyone.
I'm pretty sure they want minutes but not seconds.
Not sure though

I think your radio example would be essentially correct though I suspect the CG follows the military protocol and uses the pronuciations below:

1 = wun
3 = tree
4 = fo-wer
5= fife