Suspicious Behaviour

The tragic loss of life concerning a refrigerated trailer is a timely reminder of Project Kraken about tackling maritime border crime around the UK’s mainland coastline.   Unusual or suspicious activity should be reported either online (anonymously, if preferred) or by calling the police on 101 (999 in an emergency).    

Suspicious activity could include:-

1. Boats arriving at unusual times or to isolated locations.
2. People taking an interest in port security or buildings.
3. Nervous crew who show a lack of maritime protocols.
4. People making attempts to signal or guide boats offshore.
5. People making a large cash payment for maritime equipment.
6. People being somewhere they shouldn’t be.
7. Boats showing signs of unusual modification or minor damage.

https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime

Age of Sail

The passing of an era for some, the price of progress for others.
Take a romantic look at this video and wipe the tears from your eyes!

https://youtu.be/TH3HOcRayC8

Southampton VTS

Notice to Mariners (No.14 of 2019) reminds skippers that:-

a) Vessels over 220m LOA transiting between Hook Buoy and Prince Consort Buoy (known as ‘The Precautionary Area’) are entitled to a ‘clear channel’ with unimpeded passage ahead.

b) All vessels over 150m LOA navigating within the area are entitled to a Moving Prohibited Zone (MPZ) extending 1000 metres ahead of the bow and 100 metres either side.

c) Vessels more than 180m LOA shall not pass each other between Hook Buoy and West Bramble Buoy.

d) To indicate the presence of an MPZ vessels over 150m LOA shall display a black cylinder by day and, by night, 3 all-round red lights in a vertical line.

e) Whenever possible a Patrol Launch (VHF Channel 12; Call Sign ‘’SP’’), showing an all-round blue light, will precede all vessels over 150m LOA within the Precautionary Area.

f) Absence of a patrol launch does not invalidate a vessel’s MPZ.

More details, including the effects of flood & ebb tides, can be found at http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/NTMs/2019%20No%2014%20-%20Port%20of%20Southampton%20-%20Precautionary%20Area%20(Thorn%20Channel).pdf

Following on from the club’s recent workshop on safety equipment, more information about the RYA SafeTrx system, replacing the old CG66 service, can be found in the ‘All At Sea’ article via link https://issuu.com/all-at-sea/docs/all_at_sea_september_2019 at page 50.

Also on the RYA website http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/safe-boating/keep-in-touch/Pages/safetrx.aspx#0

Single Side Band (SSB) Radio 

For quite some time, sailing on the ‘high seas’ meant having to use AM radio communication with a range of up to 200 miles, at least until until HAM and SSB radios became more reliable.   

Nowadays, satellite phones are becoming more affordable and able to provide voice, text and email connection anywhere in the world.  When going a long way offshore, using a satphone, inexpensive Iridium GO and a laptop for emails may result in SSB becoming largely redundant.

Join the debate at https://www.bwsailing.com/bw/offshore-communication-comes-of-age-for-the-occasional-passagemaker

Whitbread is back! 

The Ocean Globe Race 2023 retro-event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first fully-crewed Round the World Race of 1973 (sponsored by Whitbread Breweries). 

Only production yachts designed before 1988 of LOA 47-66ft and well proven construction will be eligible.   There will be a maximum of 30 entrants and navigation will be limited to sextant paper plots with no satellite communications.

Starting on 10th September 2023, the race creates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for ordinary sailors to follow the classic four-leg Europe-Africa-Australasia-S America-Europe route with three 2-3 week stopovers.

https://youtu.be/MYzj_kyuWGs

oceangloberace.com

National Coastwatch stations are happy to check AIS transmissions, particularly at the beginning of the sailing season.   

More details can be found at https://www.theca.org.uk/news/rats/ais_checks_2019

Not all stations can monitor AIS so it’s worth checking the NCI website at https://www.nci.org.uk/content/station-map-and-list

Via the NW Passage

Norbert Sedlacek is sailing an ‘Open 60’ yacht to become the first sailor ever to complete a singlehanded, nonstop circumnavigation through all five oceans including both the Arctic and the ‘Southern’ - approximately 34,000nM in around 200 days.

His course takes him through the NW Passage from east to west, then south around Cape Horn and Antarctica in the Southern Ocean to pass Cape Horn a second time before heading north back home to Les Sables d'Olonne.

afloat.ie/sail/offshore/

Know your limits!

A useful reminder from the MOD, available to see on the following website:-

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/

007

Alex Thomson of ‘Hugo Boss’ puts on an amazing show!

Check it out on YouTube:-

https://youtu.be/y4loB_UGxw8