How to Sail a Sailboat : How to Call an SOS on a Sailboat

Learn how to properly call for an SOS on a sailboat with expert boating tips in this free video clip on sailing.

Expert: Kelli Gant, Steve Damm, Ed Polkenhorn
Bio: Steve Damm has raced in the America's Cup, round the world races and won Olympic gold medals. He now teaches beginning sailing.
Filmmaker: Bing Hu

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• extreme
• sports
• sailing
• ships
• sailboats
• racing
• knots
• wind
• waves
• ocean
• water

[morse778]

UK Coastguard did keep a dedicated watch on ch16 but now do not have a dedicated watch keeper for this channel. You can still call on 16 and it will probably get a response however it should not be relied on now, the preferred method of contact is DSC.

[CaptainVasily]

@morse778 : Nonsense. The Coast Guard always monitors 16. 16 is the international hailing and distress frequency. DSC is valuable because it automates distress calls, ship to ship calls, vessel ID and position reporting.

[cstall13]

Thanks for the effort. This is terrible instruction in VHF operation. If you have to make a call to the Coast Guard you don't give up or wait one minute. Yes, calling your friends on ch16 over and over is really annoying to everyone. Want to see how to send a proper SOS? Check out towboat911's postings.  This young man did a great job.

[cstall13]

Thanks for the effort. This is terrible instruction in VHF operation. If you have to make a call to the Coast Guard you don't give up or wait one minute. Yes, calling your friends on ch16 over and over is really annoying to everyone. Want to see how to send a proper SOS? Check out towboat911's postings.

[ozskipper]

3min10sec. You dont just give up a call !! You say "nothing heard from Vessel/coastguard. Santorini clear" and "standing by" if you are going to continue monitoring the channel. This way other stations know that the frequency is clear. She also didnt mention the Silence Periods. 3mins at the top and bottom of the hour to allow weaker signals to get through in an emergency. This is far from expert knowledge and there are so many features that NoONE should try and learn VHF from a vid like this.

[Localmode]

So.....my vessel is sinking and I can't raise the Coast Guard right away, so I should quit bugging them?

[Fussinated]

@MIRCWOOD Ch 16 is a universal channel. You have one radio and it is tuned to Ch 16. You can call your friend and then you arrange another channel then you can talk. Otherwise, you should have two radios one is fixed on 16 and the other is everything else. Since that wouldn't be practical, everyone use the Ch16 to make contact and carry over to another channel because you can't chit chat on Ch 16.

[MIRCWOOD]

Did she say you can call your friend in another boat on ch 16? Very confusing video..

[johncoktostone]

USCG monitors 16 in SoCal, so I don't know if that comment is maybe valid for another specific region. Radio operations are the most overlooked / unaddressed topics in cruising and sailing courses.

[morse778]

Furthermore, near the end of your video you say that if there is no response to you calling another station then you give up, so as not to keep bugging people. This isn't good practice. It may be that the station you are calling is replying and you have a problem with your radio. It would be advisable to transmit a message of '(Name of station you are calling) Nothing heard. Out'.