Cheeki Rafiki

[j.sabourn]

#46... Ref. reporting systems. The USA in the 70"s had a reporting system going similar to Australia where vessels had to report in every 6 hours or so when within their jurisdiction. Whether this applied to pleasure craft or not cant remember, but see no reason why it shouldnt. I havent followed this story so dont even know where the wreckage was found. It should by what have read on here be causing more concern than it apparently is or isnt. There could be even be foul play involved unless the authorities are sure of what happened and in which case this should be now public knowledge. There will obviously be an enquiry however by then it will be too late. The old adage worse things happen at sea is very apt at what is or isnt happening here. They seem to have been written off, which is very unusual. People have been known to survive in the water for long periods of time especially when wearing some of the survival gear nowadays that beleive some yachtsmen wear. JS

[Keith Tindell]

Here it is normal to inform the coastguard of your departure point, number of persons on board, eta next destination, and brief description of vessel, this would be normal even if just crossing the channel. Unaware of the USA system, KT

[j.sabourn]

Keith my Nieces husband recently bought an ex Crayfish boat both himself and 2 partners and wives went up to Broome to bring down to Perth. They had all the survey work and certification done properly by a reconized government surveyor. One of them had some sort of pleasure Licence. I was hoping they wouldnt ask me to bring down and they didnt, however I advised them through a third party to get a professional seaman to do. Being all Young (to me) and inexperienced they decided to do. They got as far as Dongara ( Brian will know where that is) went on a reef and got towed into the same port and decided to leave the boat there until the weather improves and came home by bus. The boat will be there until next summer. If they had asked me to do for them I would have automatically informed Canberra of my departure and reported in every 6 hours to same, this is what commercial vessels have to do. I will find out in time whether they did or not. They also I beleive had children on board. The idiocy of some shore people is amazing. If I had brought the boat down for them I could have charged them out of principle, I think the going rate would have been about 800 dollars a day and woud have taken 3 to 4 days depending on weather. I would also not have had unnecessary people on board. Cheers John S

[robpage]

I expect that such experienced yachtsmen as those crewing the Cheeki Rafiki comp-lied with all the regulations , as do most of the responsible yachtsmen I know here , most have RYA certification . and belong to a sailing club . There is a huge crowd of amateur fishermen here on the South Coast who think they are unsinkable . I would like to be out in any seas in a small boat , and fail to understand why , after finding the upturned hull , clearance divers , rather than a swimmer was not sent out . I think -- and am not casting a dispersion , that her Majesty's Navy would have handled things differently , after all it is to the US a foreign boat out of their waters , going from one foreign port to another . I sincerely hope I am wrong

[Captain Kong]

hI John
The American System is AMVER, we used it in ESSO world wide. . very good system.
here it is.............
.
.Amver Reports
The basic format for Amver reports follows the International Maritime Organization (IMO) standard. The first line in every report begins with Amver followed by a slash (/), the report type (SP, PR, DR, FR), and ends with a double slash (//). Each remaining line begins with a specific letter followed by a slash (/) to identify the line type. The remainder of each line contains one or more data fields separated by single slashes (/). Each line ends with a double slash (//). All reports should end with a "Z" end-of-report line.

IMO Standard for Amver Reports

View the various communications methods for sending Amver Reports

Sailing Plan (SP)
This report contains the complete routing information and should be sent within a few hours before departure, upon departure, or within a few hours after departure. It must contain enough information to predict the vessel's actual position within 25 nautical miles at any time during the voyage, assuming the Sailing Plan is followed exactly. Sailing Plans require A, B, E, F, G, I, L, and Z lines. The M, V, X, and Y lines are optional. (The Y line is required for U.S. vessels.)

Sailing Plan Example Submit a Sailing Plan

Position Report (PR)
This report should be sent within 24 hours of departing port and at least once every 48 hours thereafter. The destination should be included (at least in the first few reports) in case Amver has not received the Sailing Plan information. Position Reports require A, B, C, E, F, and Z lines. The I line is strongly recommended. The M, X, and Y lines are optional. (The Y line is required for U.S. vessels.)

Position Report Example Submit a Position Report

Deviation Report (DR)
This report should be sent as soon as any voyage information changes which could affect Amver's ability to accurately predict the vessel's position. Changes in course or speed due to weather, ice, change in destination, diverting to evacuate a sick or injured crewmember, diverting to assist another vessel, or any other deviation from the original Sailing Plan should be reported as soon as possible. Deviation Reports require the A, B, C, E, F, and Z lines. The I and L lines are required if destination or route changes. The I line is always strongly recommended, even when not required. The M, X, and Y lines are optional. (The Y line is required for U.S. vessels.)

Deviation Report Example Submit a Deviation Report

Final Arrival Report (FR)
This report should be sent upon arrival at the port of destination. This report properly terminates the voyage in Amver's computer, ensures the vessel will not appear on an Amver SURPIC until its next voyage, and allows the number of days on plot to be correctly updated. Final Arrival Reports require the A, K, and Z lines. The X and Y lines are optional. (The Y line is required for U.S.

[j.sabourn]

Thanks Brian remember now. Here in Australia is AUSREP. Cheers John S

[j.sabourn]

These Reporting systems served 2 main functions. 1. The authoritys knew where the vessel was at all times . and 2. In the case of another vessel being in difficultys knew the closest vessel to, and could despatch and authorize such vessel to proceed to the assistance of. JS

[John Arton]

A new requirement for Merchant vessels introduced in 2006 is for Long Range Identification and Tracking systems to be fitted whereby Merchant ships of 500 grt and above have to send their position 4 times daily to their flag state. This is usually done automatically via SAT C.
To date there is no international requirement for pleasure craft to do such reporting except that many states will require you to file a sailing plan, the U.K. does.
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

Thanks John. If I remember correctly the distance from Broome to Fremantle is the best part of 1000 nautical miles. On a sea passage I would not consider that a passage for amateurs to make, their experience was going out of the harbour on fishing trips. The currents that run down the coast are predominantly North to South with the usual anti currents to keep out of. I imagine the reef they went ashore on was below sea level so probably didnt know was there. Fuel capacity dont know but should magine may have had to have reserves in 40 gallon drums on deck. These working boats are manned normally by professional fisherman properly licensed, but in this case they had converted for pleasure even having a spa bath onboard, so did not legally have to have a proper licence on board. Maybe the thought of paying someone to do the job would have proved cheaper in the long run. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

It is quite amazing how things are now when you consider how the Maori arrived in New Zealand. They came about 900 years ago in small wodden boats with square sails. It is believed they would travel 50 nautical miles at a time and if no land found would go back using the wind and tide to do so. They originate from south sea islands to the north and over a number fo years it is thought they continued the search until confident enough to make it to NZ. They only had stars and the sun to guide them.
Good mate of mine does ocean sailing and did the Osaka to Melbourne two handed on a yacht that normaly has a crew of 12.