It is important in the proper conduct of rescue and assistance that in the event that you need help on a bareboat yacht charter you can make the appropriate call...If you hear a distress call on a bareboat charter, figure out whether you're close enough to help by writing down the information and computing your relative distance. If you can help, speak on your VHF radio directly to the boat in distress and give your estimated arrival time... If you can't help, stay off the radio.

A 'mayday' call should only be used when there is imminent danger to life... This call is not used in any situation where life is not threatened, so if you are out on a motor yacht charter and your motor stops and cannot be started... but you are drifting safely in a calm sea, a 'mayday' call would not be appropriate and would not be used.

A 'pan-pan' call is for use when an urgent situation arises (pronounced "pahn-pahn"). This would be the correct call when your bareboat is in the situation described above, not threatening life but urgent enough to require assistance.

Silence periods

On long range SSB (Single Side Band) marine radio it is an international procedure to observe silence periods on the distress and calling frequencies, twice in each hour. These periods are of three minutes duration and they start on the hour and on the half hour. Look at this diagram of a clock face.

These periods are observed so that any distress or urgency messages, particularly those that are weak signals, may be heard without any interference from other traffic.

This procedure is not compulsory on VHF marine radio, but knowledgeable radio operators generally remain silent at those times in case a distress call is made, to give it every chance of being heard and understood.

1. Switch on the set and select Channel 16
2. Listen to ensure that no other station is transmitting
3. Depress the press-to-speak switch and say... 'Mayday' three times
4. Say the words... 'this is' and your 'bareboats name' three times.
5. Repeat... 'Mayday' and your 'bareboats name' once
6. Give your bareboat's position either as latitude and longitude, or as a bearing...from a distance off a known geographical point.
7. Give the nature of the distress and the assistance required... Describe the type, colour and any other distinguishing features of your bareboat.
8. Give the number of people on board
9. End the message , the boat's name and call sign and the word..."over".

Release the press-to-speak switch and wait. Repeat if there is no reply within 3 minutes.

Example -

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday",

"This is motor vessel ... Magic, Magic, Magic",

"Mayday... Motor Vessel Magic",

"Position is approximately 500 metres south of Haslewood Island... I am a 40 foot motor cruiser with blue markings. I have had an engine room fire, I am taking water and need immediate assistance".

"I have four persons on board."

"Over"

Sending an urgency 'pan-pan' call
This is used for a very urgent message concerning the safety of a person or the safety of your bareboat... It is not yet a distress situation but may become so.

1. Switch on the set and select Channel 16
2. Listen to ensure that no other station is transmitting
3. Depress the press-to-speak switch and say... 'Pan-Pan' three times
4. Calling anyone listening by using the words... 'all stations' three times
5. Give the bareboats name three times
6. Give your bareboat's position
7. Give the reason for the call and the help needed.
8. End the message with the word 'over'.

Release the press-to-speak switch and wait for a reply.

Example-

"Pan - Pan, Pan - Pan, Pan - Pan",

All stations, all stations, all stations.

"This is motor vessel... Magic, Magic, Magic",

"My position is..........................................

My engines have failed, I am drifting and need a tow urgently.

"Over"

Medical assistance
It may be that a crew member becomes sick on your bareboat sailing charter and you are not sure of the diagnosis. Medical advise can be obtained using the VHF radio by including the word Medico after the words Pan-Pan.

You say Pan-Pan Medico, Pan-Pan Medico... etc. This call is sent exactly the same as for a normal urgency call but is usually addressed to the nearest Coast Guard Station instead of to all stations... After initial contact has been made on Channel 16 you may be asked to change to a less busy working Channel, particularly if there is to be lengthy conversation with a doctor.