2006 Communications Plan

2006 Pacific Cup Yacht Club
Communication Plan.

October 19, 2005

Revised May 17, 2006

Start Line Procedure

  • Starters may check in with Race Committee on VHF 71 prior to their Warning Signal.
  • The Race Committee will monitor VHF 71 from one hour before the first scheduled start until one hour past the last start for the day, or until all starters have passed under the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Racers are strongly advised to monitor VHF 71 while in the vicinity of the starting line and until they have cleared the bridge and, thereafter to monitor VHF 16 at all times.

Daily Roll Call Procedure

0900 PDT Record 0900 Position
0900 PDT

Check-in commences with communication vessel, alphabetic by boat name within division:
1. Double Handed division first
2. Remaining divisions in starting order.
1100 PDT Check-in period ends.
1100 PDT/0800 HST Once the Communications Vessel has finished, roll call will be conducted by KYC starting at 1100 PDT (0800 Hawaiian Time) and finishing at 1300 PDT (1000 HST). The fleet will be given ample notification of this change during a previous Roll Call. (SI 3.2)

 

 

Channel Description
Freq kHz
ITU Channel
Primary Race Comms
4146 (400 miles)
451 (4A)
     
Secondary if primary busy
4417 (400 miles)
453 (4C)
Secondary - long range
8294 (800 miles)
851 (8A)
Secondary - long range
8297 (800 miles)
852 (8B)
Secondary - long range
12353 (1200 miles)
1251 (12A)
Secondary - long range
12356 (1200 miles)
1252 (12B)

Communication Vessels Call sign MMSI
Communications Vessel CAYENNE WCZ6594 369585000
(VHF Only)
To be determined, (emergency use only)  
Backup Communications Vessel BEQUIA WDA6026 366826920

Roll Call Operations

Pacific Cup's roll call is a "controlled net," meaning that the Communications Vessel ("CV") is in charge of the use of the frequency and also that traffic is done somewhat differently than normal two-way communications. Shortly before the roll call, the CV will come on the air and announce the CV's call sign as well as the fact that a controlled net is about to commence.

Roll Call will commence at 0900 PDT, possibly with announcements. We use a simple and highly abbreviated protocol for the roll call. (In emergencies you should use full and proper position reporting).

CV hails: "Blue Duck"
Blue Duck: "Blue Duck at 31 22 by 134 53 (three one, two two by one three four, five three)
CV (confirming position): "Blue Duck, 31 22 by 134 53
Blue Duck: "Roger" (but if incorrect, transmit correction: "Correction! Latitude is 134 degrees 53 minutes.")

Notes:

Emergency and Special Traffic

  • In case of emergency, you may interrupt the net by hailing "Break-Break." The CV will suspend all operations for your emergency traffic and hail you with "Go ahead break." Do not use "Break-Break" for non-emergency traffic.
  • Special Traffic: If you have a message for the CV or another boat, when you report your position add "and I have traffic for (e.g.) Red Dog." The CV will acknowledge and hail you after the roll call.

Roll Call Details

  • Round position to the nearest minute. Give position deliberately and clearly.
  • The CV may request a relay if it can't hear clearly. If CV asks for a relay and you can hear both the CV and the other station, then reply with "(Your Name) Relay" and wait to be acknowledged. The CV can't hear you if several boats broadcast at once. Blue Duck should also stand by if it hears a relay request.
  • If you can't reach the CV via SSB during the roll call, try using VHF 16.
  • During roll call, all vessels must monitor VHF 16 for assistance with possible check-in relays or emergency traffic. Failure to relay is a violation of the Sailing Instructions. It is strongly advised to have VHF 16 on at all times. (See SI 3.2) Cayenne is now equipped with DSC on VHF.
  • After the roll call on 4A, if there are missed boats, CV will try again on 4146 kHz, (4A), and will attempt periodic hails on (8A) and (12A) until 1030 PDT when the check-in period ends. (See SI 3.2, 3.3).

Finishing or Retired

  • Vessels that have completed the 100 mile check-in before 0900 PDT need not participate in the roll call. However, If still on the course you are encouraged to check in, if only to brag, but it is not required.
  • Those that abandon the race are strongly encouraged to continue to check in until they reach port. Your friends and fellow racers may worry otherwise (See SI 3.2 and 3.5 paragraph one)
    .

SailMail and Channel 4B

  • Racers are asked not to use channel 4B for private calls during roll call as sometimes there is interference with 4A.
  • The CV will be using SailMail for transmission of roll call data to race officials and the web page. Except for emergencies do not use SailMail frequencies from 0930 PDT to 1200 PDT. The CV will make a brief announcement on 4A when it has completed its SailMail transmission.

KYC Communication after roll call 1000 to 1100 PDT

KYC will monitor 12353 kHz, (12A), during the early portions (16528 kHz, (16A) alternate) of the race and will then monitor channel 8A, on 8294 kHz after July 9th. This is intended as a status frequency for the Communication Vessel and may be used by competitors to the extent that KYC can be of service. This is not considered an emergency channel or check-in method.

Informal Radio Hour

  • 1700 PDT 4146 kHz, (4A), is reserved for an informal discussion period among the fleet. All are encouraged to participate.
  • The CV may choose to use this period to read back the computed standings and the latest guess as to who is leading in each fleet.
  • The CV may choose to handle traffic from the racers. Other vessels with E-mail capability can also provide this service at their discretion, however rewarding such efforts with the promise of Mai Tai's at Kaneohe is recommended.
  • Be advised that discussions about routing and weather on the course may be considered outside assistance and could lead to another vessel filing a protest.
  • Also be advised that anything discussed during the radio hour may find its way into the awards ceremony, or into the daily reports after the informal radio hour.

Finish Line Procedure (See SI 4.5)

  • 100 mile check-in to KYC. 4146 kHz Hail "KYC Base"
  • 25 miles from finish 4146 kHz Hail "KYC Base"
  • 5 miles from finish VHF 71 Hail "West Marine Pacific Cup Finish"
  • At the finish VHF 71 Hail "West Marine Pacific Cup Finish"
  • After the finish VHF 68 Hail "Escort Vessel"

Any communication from an official of the finish line committee, including navigational advisories offered in the interest of safety, will not be considered outside assistance for the purpose of rule 60.

Emergency Communications

  • The USCG is best equipped to handle a true emergency, contact them on the channels listed below.
  • The communication vessel can provide some assistance, for example relaying traffic or redirecting a nearby yacht. However the communication vessel is not obligated to monitor except during the roll call period.
    EPIRB: If you trigger an EPIRB do not turn it off until the USCG has been notified. If you trigger an automatic or manual distress signal from your SSB and/or VHF radio, whether in an emergency or accidentally, notify the USCG or have someone relay the situation. In years past accidental transmission without USCG notification has resulted in USCG air assets being readied and/or flying continuously over several days in search of a missing vessel that had turned off an EPIRB/DSC signal without a report.
  • Any vessel that is equipped with Satellite telephone equipment and/or Satellite communications equipment should provide the contact information to the Race Committee during the Inspection of the vessel.

Distress Frequencies

The US Coast Guard monitors the following Distress frequencies:

ITU Freq
Station and Schedule (UTC)
Chan kHz
NMC/Pt. Reyes
NMO/Hono
NOJ/Kodiak
450 4125
24 HRS
0600-1800
24 HRS
650 6215
24 HRS
24 HRS
24 HRS
850 8291
24 HRS
24 HRS
on request
1250 12290
24 HRS
1800-0600
on request
1650 16420
on request only
on request only
on request only

Notes:

  • The above table has changed since the last race. The USCG Calling and Distress Watch Schedule for 2005 is now in effect. All racers should check official USCG web sites for possible changes prior to starting the race.
  • Particularly good results have been reported using 4125 kHz at night, which is monitored continuously by USCG Kodiak, Alaska, and 8291 during the day by NMC and NMO
  • These distress channels/frequencies were different in the past. But the latest USCG tables for Calling and Distress Watch Schedule changed them to the above Simplex frequencies to improve response time.
  • Call "Any US Coast Guard station" three times, say "this is", then say your vessel name three times, say latitude-longitude using degrees, minutes and tenths of a minute, and North/South and East/West appropriately, (to facilitate the use of directional antennas), and then say "over". Pause 3-4 seconds for a reply, then repeat. Continue calling for at least two minutes before trying a different frequency.
  • Higher frequencies (12xxx/16xxx kHz) work best during the day, 4, 6 or 8 kHz at night.
  • Always remember to speak slowly and clearly. A quick call may not be heard.
  • The Pacific Seafarers Net http://www.pacsea.org is exceedingly reliable and helpful. They will respond to emergencies even if you do not have a HAM license. They operate from 0300 to 0425 UTC daily on 14.300 MHz.

Weather Information frequencies

Description Rcv Freq kHz USB Schedule
Time is UTC
WWV time standard 5000, 10000, 15000 Continuous
WEFAX Pt Reyes 4346**
8682**
12786**
17151.2**
22527**

Night
Continuous*
Continuous*
Continuous*
Day
WEFAX Hawaii

9982.5**
11090**
16135**

 0533-1630*
Continuous*
1733-0437*

*Note changes to schedule times in accordance with USCG publication
** Note change in frequency in accordance with USCG publication

For access to the full broadcast schedules please go to

http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/ptreyes.shtml for Pt. Reyes and/or,
http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/hawaii.shtml for Hawaii.

These text documents will give you specific transmission times for documents of interest for a safe and fast passage to Hawaii. Highly recommend that you print the latest copies of these documents immediately before the Race.

Appendix for Communications Requirements.

Yachts shall carry a fully charged handheld VHF transceiver designated waterproof by the manufacturer, (unless otherwise modified by the NOR/SI), a permanently installed 25-watt Marine VHF transceiver operable on United States channels and a permanently installed Marine SSB transceiver. The SSB must be equipped and programmed, and the designated operators must have sufficient training to operate on a minimum of the following USB frequencies in kHz:

Use
ITU Channel
Ship Tx
Ship Rx
Mode
Coast Guard Emergency
N/A
2182.0
2182.0
 Simplex
USCG Working
N/A
2670.0
2670.0
 Simplex
USCG Weather
424
4134.0
4426.0
 Duplex
USCG Weather
601
6200.0
6501.0
 Duplex
USCG Weather
816
8240.0
8764.0
 Duplex
USCG Weather
1205
12242.0
13089.0
 Duplex
USCG Weather
1625
16432.0
17314.0
 Duplex
Channel 4S (Distress)
450
4125.0
4125.0
 Simplex
Channel 6S (Distress)
650
6215.0
6215.0
 Simplex
Channel 8S (Distress)
850
8291.0
8291.0
 Simplex
Channel 12S (Distress)
1250
12290.0
12290.0
 Simplex

Channel 16S (Distress)
1650
16420.0
16420.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 4A
451
4146.0
4146.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 4B
452
4149.0
4149.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 4C
453
4417.0
4417.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 6A
651
6224.0
6224.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 6B
652
6227.0
6227.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 8A
851
8294.0
8294.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 8B
852
8297.0
8297.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 12A
1251
12353.0
12353.0
 Simplex
Ship to Ship 12B
1252
12356.0
12356.0
 Simplex

Both the VHF and SSB transceivers shall have permanently installed antennas plus provision for emergency antennas. If the VHF and SSB radios are Digital Selective Calling, (DSC), capable you should have the MMSI number programmed in so that your DSC distress capabilities will work. Each vessel must have a valid FCC Ship Station License.

A minimum of a 500 mile communication must be made and logged between April 1, 2006 and the pre-race inspection to verify the satisfactory operation of SSB equipment. Station KLB is located in Seattle WA. Station KNN is located in Marina Del Ray CA. However, as noted below, KNN is only used in certain circumstances therefore vessels in California are encouraged to use KLB for their radio certification and vessels in the Northwest should contact Gordon West as noted in the next paragraph.

Contact Gordon West at (714) 549 5000, Mon-Fri between 0900 and 1600 to arrange radio checks certified for signal strength and clarity. After making arrangements with "Gordo" regarding time and date you will then be able to contact him on Marine SSB channels 4A/8A/12A. Gordo's call sign is WMD. Gordon also provides FCC Ship Station Licensing service..

The following channels for KLB/KNN should be used:

KLB

Channel
SCF
SCF
ITU
Xmit
Rcv
417
4113
4405
805
8207
8731
1209
12254
13101
1624
16249
17311

Note: Frequencies in kHz (ITU 1209 suggested for daytime)
KLB is monitored 24 hours a day.

KNN

Channel
SCF
SCF
ITU
Xmit
Rcv
416
4110
4402
814
8234
8758
1203
12236
13083
1616
16405
17287
2214
22039
22735

Note: KNN is used only when ShipCom LLC is having trouble hearing a vessel
from Seattle or from WLO Mobile AL.

Prior to the start of the race, in accordance with US Prescriptions to the ISAF Special Regulations 2004--2005, at least 30%, (Minimum of two), of the race crew must participate in onboard training in the use of the communications equipment and EPIRBs. Participating crew shall sign an on board Training Certificate* indicating the completion of this training.

Note: In case of conflict between this plan and the Sailing Instructions or Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions or NOR shall prevail.

Jack McGuire
Chairman, Communications Committee