POSSE PERK Benefit from the latest information and Free Seminars on destinations
POSSE PERK:
Benefit From the Latest Information and Free Seminars on Destinations
THE KICK OFF EVENT IN BARRA DE NAVIDAD IS THIS WEEKEND. PARTICIPANTS ARE BENEFITTING FROM A HOST OF SEMINARS TO CHOOSE FROM.
For cruisers that are unable to attend the kick off event, there are virtual opportunities to learn from other webinars available this week from the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch of the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service in Miami, Florida, USA
Please join us next week for a pair of webinars on Forecast Products and Services provided by the National Weather Service's Ocean Prediction Center and Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch. The webinars will be held Thursday, December 12th, and Friday, December 13th, at 1pm EDT.
For Atlantic forecasts N of 31N (30N in the Eastern Pacific):
Please register for Blue Water Mariners - OPC Products and Services on Dec 12, 2024 1:00 PM EST at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6899628322383892311
For S of 31N / 30N:
Please register for Blue Water Mariners - TAFB Products and Services on Dec 13, 2024 1:00 PM EST at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6374980956027722073
BOCAS DEL TORO ANCHORING ALERT
BOCAS DEL TORO ANCHORING ALERT
SV MAISON DE SANTE spent hurricane season in Bocas Del Toro. They have a finger on the pulse there and share new restrictions that affect the anchorage in Bocas del Toro outside Red Frog Marina.
ATTENTION: Starting December 6, 2024, boats are NO longer able to anchor outside Red Frog Marina in Bocas Del Toro, Panama or they may be subject to $250-$300 fine by the Armada. All boats who were in the anchorage were told to leave by the Armada yesterday. I confirmed this with both a boat who was in the anchorage as well as a marina resident. The exact circumstances that led to this decision are unknown at this time.
SY MAISON DE SANTÉ 🇺🇸 Nicole & Keenan - Cal 46'
LA PAZ, MEXICO RESOURCE GUIDE
LA PAZ, MEXICO RESOURCE GUIDE
FROM THE CRUISERS HUB AT CLUB CRUCEROS
La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is a major stop for cruisers and a gateway to the Sea of Cortez. About 50 nautical miles from Bahía de Los Muertos, La Paz offers several marinas, boatyards, and provisioning options. The city is known for its vibrant culture, murals big and small, great restaurants, and long Malecon (waterfront promenade). There are numerous anchorages around La Paz, such as Bahía Falsa and El Mogote, but the currents can be tricky, so mariners need to be careful. The anchorage in La Paz proper is noted by many to have what people call, "the La Paz Waltz" because the boats seem to dance around their anchor and one another throughout the day.
Ashore, cruisers find a welcome dinghy dock and cruisers hub at Marina La Paz. The cruisers hub is called Club Cruceros. The club hosts morning coffee, tends a 'give and take' library, and most notably, maintains a La Paz Cruisers Guide. This guide is kept up to date by resident long time cruisers. For all mariners planning a stop in La Paz, this resource is free and available in pdf form here: https://www.clubcruceros.net/Cruiser_Guide.pdf?
Using this guide, the city is made very accessible.
The art and murals throughout the city add to the beauty and whimsy of the visit.
COOKIES AND FARADAY CAGES
COOKIES AND FARADAY CAGES
*Seasonal Provisioning Tip*
This time of year you can get huge packages of food (cookies, chocolates, crackers) in special seasonal ‘cookie tins’. We on SV AVANT go crazy and stock up on them.
We keep the tins to use as faraday cages (store smaller portable electronics in them to protect them from the effects of a nearby lightning strike).
BONUS: Consumption of the contents can improve morale, as well.
SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5
TURNING WASTE INTO OPPORTUNITY AT FINCA HAMBURGO CHIAPAS, MEXICO
TURNING WASTE INTO OPPORTUNITY
FINCA HAMBURGO, CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Re-Creativa Sustentable Finca Hamburgo
At Re-Creativa, we are more than just a recycling project—we are a community of six women from Finca Hamburgo, deeply committed to turning waste into opportunity. What started as a simple idea has grown into a powerful initiative where we transform plastic waste into beautiful, functional products. Not only are we making a positive impact on the environment, but we are also creating economic opportunities for ourselves and other women in rural communities, right here in the heart of Chiapas, Mexico.
Our Journey to Sustainability
Living in the lush mountains of Chiapas, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, we’ve seen firsthand the challenges posed by plastic waste. There is little infrastructure here for waste management, and much of the plastic ends up in rivers or lands in open dumps, damaging our environment. We knew something had to change.
That’s when we teamed up with In Mocean and Finca Hamburgo, our home. Finca Hamburgo is a historic coffee farm in the heart of Chiapas, and it became the perfect foundation for us to build something meaningful. Together, we began the journey to create a space where we could recycle plastic waste and turn it into useful, sell'able products—helping the planet and creating opportunities for our community.
Transforming Plastic into Creativity
It all started with a workshop. Nike, a passionate sailor and founder of In Mocean, reached out to us and offered to lead an introductory workshop at Finca Hamburgo. We invited women and children from the community to join, and together we learned how to make simple drafts from shredded plastic. Over two days, the idea of Re-Creativa started to take shape. We realized we could turn plastic waste into something more—something creative, useful, and impactful.
From that moment on, we knew we had to build something lasting: a community-led recycling workspace where we could create, learn, and contribute to a cleaner, greener future.
Setting Up Our Workspace
With support from In Mocean, the REESE Gruppe, and generous donors, we received the equipment we needed—machines like a shredder and an extruder. Just two weeks after our first workshop, Nike and Maria (co-founder of In Mocean) returned to Finca Hamburgo, and we got to work. We learned how to operate the machines, sort plastics, and use our creativity to make products that would not only help the environment but also generate income.
Our first creations were colorful earrings made from shredded plastic. We quickly began to experiment, crafting bowls and beams using the extruder. But it wasn’t just about making things—it was about learning how to run our new workspace as a small business. We discussed how to generate income, market our products, and sustain this new venture for the long term.
Early Successes and Growing Together
As we took ownership of Re-Creativa, we named our workspace and even designed our logo. We set up an Instagram account to showcase our creations, and soon, the sales started rolling in. The money we earned helped support our families and fueled our passion for the project. With each new product, we saw our skills grow, and we began working on a new goal: our first prototype for a chair made from recycled beams.
What makes Re-Creativa so special is the sense of community we’ve built together. We are no longer just recycling plastic—we are creating something bigger than ourselves. The bond we share as we work, learn, and grow together is the heart of this project. We’ve even begun hosting workshops in schools and cultural centers in Tapachula, sharing our journey and encouraging others to join the movement.
A Beacon of Sustainable Change
For us, Re-Creativa is more than just a workspace—it’s a beacon of hope. It shows that even small, simple actions can lead to big changes. By turning waste into valuable products, we’re not only helping the environment, but we’re also creating opportunities, building a sense of community, and inspiring others to act.
As we continue to grow, we are more determined than ever to transform waste into creativity, opportunity, and empowerment. We know that this is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see where this journey takes us.
Join Us for a Recycling Workshop and Visit Finca Hamburgo
We’d love for you to come and visit us at Finca Hamburgo. Experience the beauty of our home and see firsthand the work we’re doing at Re-Creativa. Join us for a hands-on recycling workshop, where you’ll learn how we turn plastic waste into creative, functional products. It’s a chance to connect with our community, see the impact of our work, and be part of the positive change we’re building together.
NEW BOOK BY LIN PARDY
Lin Pardey's New Book
Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond -
*hot off the shelf*
Join Lin as she shares challenging sailing, gentle voyages, the shoreside encounters that await once you venture into the world of cruising under sail. Far more than just a sailing adventure, this book is also a true memoir. As she and Larry sailed north from Cape Horn to Canada, then westward across the Pacific, they had to weather the emotional passages that come with growing older. Lin chronicles the last years she shared with Larry, the solo adventure that followed and, eventually, the romance and challenge of building a new life and voyaging onward with a different partner after David sailed in to anchor near her island home. Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond will appeal to sailors of all generations as Lin pours her heart out to tell tales of sailing through gales and calms, adventures small and large. It is a love story -- of sailing, of the sea, and of the two men who have shared Lin’s life.
Currently Lin's latest book is available for purchase in two locations. Click the location for purchase link:
- Paradise Cay Publications (Lin earns double the royalty from books purchased here) The book is a best seller on Paradise Cay Publications.
- Amazon also has the book available in Kindle or Paperback formats
What the reviewers say:
“Lin Pardey's Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond is a passionate and well-told recounting of the adventures and triumphs, as well as the trials and tribulations, since rounding the Horn "the wrong way" with her husband, Larry, in 2002. It's a remarkable book — fierce, honest, truthful and heartbreaking. And as with every Pardey book, extremely open and well-written. Passages succeeds as a touching memoir and a deep love story (in two parts), but most of all, as a rollicking good sea tale. I forgot how much I loved a good old-fashioned Lin Pardey first-person nautical narrative until I opened this one.”
- Herb McCormick, author and roving editor – Cruising World
"This is a brave book, written by an indomitable woman and sailor who, now 80 years old, continues to live life “all the way up.” It honors the man with whom she shared more than 50 years of that life voyaging the world’s oceans and inspiring generations of sailors. And though it sails straight on into the hardest of life’s passages, it also celebrates the light that emerges when one has had the strength and courage to endure the storm."
- Wendy Mitman Clarke, Editor-in-Chief, SAIL Magazine
“The title reflects both the thrilling sailing adventures of Lin and Larry Pardey and the profound changes in Lin's life. Sail with them around Cape Horn and across the Pacific, then follow Lin's inspiring journey as she navigates Larry's failing health and begins a new chapter with David Haigh aboard Sahula. I absolutely loved this!”
- Carolyn Shearlock – Creator of TheBoatgalley.com
“This isn’t just a bold sea story of a brave couple taking on Neptune — it’s a saga of the race against
the true universal ruler herself, Mother Nature. Author and adventurer Lin Pardey takes readers on a
gripping journey as she herself comes to grips with the inevitable forces that control all our lives. You
won’t be disappointed. Trust me.”
- Elaine Lembo, editor in chief, Caribbean Compass
“Lin Pardey’s new book just may be her best. It’s a classic Pardey voyaging narrative, as Lin and Larry
sail to the far south and round Cape Horn, but it’s so much more. It’s filled with wisdom and love, as
Lin chronicles Larry’s slow decline with perspective and deep gratitude for the life they were able to
share. And it’s filled with hope and optimism for the future, a blueprint for how to keep living as we get
older. It’s a terrific story.”
— John Kretschmer, adventurer/author, Sailing a Serious Ocean
Ready, Aye, Ready!
Ready, Aye, Ready!
“Ready Aye Ready” is the motto of the Canadian Navy. It implies that the Canadian Navy is always “ready”.
By Rob Murray on SV AVANT
We have been sailing Avant in Mexico and Central America for 11 years now, and one of the most common questions we get is “Do you feel safe?”
Yes, we do. We have not suffered a loss, seen a crime committed, or otherwise been bothered by crime. Ever. We do know of other cruisers that have suffered losses, though:
- Dinghy theft. (Really, it’s outboard motor theft. By far the most common loss suffered by cruisers.)
- Casual theft (thieves sneak aboard, usually when no one is aboard, and grab any valuables they can and dash off. Most common at a dock).
- Pick pockets (in Guaymas, a cruiser had her wallet stolen from her purse in the grocery store – but that could have happened anywhere in the world).
Not to say it doesn’t happen, it does. But the violent crimes that make the news in Canada and the USA do not seem to happen on the coast or where the cruising community congregates. Most if not all of the murders are gang related, and mostly gang on gang events. We take normal 21st Century precautions; we don’t walk in strange neighborhoods at night, we don’t flash wads of cash, we don’t wear expensive jewelry or watches, etc. and we have not had a problem.
There are, however, security concerns and we have taken some simple steps to protect ourselves.
You don’t need to make it impossible to be a victim, you don’t need to make it impossible for someone to steal from you. You just need to make it harder. You just need to make your boat a less inviting target than the one next door. If you have locked your boat and hoisted your dinghy and outboard out of the water, cleared valuables from the cockpit, and a neighboring boat has all their hatches open and their dinghy floating beside their boat tied on with a rope painter, guess who is more likely to be a victim? It’s like the old joke about bears, you don’t need to be able to outrun a bear, you just need to outrun the person you’re with.
The strategy we have employed for our personal security is pretty simple and pretty unobtrusive. It doesn’t impact our day to day lives by much, and we aren’t working hard to stay safe.
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- Lock the boat, and tidy up. Simple. Free. Easy. When we’re away from the boat for a while, whether at the dock or at anchor, we lock the boat. Close and latch the hatches. Even if we haven’t seen another human being for days. We also have the means to lock ourselves in the boat, in the event we feel threatened and think that’s the safest option (boats with the hatches locked by padlocks may not have the means to do this, but it’s pretty easy to add an internal barrel bolt or similar lock). We changed out our lovely louvered wooden companionway boards for a simple sheet of plexiglass, far more resistant to being kicked in or carved open with a knife or chisel. We don’t stow anything within reach of the portlights we usually leave open. We stow winch handles and other deck gear below as appropriate when anchored or at the dock, and don’t leave things sitting around on deck or in the cockpit. We also lock the computer at the navigation station to the boat with a computer cable lock.
- Hide stuff. In the event someone does get aboard, we have some of our valuables and some spare cash hidden. We use a variety of means, including ‘diversion safes’ (food cans, boxes or jars, varnish or paint cans or bottles, hollowed out books, etc., that disguise a secret compartment to stash valuables in). These can be purchased or home made (paint the inside of an old mayonnaise jar white, and there you go!). More than one is a good idea, in various places around the boat. The downside is they can be taken as they are portable. Don’t use a WD-40 can as a diversion safe in your tool bag, as they may take the whole bag!
- Secret compartments/ hidey-holes. False drawer or locker bottoms, behind velcroed-on cabinet fronts or vinyl trim, envelopes taped behind or under drawers, the inside of the paper towel roller, shower curtain rod or toilet paper roller, false electric sockets, the inside of hollow closet rods, and other strategies can be employed.
- Use decoys. We have a ‘muggers wallet’ prepared and left in plain sight on the navigation station, next to the companionway. A muggers wallet is a decoy wallet, an old, used one filled with expired credit cards and identification, receipts and small denomination bills of assorted currencies. The hope is a sneak thief will come aboard, see and seize the wallet and dash off, satisfied they have ‘scored’, while truly valuable goods remain unmolested.
- Have backups. We have backup credit and ATM cards, connected to a separate bank account at a different bank from our primaries, safely stashed aboard. If our primary cards are lost, compromised or stolen, or if our primary bank has a bad hair day in the computer department, we can dig out the backups and be good to go until replacements can be sourced or the accounts reactivated.
- Know what’s there. We take pictures of our passports and the contents of our wallets and the interior of the boat and email them to ourselves so we have a record that we can access from any computer on the internet if they are lost.
- Be ready with active deterrents. In the extremely unlikely event we meet serious thieves intent on a face to face encounter and committing a violent crime against us, we are ready to meet the threat (at least with bravado). We have:
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- Heavy flashlights (3 cell D battery Maglites) mounted in clips next to the companionway and our berth. As well as being handy, blinding flashlights, these make great clubs.
- Fire extinguishers will discharge a large cloud of fine white dust that can disorient and confuse bad guys.
- Machetes. We have a couple of machetes aboard, stored in a locker where they can be reached quickly and waved around to make a show of resistance. Easily seen from a distance, waving machetes is a distinctly unwelcoming gesture in every culture. Machetes are inexpensive and readily available in hardware stores. They can also be used to open coconuts.
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- Baseball bat. We also have a t-ball bat (mini baseball bat), which doubles as a fish bonker.
- Flares. We have a white handheld flare mounted in clips in the companionway. In the event we are intercepted at sea or boarded at anchor, we can light it and toss it in an attacker’s boat. We don’t have a flare gun aboard, but one might be useful. Be aware that the flare shot from a flare gun will not light until the flare has burned for a while (they are designed to light in the air, not as they are discharged). They are not particularly powerful, and the flares with their propellant tend to bounce off what they hit. The muzzle energy of a 12g flare gun is less than that of a 22 caliber rifle and it is unlikely to penetrate just about anything due to its wide nosed projectile. Any damage it may cause will be due to the flare itself burning. Flare guns may also be illegal in certain jurisdictions (and if used in an offensive or defensive manner as a weapon, are considered weapons or firearms under the laws of many countries).
- We have Bear Spray aboard, too (while wasp spray is often suggested as a deterrent, apparently it is largely ineffective).
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- (Note: In most countries south of the USA, Mace, Dog and Bear Sprays are illegal, but we’re living on the edge).
- We keep our VHF on 24/7, and keep a handheld next to our berth, so we can raise an alarm with other cruisers (or heed their call) if we feel unsafe.
All of these strategies are designed around the idea that you don’t have to make it impossible to be attacked, you just have to make it unpleasant for would-be attackers, encouraging them to look elsewhere or take the rest of the day or night off.
Dinghy Outboard Theft
This is, by far, the most common loss suffered by cruisers. An outboard is a very valuable item in a fishing community, and all coastal villages are fishing communities. A simple 8-10 hp outboard can increase a fisherman’s ability to feed his family tenfold by allowing him to get further offshore when fishing. We always hip-hoist our dinghy at night, and do so with a wire cable harness with legs long enough to be far above reach, where they are attached to the halyard snap shackle, even when standing on deck (so a would-be thief can’t simply release the shackle and drop the dinghy). We lock the outboard to the dinghy’s transom with a heavy stainless lock, and use the same lock to lock the motor to the rail mount when it is stored aboard. We employ locals (usually children or the proprietors of beachfront restaurants) as watch keepers whenever possible when leaving the dinghy ashore, and use a long stainless cable to secure the dinghy ashore when it’s in an isolated or unsupervised location.
We don’t really notice that we’re doing these things on a day to day basis, they are just ‘habits or ‘housekeeping’. But we feel that these measures collectively decrease our chance of being victims (and losses if we are), as well as increase our ability to bounce back should we be targeted.
EDITORS NOTE:
Additionally, there is a huge resource in the Caribbean Safety and Security Net available for private cruising vessels. Their website is extensive and their incident reports are kept up to date. Their guidelines for precautions are applicable across all oceans.
https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/regional-piracy-infographics/
https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/piracy-passage-precautions-central-america/
STAY SAFE - STAY ALERT - HAVE FUN
POSSE PERK: Free vessel and fleet tracking courtesy of Predict Wind
POSSE PERK: 🛰️ Free vessel and fleet tracking courtesy of Predict Wind
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French Polynesia Long Stay Visa Procedure
French Polynesia Long Stay Visa Application:
It's a Process not Rocket Science
By Maurisa Descheemaeker on SV WHIRLWIND
The best place to start getting familiar with the procedure is on the French governments visa wizard landing page: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-wizard On the visa-wizard page you enter in your nationality, your destination, and plans in said destination. In short you will find that with the exception of:
- Citizens of the European Union, Monaco and Andorra, for all territories.
- Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, except French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)
all citizens wishing to stay in French Polynesia for more than 90 days must apply for a long-stay visa BEFORE arriving in French Polynesia. Anywhere there is a French Embassy one may apply for a long-stay visa for French Polynesia. We were planning to set sail from Panama so we had our application appointment in Panama City and said as much on the application. As a US citizen with plans to cruise in French Polynesia for more than 90 days the wizard determined that I needed to apply for a long-stay visa and then directed me to the online application link. In this link you create an account with a username and password. You may then access, fill out, and submit your application. Once the application is submitted you can book an appointment to go in person to the embassy to present yourself, your application and all required supporting documents.
Honestly, with all the information from well intentioned cruisers on the internet about the process and all the changes over the years I felt mixed waves of uncertainty before I started the application. I quickly realized that .he path to the Long-stay visa is a process not rocket science. My waves of uncertainty were more of a mental block than an actual challenge because once I got started with the application I found the process very straightforward albeit a bit tedious. Furthermore, any time I had a question I wrote directly to the embassy in the country I was applying from. The response was very quick and very clear. Asking the embassy directly was very helpful because the rules were one way before COVID, another way during COVID, and another way still since COVID. The process and requirements have and may still be changing so the best source of information is the government agency directly.
That said, there were a few questions that felt like wild cards that actually were not because upon asking I was given black and white responses:
- There is a question of when to apply: Each embassy has different processing times so ask directly. Panama told me 4-6 weeks and they were. It is important to note that you cannot apply more than 90 day before your expected arrival date.
- There is a question of when you will arrive: Our best guess was provided. We arrived a month later and this was fine. You basically have the duration of your visa to arrive.
- There is a question of providing your passport for review: Different embassies have different requirement regarding passports. Some require looking at it and scanning it immediately, some hold it overnight or more. Ask ahead so you know what to expect. We provided a letter stating that we needed to hold on to ours and this was acceptable.
- There is a question of who is applying: I was applying for myself, my husband, and our two kids. This is very easily done in the online application by stating that I was 'travelling in a group' so I just added people to my one application instead of making four applications.
- There is a question of an address: I am a citizen of the United States and provided my address in the US. Regarding an address in French Polynesia I stated that I planned to be cruising. I would be living about my vessel everywhere I went. This was true and fine. I stated the Island groups I planned to visit.
- There is a question of health coverage: I asked the embassy exact what the minimum requirements were and found a plan that met or exceeded them.
- There is a question of socio-economic status: I asked the embassy exactly what this meant she replied that: Socio-economic status would be for example retired/employed/company owner etc, which you need to show proof of.
- There is a question of funds: I asked the embassy what the minimum requirement was. In January 2023, when we applied the requirement regarding the funds was that you had to prove that you had or have coming in an annual amount equal to 12 times the amount of the monthly minimum wage in France (currently 16,784.32€) per adult. This would certainly be something to ask specifically about as minimum wage changes. They ask that proof of the funds is by presenting the last 3 months of bank statements preceding your application appointment. These can show monthly income equal to monthly minimum wage or a balance holding the annual income stated above.
After I made my way through the online application successfully, I was then able to make an appointment to present everything in person at the embassy. The in person appointment is when we provided our passports, extra passport photos, printed and signed applications, all supporting documents, and the processing fee in cash. The supporting documents I provided included two separate letters in English and French (using Google Translate): one stating that I had no plans of seeking employment in French Polynesia (this does not exclude me from working remotely for a US company as revealed in the question of funds on the application) and one stating that I homeschool my children. I also provided a document from my school superintendent my kids status as enrolled homeschoolers, our marriage license and birth certificate copies for each of our kids.
In Panama, the French Embassy is located on a lovely point in Casco Viejo. After the Visa appointment we took the afternoon to enjoy Casco Viejo which was a lovely treat! Then we waited the 4-6 weeks to hear back via email that our visas were approved. We then made yet another appointment to return to the French Embassy with our passports to get our visas, and enjoy another afternoon in Casco Viejo.
Again, every French Embassy in each country may have slightly different protocols. Check with the Embassy directly to know exactly what they require so that your efforts to secure a long-stay visa in French Polynesia are smooth and easy.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Emergency Communications
By Rob Murray on SV AVANT
Cruisers spend big dollars on emergency communications, and in most cases never use them. What are some of the options, their pros and cons, and use cases aboard?
EPIRB
EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon(s)) are the gold standard in reliability and durability. Designed by an international consortium of search and rescue agencies in the 1980s, these use the SARSAT (Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking) system of satellites (a combination of government operated LEOSAR, GEOSAR, and MEOSAR satellites) combined with a network of 29 MCCs (Mission Control Centers) which communicate with national RCCs (Rescue Coordination Centers).
When you activate your EPIRB, a SARSAT satellite will pick up the signal within minutes and relay it to the MCC nearest the satellite via their Local User Terminal. The MCC will relay the transmission to the national authority’s RCC you have registered your EPIRB with (typically your flag country). Then ‘your’ RCC will relay the information to the RCC responsible for the area you are in and reach out to the emergency contacts registered with your beacon, and the RCC local to your location will begin a rescue operation. This is typically done in less than an hour.
COSPAS-SARSAT System Overview
The downside of EPIRBs is they are one-way communicators – they simply relay your call for help, and do not indicate if it’s a fire, sinking, or medical emergency.
Once purchased, EPIRBs are free to operate (no subscription fee), and the only ongoing cost is periodic replacement of the batteries (depends on unit specifications). Most units are water activated, so they should be stored where rain or spray won’t set them off inadvertently. They are specified to operate for a minimum of 48 hours, but typically will operate for much longer.
EPIRBs must have the battery replaced after use, they are good for a single activation per battery.
PLB
PLBs (Personal Locator Beacon(s)) are basically EPIRBs in short pants. Smaller and lighter than EPIRBs, they are typically less expensive as well. The broadcast at the same power as EPIRBs (5.0 watts) but have half the battery life (24 hours minimum vs 48 hours with an EPIRB). As with EPIRBs, they will typically operate much longer than the minimum specified.
Similar to EPIRBs, they must be registered with a national authority and have no operating cost beyond periodic battery replacement.
PLBs, like EPIRBs must have the battery replaced after use, they are good for a single activation per battery.
SEND
SENDs (Satellite Emergency Notification Device(s)) are devices like the InReach, InReach Mini, Garmin InReach Messenger, Zoleo, Spot, Spot X, Yellowbrick, ACR Bivy Stick, Motorola Defy Satellite Link and so on.
These use various commercial satellites or commercial satellite constellations and allow emergency ‘send help’ communications, typically with a dedicated SOS button. They also typically allow two-way communications, like a text or SMS on your phone (some allow this in a self-contained method, some require tethering with a smartphone or tablet). Most operate on the Iridium Satellite Network, which is generally considered to be of the highest quality and offers global coverage. Some use other networks like Globalstar, which does not offer global coverage. They typically operate at about 1.5 watts of transmit power.
Most use the IERCC (International Emergency Response Coordination Center) as their emergency response partner ( WWW.IERCC.COM ). Spot uses Overwatch Rescue ( WWW.OVERWATCHXRESCUE.COM ).
When you press ‘SOS’ on the device, it sends a message via the satellite or satellite constellation to the emergency response partner and they act in a way like the EPIRB response mechanism above, but they call/text you back (if your device allows) as well as calling your emergency contacts.
If the device allows you to send and receive messages you can also initiate a two-way conversation with a shoreside contact for a serious but not life-threatening situation, such as an engine or medical problem.
Most SENDs also support the sending of ‘breadcrumb’ trails while cruising. This is useful to allow shoreside contacts to follow you and leaves a record of your journey should you ‘go dark’ in an emergency that incapacitates you and your crew such that you are unable to activate any of your devices, giving search and rescue teams a starting place to look for you.
Each of these devices, being commercial, requires a subscription. Costs vary.
SENDs are rechargeable and can be used again and again. Battery life varies between units.
There is a good comparative review of many units at ( https://www.treelinereview.com/gearreviews/best-personal-locator-beacons )
DSC Distress Calls
Marine radios (VHF and MF/SSB) can send a DSC (Digital Selective Calling) alert, usually by pressing a red button on the radio. The button usually must be held down for more than 3 seconds to activate it (this to limit the chance of false alerts). This sends a GPS position if your radio contains or is connected to a GPS, plus your MMSI (Marine Mobile Service Identity).
VHF is monitored for these alerts worldwide (withing coverage limits), but coverage via MF/SSB is spotty. (There are propagation issues, and some rescue authorities no longer monitor the frequency. The USCG stopped monitoring the 2182Hz rescue frequency in 2013.)
VHF DSC alerts will be picked up by other vessels within radio range.
This is cost-free.
How do you contact Search and Rescue directly wherever you are?
Each country has SEARCH AND RESCUE NUMBERS. These can be found on the Ocean Posse website for each area we operate in:
https://oceanposse.com/aruba/#emergencies
https://oceanposse.com/azores/#emergencies
https://oceanposse.com/bahamas/#emergencies
etc
https://oceanposse.com/italy/#emergencies
https://oceanposse.com/mexico/#emergencies
Ocean Posse members can substitute the country you are in to get to the right numbers
What about Cell Phone Satellite Communications?
Some newer cell phones from Apple or Google/Pixel have limited SOS satellite connectivity, and Samsung has announced forthcoming satellite capability. Somewhat klugey, they require manual alignment of the device and use the GlobalStar network. Not all devices have the feature, and some are limited by the carrier. The geographic coverage is quite limited. These should be considered back-ups until the technology becomes more mature.
What should you do to get ready for an emergency?
Select and install your chosen devices and set them up appropriately.
For EPIRBs and PLBs, that means registering them with the appropriate national authorities and mounting their storage brackets in suitable locations. Each device has a testing schedule and protocol, so add reminders to your calendar to ensure you keep up with the schedule.
For SEND devices, ensure you have the appropriate subscription in place and the emergency contacts are registered, and the appropriate contacts are in the device’s address book or contact list. If the device tethers with a smart phone or other device, ensure the appropriate software is installed and up to date, and the tethering connection(s) have been tested. Having the tethering connection enabled on multiple devices adds redundancy. Most send devices get firmware updates from the manufacturer, so find out how your device updates and schedule a check every 90 days or so to ensure you’re up to date. Ensure you have a charging/battery replacement protocol in place so that the device is always charged up or, if it has replaceable batteries, you have spares on hand.
For DSC Alerts, make sure your radio(s) have your MMSI programmed in and have access to a reliable GPS signal, and that the radio(s) have a first-class antenna connection (testing with an SWR meter is the best way to ensure this).
Once the hardware and software are established, train your crew in the use of these devices and make sure they know how and when to use them. Preparing a ‘Cheat Sheet’ of simple instructions that can be posted in a handy spot ensures they are not falling back on memory in an emergency.
You have an emergency, what should you do?
If you are faced with a life-threatening situation or there is an imminent threat of danger such as loss of life, potential loss of life, loss of the vessel, potential loss of the vessel, sinking, fire, loss of the rig, or other serious emergency you should activate all of your emergency communications all at once. If you have all three, use the EPIRB, SEND and DSC alert all at the same time.
- The EPIRB will get SAR resources mobilized rapidly on a nation-to-nation basis. It is hands down the most reliable distress signaling mechanism.
- The SEND will typically allow two-way communication on the nature of the emergency and what aid is required.
- The VHF DSC Alert will summon any nearby vessels to your aid.
If you are faced with a potential life-threatening situation or there is the potential for an imminent threat of danger to develop, you should initiate a two-way communication with a shoreside contact to seek advice and/or advise them of the situation (ideally with one of the emergency contacts for your EPIRB or SEND). This could be via any means available, Cell Phone, Starlink (email, teleconference, etc.), SEND, or whatever works. Nearby vessels should be alerted via a normal VHF radio call. This allows them to be aware of what’s going on and be ready to scale up response appropriately as the situation demands.
Posse Perk
Ocean Posse members have access to additional help from other Posse members who may be nearby and from Posse HQ. Members can send a message on the Posse line Ap to reach out for nearby vessels. The Posse Team has assisted in rescue coordination and has connections in many regions with search and rescue and other resources to assist if required. Contact Dietmar at dietmar@oceanposse.com or text him at ( +1 (702) 861-9823 ) to set the team in motion!