Canadian Boating February 2024 - 44

More photos here:
PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
- by Marcel Simmard, Bluenose Squadron
In late July of this year, Bluenose members, Marcel and
Rachelle, departed Nova Scotia for the clear blue water
of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas onboard their
Mirage 25 sailboat named Meridian 63.
In late October Marcel and Rachelle were sailing Meridian
63 in a strong wind (20-30 knots) on a beam
reach on Chesapeake Bay. Suddenly, with no warning,
the tiller had no effect and the vessel turned up
into the wind. The rudder was gone. At least from
the water line down it was gone...broken off and
gone. Now what?! " PAN PAN - PAN PAN - PAN PAN -
ALL STATIONS - ALL STATIONS - ALL STATIONS - this is
Meridian 63, Meridian 63, Meridian 63... " US Coast
Guard radio answered and got the details. They asked if
our crew had a cell phone! Yes they did. The cell phone
was then used for the balance of the event. A cargo
vessel was diverted to try to help and arrived ahead
of the Coast Guard cutter. The cargo vessel wanted to
come alongside but our crew declined this idea due
to the sea conditions and, instead, asked the cargo
vessel to stand upwind of Meridian 63 to give some
shelter from the wind and the rough sea. That is what
the bigger ship did until the Coast Guard arrived and
took them in tow. The tow took about 2 hours to the
Point Lookout Marina.
Once secure at the marina dock the Coast Guard cutter
crew came onboard Meridian 63 to complete the
paperwork and performed a boarding inspection to
verify that all required safety equipment was being
carried on the vessel and that the vessel was properly
documented. Well, of course it was. After all, Marcel is
one of our Recreational Vessel Courtesy Checkers! He
actually had more than the equipment required. For
example the US does not require a heaving line for
man overboard purposes. They only require a throwable
floatation cushion. Marcel and Rachelle had both.
Sourcing a new rudder is top of mind with our sailors
now that they are back at home.
Marcel credits his many CPS-ECP courses over the years
with how he and Rachelle handled the loss of the rudder
in those rough waters. Their lives were not in grave
and imminent danger and so he used the PAN PAN call
as opposed to calling a MAYDAY. That is, the situation
was urgent but not life-threatening. Marcel encourages
all boaters to improve their boating knowledge
and skills by taking additional courses or, better yet, to
teach them, which he has always found improves his
own knowledge and understanding. Your local squadron
will welcome additional instructors, no doubt.
Do you know how to make the radio call in an emergency
or urgent situation on the water? Find out by
taking our radio course: Radio Operator Certificate
(Maritime) also known as ROC(M).
Go to boatingcourses.ca for a listing of available radio
courses. ■
44 CANADIAN BOATING | FEBRUARY 2024
http://www.boatingcourses.ca
Canadian Boating February 2024

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