M'Aidez - RYA guidelines

[sahona]

The rya mag arrived today and I failed the yachtmaster quiz - can't send a mayday apparently.
Have they changed the (Globally accepted?) criteria for position description recently?
The mag gives "270degrees from Portland Bill lighthouse 5 miles." as the correct answer.
I was taught to mention the 'reference' then 'direction from' then 'distance', so someone plotting my position could use the information in the given order -
So my answer was "Portland Bill lighthouse, 270deg, 5 miles".
Was my instructor wrong, and do you think it matters?
I do, as the person nearest you may not be CG trained, or indeed naturally English speaking, so will require the information in an expected format.

[ljs]

They probably know as we do you were nowhere near Portland Bill (just call me Portland Bill?)
Telling porkies is an automatic fail!

[Arghiro]

While I see your logic, the requirement is only to give your position so that you can be rescued. It could be in Lat/Long and still be perfectly valid so that you get rescued. The problem with bearings from/to is that they are easily confused.

[Bodach na mara]

I would have said "5 miles west of Portland Bill" myself.

[Rowana]

I would have said "5 miles west of Portland Bill" myself.

I'd agree with that. Not much room for confusion there I would have thought.

[sahona]

But, my point is, on your courses (RYA), both short range VHF and yachtmaster, you were left in no doubt as to the correct and internationally accepted (expected) way of delivering your postional infpormation.
The whole point of the question infers that there is a correct way - unless, of course, it was simply an excercise in knowing the difference between bearings 'to and 'from'
I think the CG would agree that there's many a slip twixt GPS screen and microphone, so pinpoint positions can be wrong outwith DSC.
Maybe I need a "rusty boater" refresher course now that we have the electric...

[jim.r]

I thought the correct answer was to press the big red button cos a dedicated headset mayday watch is no longer kept . (Acshully I don't have a big red button, so I'd probably say "If I hold down my button for 10 secs you'll be able to triangulate my position. Cos my GPS batteries are knackered and I ain't got a clue where I am.")

[Mark]

But, my point is, on your courses (RYA), both short range VHF and yachtmaster, you were left in no doubt as to the correct and internationally accepted (expected) way of delivering your postional infpormation.

When Solent CG get a Mayday with position given as 'S of St Cats' they always ask for the position as Lat/Long.

Rightly or wrongly that's what they do.

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

When I did YM in 1986, it was bearing from, known mark then distance, in that order.

So 270 deg, Portland Bill Light, 5 miles.

It is certainly quoted as such by Bernard Heyman on a cassette tape of VHF procedure which was supplied with Yachting Monthly around that time.
Although, the known mark was Round Island light strangely, the bearing and distance were the same!

Funny the things you remember.

[tcm]

Hm yes i thort the op was right too. Though any call is fine according to the rnli eg 5miles west of etcetc.

However, unless in uk waters i would be v wary of making the call unless things so severe you are happy at the prospect of losing the boat as long as someone, anyone, turns up.

[sahona]

OK, I must admit defeat.
Immaterial really as we have red button and epirb aboard.
Just thought I'd have a grump.

[ParaHandy]

The problem with bearings from/to is that they are easily confused.

Round 'ere (english channel) there can be so many maydays flying around that you'd never be done plotting their position by lat long whereas "5 miles west of Portland" almost instantly will tell you where it is? This is particularly true of a bloke who's in trouble in the middle of the channel because at (my) extreme range of vhf, the position given by the CG is barely distinct eg when with noisy farting crew difficult to hear lat long from cockpit speaker. In fact, if you're in the vicinity, you'll kmow the bloke's closeby because he's coming thro' loud and clear whereas CG's a bit crackly ....