BLUEMOMENT

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Protest against the closure of Clyde Coastguard on 31st August - and get rid of unwanted parachute flares as well!

Apart from supporting the stated aim, at last a chance to get rid of the out-of-date flares and to experience how they work. If anyone has any they want rid of and wants to join me on board .......?
Bring your own welding gloves!

Heard on VHF Ch16 today. "Oban Coastguard Oban Coastguard, this is Yacht xxxx, xxxx, xxxx Radio Check please, Over"

"Yacht xxxx, this is Clyde Coastguard, you are loud and clear, over."

"Oban Coastguard Oban Coastguard, this is Yacht xxxx, xxxx, xxxx Radio Check please, Over"
"Yacht xxxx, this is Clyde Coastguard, you are loud and clear, over."

"Oban Coastguard Oban Coastguard, this is Yacht xxxx, xxxx, xxxx Radio Check please, Over"
"Yacht xxxx, this is Clyde Coastguard, you are loud and clear, over."

"Oban Coastguard Oban Coastguard, this is Yacht xxxx, xxxx, xxxx Radio Check please, Over"

silence...

I've still got a useful card knocking around telling me how to make a link call through Oban Radio. Kids, you can ask you granddads what "link call" and "Oban Radio" meant.

Where did you get the info Nick? I have looked at the web site named (saveclydecoastguard.com) and there is no info there.

I hope to be there next Friday to lend my weight to the protest. This summer, we heard several shouts on 16 being handled very competently professionally by Clyde and a couple handled by another station where it was obvious that the operator was seriously lacking in knowlege of the area they were supposed to be serving. The dismissal (in the response to the consultation) of the importance of local knowlege removes any pretence that this is about improving or even maintaining the level of service.

Wight Dawn wrote:Where did you get the info Nick? I have looked at the web site named (saveclydecoastguard.com) and there is no info there.

I've found the poster here http://coastguardsos.com/wp-content/upl ... OSTER1.jpg

This is the home page - http://coastguardsos.com/

Are there 2 different lots of people saving the coastie?

Ash

Would love to be there but the grib doesn't look friendly and we're a good bit away.
I've been conversing with one of the CCGs and a complete change of career is in the offing due to the way the situation has been managed. This may also be true for others in the same position - so we will lose the local knowledge, it will not transfer to Bangor.
Another insider offered the information that Aberdeen had been chosen over Clyde due to mis-management of the property portfolio (or lease pressures versus owned property?) rather than strategic importance.
Anyway, I shall miss the familiar voices and await the Bangor service with baited breath, having had the following conversation 'abroad'
"certainly sir ,visitors berths are on aeeyh pontoon"
"confirmed, Echo pontoon, Sahona out."
"no aeeyh for aeeyple pontoon......

Like Ken I checked out the website on this site and found nothing worked and very little info.
http://www.saveclydecoastguard.com/
Whats left of me after Mr Rymaszewski (Surgeon at RI) chops me up in the morning intends to be there as a passanger on Besula (a friends boat).
Would it be wrong for yachties to wish the ccg luck when replying to thank them after recieving a radio check?
Just feel it would be a show of appreciation.
C_W

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The Flotilla – members and organisers – will use Channel 12 VHF throughout. Flotilla members are asked to be sure NOT to use Channel 16, the emergency channel.

Boats joining the flotilla are asked to be at the muster point (off the coast of Navy Buildings, Eldon Street, Greenock) for no later than 20.00, when the event will begin.

Boats are asked NOT to fire their flares outside of the given times or outwith the stated area. Such flares would be treated by the Coastguard as a genuine emergency.

After the Flares have been extinguished, there will be a minute’s applause to involve the members of the public and crews in showing their support for the Coastguard.

After this the Flotilla Organiser will give a final thank you and good luck message to Clyde Coastguard on Channel 12.

Each vessel in the Flotilla is invited to repeat their own message of thanks and best wishes whilst departing the Flotilla and making their way onward to their destination.

The entire event will take around half an hour.

All boats forming the Red Flare Flotilla are being given the following timetable:

•20:00: Already mustered boats address Clyde Coastguard HQ
•20.05: Confirm ready with Land Crew ready who will confirm flotillla ready
•20.10: Crews on Deck with Flares Ready
•20.13: Crews asked to Standby and await visual/audio confirmation from Flotilla Organiser to release Flare. Flotilla Organiser will signal BEGIN FLARE BURN by firing his/her Flare and calling on Channel 12 to Boat Crews to light their Flares.
•20.15 – 20.20: FLARES LIT AND BURNING. There will be a Channel 12 message to extinguish at 20.20.
•20.21: Applause for flotilla from Shore Crew
•20.22: VHF Message of thanks and best wishes from Flotilla Organiser who then departs.
•20.23: flotilla boats also depart.
•20.30: All Vessels will be underway and crowds departing.

Nick wrote:.
The Flotilla – members ...................................crowds departing.

Hi Nick

Thanks for the update on info.

I take it that you are on an email list as I don't see your latest info on the website.

Mistral intends to be there, but the crew has arranged to have her hair done (not specifically for this event, I should say) late afternoon so time will be tight. Think that we will travel down to Kip in separate cars so that I can have the boat ready for departure as soon as she arrives. I don't think that there is anywhere close to the CCG area that I could easily get her on board without resorting to a dinghy - unless anyone knows better?

Ash

ash wrote:

Nick wrote:.
The Flotilla – members ...................................crowds departing.

Hi Nick

Thanks for the update on info.

I take it that you are on an email list as I don't see your latest info on the website.

Mistral intends to be there, but the crew has arranged to have her hair done (not specifically for this event, I should say) late afternoon so time will be tight. Think that we will travel down to Kip in separate cars so that I can have the boat ready for departure as soon as she arrives. I don't think that there is anywhere close to the CCG area that I could easily get her on board without resorting to a dinghy - unless anyone knows better?

Ash

Yes you could use http://www.jameswattdockmarina.co.uk/. Best phone them for advice though....

Donald

Victoria Dock and the East India Harbour have pontoons. West end of Princes Pier should be possible by ladder as is Custom House Quay.
RGYC launch might give a lift if you are in near their slips.

Aja wrote:Yes you could use http://www.jameswattdockmarina.co.uk/. Best phone them for advice though....

Donald

Cheers. I've been at James Watt by car, but never by boat. The muster will be 1 hour from Kip, and 30 minutes from James Watt, so not much in it for the crew, esp as the car journey is likely to be the same time and she knows the journey to Kip better.

Ash

marisca wrote:Victoria Dock and the East India Harbour have pontoons. West end of Princes Pier should be possible by ladder as is Custom House Quay.
RGYC launch might give a lift if you are in near their slips.

Cheers. Am I right to think that Princes Pier is at the east end of the esplanade so fairly close. Victoria Dock, East India Harbour, and Custom House Quay are not as far as James Watt.

I'm hoping that she can make it to Kip as that would be easier all round - I think that she might be able to bring her appointment forward by 1 hour.

Returning to Kip will be our first journey in the dark. Hope that we don't catch a pot buoy on the way back to Kip - that would be a bit embarrassing - especially if we've used up all our flares at the protest!

Ash

ash wrote: Returning to Kip will be our first journey in the dark. Hope that we don't catch a pot buoy on the way back to Kip - that would be a bit embarrassing - especially if we've used up all our flares at the protest!

Ach, just take your mobile and call Stornoway coastguard. Where's the Cloch? If Dougie wass here himself he would tell ye.