Mayday Relay on Channel 16

First five minutes:

1. Do not transmit over the distress. Ardent is already in contact; adding a third transmitter on Ch 16 can block the coast station. Keep Ch 16 guarded and write times.
2. Use the DSC information. The alert at 02:13 gives MMSI 227 458 900 and a GPS position 47°32.6′N 003°14.2′W. Compare it with the voice position 'two miles south of Cape Kerlo'. If they agree, you have a confirmed datum; if not, treat the DSC position as the more reliable electronic position but say so.
3. Acknowledge only if the distress remains unacknowledged. Ardent has acknowledged, so a second 'Mayday received' from you is not automatically wrong, but it is unnecessary and can cause confusion. Better: call Ardent on Ch 6 or, if no answer, on Ch 16 with 'Ardent, this is [name], I hold a DSC distress alert from Silverbird at 47°32.6′N 003°14.2′W, over.' That passes useful information without taking over.
4. Mayday Relay. A relay is justified if the original distress is not being acknowledged by a coast station and the distressed vessel cannot communicate, or if you have information that the rescue coordination centre needs. It is not justified simply because you heard it. If no coast station acknowledges by about 02:20, I would transmit: 'Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay, all stations, this is [name, call sign, MMSI]. Following distress from yacht Silverbird, position 47°32.6′N 003°14.2′W, five persons on board, taking water. I am 8 nm away and proceeding. Over.' Then log it.
5. Prepare to assist. Turn towards the position, rig recovery gear, brief crew, keep a listening watch on Ch 16 and Ch 6 with a second radio if available.

The risk of everyone switching to Ch 6 is that Ch 16 - the international distress, safety and calling channel - goes silent, and the coast station may not know where the distress traffic has gone. Ch 6 is an intership channel; it is right for the on-scene conversation, but it must not replace the Ch 16 guard.

I would coordinate as follows: keep the main VHF on Ch 16 with DSC watch on Ch 70; use the hand-held or second set on Ch 6. Tell Ardent: 'Ardent, this is [name] on Ch 16. I hold DSC position 47°32.6′N 003°14.2′W. I will monitor Ch 16. Suggest you keep Silverbird on Ch 6 and report back to Ch 16 every five minutes.' If Ardent gets no reply on Ch 6, it should not keep calling blindly; it should return to Ch 16 and report. I would not self-appoint as on-scene coordinator. I would say what I can do - proceed, stand by, relay - and let the coast station appoint a coordinator. If I reach the scene first, I would establish a listening watch and a simple radio schedule, but I would hand over formally when a coast station or designated vessel arrives.

Accepting OSC: 'MRCC, this is [name], I accept On-Scene Coordinator, over.' Then establish:

• Assets: my vessel, Ardent, the 4 nm fishing vessel if available, helicopter ETA, any other craft.
• Communications: primary Ch 16, working Ch 6 or another assigned channel, guard on Ch 16, listening watch on 2182 kHz if fitted. Set a reporting schedule, e.g. every 15 minutes or on change.
• Search datum: the DSC position, adjusted for drift. Wind SW 4 and slight sea give a slow drift; estimate set and rate, and ask MRCC for a drift calculation.
• Search plan: assign sectors or a creeping line ahead/parallel sweep according to visibility and number of assets; keep one vessel as rescue boat, one as spotter.

First situation report: 'MRCC, this is [name], OSC. Time 02:40. Position 47°32.6′N 003°14.2′W. Yacht Silverbird, five POB, taking water, no contact on Ch 6 since 02:20. On scene: [name] and Ardent; fishing vessel 4 nm away. Weather SW 4, slight, visibility good. Actions: [name] searching datum, Ardent standing by. Request helicopter ETA and drift. Over.'

The key is to be a coordinator, not a solo rescuer: assign, confirm, record, and keep MRCC informed.