ANSWERING A MAYDAY

Charmed was just out Angelfish Creek for a short trip north in Hawk’s Channel to Key Biscayne and Hurricane Harbor, when a calm and clear “mayday, mayday, mayday,” was heard on Channel 16. We immediately turned greater attention to the radio. There was no response from the Coast Guard. A bit later the mayday was repeated. Again, it was calm and clear. Again, no response from the Coast Guard, or anyone. We were surprised. We also know we tried to contact the Coast Guard more than one time here in south Florida to determine whether Government Cut was open to us. We know our radio works well and cannot explain why the Coast Guard did not respond to us. We were pondering what to do when the mayday call came again.

We responded to the call. To two men in a twenty foot Proline in the ocean off Elliot Key. The engine wouldn’t start. The anchor just went over the side unconnected to the boat. There were no injuries. There was no distress. Lifejackets were available. Charmed relayed the message to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard did respond to Charmed, and the Coast Guard used us to gather additional information. Interesting, once the Coast Guard was involved Tow Boat US also got right involved and dispatched a tow boat. Tow Boat US could not hear the Proline either.

Locating the Proline precisely was challenging. The men claimed they were two miles offshore and could see Adam’s Key. Adam’s Key is on Biscayne Bay. But, the Proline was drifting safely. The weather was calm. Finally another boat hailed Charmed to tell us the Proline was near Green 17 in Hawk’s Channel, around a number of other boats, including them. They confirmed the Proline was safe.

During the time Charmed was involved, the Coast Guard periodically asked us questions. Some seemed irrelevant. Tow Boat US initially claimed a five minute ETA. Thirty minutes later, they stated their ETA would be thirty five minutes. Once Tow Boat US got to the Proline, we stopped paying attention.

It is surprising VHF communications were so poor for the Coast Guard and Tow Boat US. At worse, the Coast Guard was twenty nautical miles away. Lesson learned for Charmed, if a mayday call goes unanswered, respond immediately. This call did not require immediate attention. It was not even a proper mayday. However, you just never know . . . .