SSCA TRANSATLANTIC CRUISERS NET WILL RESUME OPERATION 04 MAY 2020
Commencing 04 May at 2100 hrs. UTC or 1700 hrs. Eastern Time, four U.S. based FCC Coastal Maritime Stations will resume operation of the SSCA Trans-Atlantic Cruisers Net.
As last year, which we found to work out very well, we start the net in concert with the long-standing Doo Dah Net, hosted by Dick Giddings, call sign KNC, on SSB frequency 8.152. The net will transition to frequency 12.350 after about 10-15 minutes to accommodate vessels further at sea or depending on propagation.
The net controllers will be:
Chris Parker, Coastal license WCY, Lakeland, FL;
Dick Giddings, Coastal license KNC, Dover, NC;
Jim West, Coastal license KJM, Ellijay, GA;
Glenn Tuttle, Coastal license KPK, Punta Gorda, FL
The net will precede Chris Parker”s Marine Weather Center weather report at 1800 hrs. Eastern Time on 12.350.
Although this net is sponsored by the SSCA, all vessels are welcome.
All vessels are encouraged to help with relays since we cover such a large geographical area.
The purpose of the net is to:
Pass emergency & priority traffic, as well as traffic related to safety and security particularly for vessels making long ocean passages.
This net can assist with radio checks, float plans, telephone contact with family & friends, boat to boat relays, access to medical or mechanical professionals, Internet searches, or any other assistance that we may be able to provide.
We are happy to take Float Plans with the following stipulations:
One thing we insist on is having a Float Plan, which you may find the PFD form at this link, AND ALSO an alternate means of communication should the SSB propagation be poor or you are having radio issues. This Float Plan will not be disseminated to the US Coast Guard unless of some emergency. Float Plans may be e-mailed to KPK@ssca.org who will disseminate them to the other net controllers.
This alternate means of communication must have the ability to send and receive E-mail or text messages via a satellite device, such as an Iridium Go, Inmarsat, Garmin In Reach, or even a SPOT, although the SPOT devices are usually unreliable in far reaching areas due to the use of the inferior Globalstar Satellite system.
If you comply with these terms and agree to do your best to check in every day, we will be glad to accept your Float Plan. If we do not hear from you for two days in a row, we will assume you are in trouble and notify your family as well as the appropriate Search & Rescue Authorities.
Best Regards,
Glenn Tuttle – Net Manager
SSCA HF Radio Service KPK
Punta Gorda, FL USA
KPK@ssca.org
941-456-5070