Amateur Radio and the Travellers' Net

Charles, VK7PP and Stu, VK7NXX have outlined some interesting happenings over that last month that demonstrate how amateur radio assisted a stranded yacht off Tasmania.

VK7PPas asked by Roy, VK6BO, in Fremantle (of the Australian Travellers' Net fame) to come up on frequency to help contact a non-stop lone 'round the world sailor', with a Slovenian call sign of S52YS, in the Southern Ocean who was in trouble. He was several hundred nautical miles off the Tasmanian coast at the time.

The skipper named Jure said his forestay was broken on his 30 foot boat. He needed help and was heading for Hobart. He had made a jury rigged forestay and was making only 2 to 3 Knots. His motor was not working and had not worked for some time!

Over the next days the net tracked his latitudes and longitudes with the help of other relay stations such as Ross, VK5KMH in Adelaide.

As he drew Customs was informed of his intentions to come to Hobart-they were very pleased to have the advanced info.
Stu VK7NXX at Coast Radio Hobart was also notified.

HF contact was lost with the boat and as it came in range of Coast Radio Hobart Marine VHF channel 82 at Maatsuyker Island contacts were passed over to Stu, and other Coast Radio Operators.

The square rigger was towed to the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Sunday (25/2/2007).

Another case of WIA Award winning Travellers net helping via Ham radio.

73 Charles, VK7PP and Stu, VK7NXX
and the Coast Radio Hobart Team

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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