One of the benefits of of the YOTREPS list and position plotter charting sites is that they provide a means of "anxiety relief" for relatives and friends of the crews of the vessels at sea. On the other hand, being able to have the position and reporting information at hand quickly online can lead to unrealistic expectations when it comes to on-time port arrivals and missing report data on the list. In days past, relatives only had a phone call to rely on, which could be several days late, but it was all the relatives knew and had to go with. Now, daily progress of the boats can be followed which means you know exactly when a vessel gets into port, and you also know when a boat does not report. You also may think you know when they are supposed to arrive, but it is not always what you may think. So, having the YOTREPS report available can also create anxiety when your vessel's information is absent or the vessel fails to arrive "exactly when you expected it to" based on what you have been monitoring here on the net.
Sailing vessels by nature are slow moving and activity on board can be very busy during some parts of the trip. During the rollcall session, sails might need changing, a course change needing sail trimming could be required, a radio problem might exist, or any number of things might get in the way of a scheduled position report. Radio wave band conditions change like the weather, and maybe the vessel could not be heard. Sudden wind changes can also require immediate on-deck action. Missed position reports are common and actually should be expected from time to time.
At vessel speeds in the area of 3 to 8 knots (nautical miles per hour) over distances of thousands of miles, estimated times of arrivals can vary greatly, causing late arrivals on the order of several days to weeks late. I have seen Hawaii to San Francisco crossings that were expected to take two or three weeks actually take one and one half months due to unfavorable winds. Unexpected and unfavorable, or non-existent winds are a part of life on board a sailboat at sea.
What should I do, if anything?
If you find the uncertainty of what is going on with your
vessel of concern disconcerting, do not call the United States Coast Guard or
other authority just yet. The best thing to do is to remain calm and think about
the above considerations and possibilities. It may take a day or two for the
vessel to reappear on the list. Is it near the end of a several thousand mile
voyage? Do you know the Latitude and Longitude of their destination port, and
have you compared that with their last position report?
Knowing the destination port's Latitude/Longitude coordinates is a great help. You can plot the position on a chart and then use the last position reported for your vessel to see how far from destination the vessel is. That is probably the best way of dealing with time of arrival situations and anxieties.
Remain calm, do some homework, and you will be a better informed follower of your friends and relatives at sea.
Should you need to call one of us at the Pacific Seafarer's Net concerning a specific vessel, you may call me at (USA) 707-826-7132. Many of the Net Control operators have many years of experience cruising the many islands of the Pacific, and we can help in deciding when it is best to notify the United States Coast Guard. We encourage you to contact us when you are concerned about your loved ones at sea.
Most of all, have fun following your vessel on the net. It's enjoyable and as Ham Radio Operators we are having fun following their progress with you.
Robert Reed
Amateur Radio Station N6HGG Pacific Seafarer's Net
Humboldt Bay
California
USA