Bundaberg Cruising Yacht Club

Information from Fred Grimminck

Radio Controller for the Radio scheds.

Port2Port Yacht Rally 2008

Radio schedules with all yachts will be held at 0615 and 1815 local time (Australian EST).   This is 2015 and 0815 GMT respectively.

Morning Sched at 0615 AEST & Evening Sched at 1815 AEST

This will be to “VMR Bundaberg” via Fred, the net controller at Bundaberg. 

The first radio schedule will commence the morning of Sunday12th October 2008.  Positions can also be sent by email if necessary.     Address lesfred4@dodo.com.au

Radio frequencies will be as follows:  Starting with HF 8161 - both morning and night

                                                            Then  HF 4030 if conditions deteriorate.

The frequency will be changed to the lower frequency as the rally progresses if circumstances dictate and as the boats get closer, if necessary.

When yachts have arrived in Hervey Bay i.e. after Break Sea Spit, they should call “VMR Bundaberg” on VHF 81 at any time between 0700 and 1800 daily.  This will be handled by the radio operators at the Volunteer Marine Rescue Base, not the net controller and the yacht should identify that they are participating in the Port2Port Yacht Rally. 

The radio schedule will be conducted in the following format

“All stations. All stations. This is the net controller of the Port2Port Yacht Rally 2008“  Calling all yachts in the Port to Port 2008 Yacht Rally.

Firstly, is there any priority or medical traffic.

Calling yacht “            “

The yacht should then give their GPS position and approximate distance to go to Port Bundaberg.  And any other relevant information.

Each yacht entered in the rally will be called in alphabetical order.

If there is no reply, the controller will continue through the list.

At the end of the list, the controller will return to calling the yachts that did not respond or those that may need relays.

At the end of yachts logging in, the weather forecast will be issued.  Then the controller will ask if there are any other problems or messages to be passed on. 

The radio schedule will end with:

“This is the Net Controller of the Port2Port Yacht Rally 2008, clear of this frequency.”

                                                                                                Fred Grimminck

                                                                                                Radio Controller

                                                                                                Bundaberg Cruising Yacht Club &

                                                                                                Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg

BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY (BOM) WEATHER INFORMATION
There are 2 HF transmitters in Australia broadcasting automated weather information (VMC Charleville in QLD and VMW Wiluna in WA).  These are both voice and FAX services.  The same forecast information in text can be received via Catalogues in SAILMAIL.  Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) stations throughout Aust broadcast the same info on VHF for their area of interest.  Some coastal locations have repeater VHF transmitters to extend their coverage.

FAX SERVICES FROM VMC
Frequencies:  Note these have been reduced by 1.9KHz from the advertised which suits most FAX programs.
2626.1
5098.1
11028.1 *  this freq is best for the morning FAX in Vanuatu
13918.1
20467.1
Times:  Weather FAX charts are broadcast about every 15 minutes.  The full schedule is faxed in 2 pages at 0015 and 0030 UTC
Aust MSLP charts are broadcast at 0245, 0845, 1430, 2030  UTC

VOICE SERVICES FROM VMC
Note automated voice broadcasts occur from both transmitters covering their respective areas east and west coasts of Australia.  Weather warnings for all areas are given on the hour.  Coastal forecasts are valid out to 60nm off the coast.  Met area 10 high seas forecasts cover ocean areas outside the coastal forecasts.
VMC Frequencies: 
2201.0
4426.0
6507.0 
8176.0  *  normally good reception on this frequency
12365.0
16546.0

Times: All forecasts start with an overall synopsis and warnings then cover their areas in more detail eg North QLD areas followed by South QLD.  They cover seaward to 60nm and usually include an outlook for following days.  The program repeats each 4 hours.  Times are Eastern Standard Time (EST = UTC + 10 hrs)  Queensland does not have daylight saving time whereas other States do.  Following the forecasts a station by station actual weather is given for each reporting location along the coast.
QLD Coastal forecasts times are: 0330, 0730, 1130, 1530, 2330  EST
Met area 10 high seas forecasts for NE Australia are: 0030, 0430, 0830, 1230, 1630, 2030 EST.
NSW followed by VIC coastal forecasts follow the same format with start times (EST) as follows:  0130, 0530, 0930, 1330, 1730, 2130 EST