Bundaberg Cruising Yacht Club

Information from Fred Grimminck

Radio Controller for the Radio scheds.

Port2Port Yacht Rally 2011

Radio schedules with all yachts will be held daily at 0615 local time (Australian EST) - 2015 GMT

Morning Radio Sched commencing at 0600 Daily

The Net Controller is Fred
The first radio schedule will commence the morning of Saturday 1st October, 2011 and end on Wednesday 30th November. 
Positions can also be sent by email if necessary. Address info@bcyc.net.au
Or by mobile phone - text messages can be sent to 61405103061

Radio frequencies HF 8161 (USB) or if conditions deteriorate try * HF 4030 (USB)

*The frequency will be changed to the lower frequency if circumstances dictate.

Radio Skeds:

Yachts will be called in alphabetical order at 0615 each day.

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

The weather forecast will be issued on request. 

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 0600 and 1800 daily.  This will be handled by the radio operators at the Marine Rescue Base, not the net controller and the yacht should identify that they are participating in the Port2Port Yacht Rally. 

Fred Grimminck

Radio Controller

Bundaberg Cruising Yacht Club

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