by Scraggygoat » Mon Apr 03, 2017 5:17 pm
I've paddled some of the bigger inland lochs, and in terms of emergency communication they are generally a poor place, often remote from habitation so rarely have mobile coverage, generally in big trenches so radio's and particularly handheld radios (irrespective of type) have very limited broadcast range being blocked by the hills and there is often no body else is around, and even less (to more likely none) listening anyway. Coastguard Ariel's obviously out of range, and no passing marine traffic to 'relay' or help. A para-rocket flare only has a height of 300m so generally wouldn't get above the skyline, and lets face it the chances of someone seeing it and reporting are beyond slim.
A PLB is probably your only realistic option of raising the alarm in a timely manner somewhere like Loch Monar, Loch Trieg ect, but even then it would be very useful if you had a marine VHF. If a registered PLB is activated by a kayaker (probably following a shore contact check from your PLB registration details), the coastguard (whom is responsible for rescue in larger inland bodies of water) is going to most likely task a helicopter as there are really no other options (except Loch Ness & Loch Lomond with the RNLI), and will have briefed them that you have a VHF and your VHF call-sign.
Being able to talk to that helicopter whether to guide them on to you, or tell them the situation is immensely valuable. Imagine being able to tell that helicopter Mayday, - Kayak party XXX, -position XXX, - 8 party members - now party split, three capsized down wind of my position, paddling red boats, wearing yellow jackets. five accounted for now ashore at my position.
From the PLB activation that helicopter will have been tasked, possibly not knowing how many people are involved and what the situation is, with one 60 second broadcast they have gone to knowing how many people to recover i.e. they are not done when they spot the first caz, a decreased the search area and an upward point not to waste time going beyond, & to ignore (at least initially) that obvious bright mass of colour that is you and your four mates and their boats onshore. Plus you have speeded a focused search up.
Without the VHF, the choppers going to look for people in the water even if they see you, if after a few sweeps they see nothing, they'll most likely do a couple of circuits to gauge scale & discuss options, then probably come into land / winch the crew man down at a safe location with a fly-away or emergency put-down option, probably away from you so as to avoid blowing you and your boats into a tangled mess potentially resulting in flying debris risks to their air intakes (very bad day) and injuries to you (not so bad day), The winchie then has got to walk over to you hoping to be told that you had a bit of bother and that you are all together and ashore getting your **** together and you really apologise for causing all the fuss but at the time it was going from bad to worse, thank you very much for responding & no ones injured, no ones hypothermic, no ones at risk of secondary drowning etc. I.e. the best sort of 'wet job' situation the crew could hope for.
Only to be told all of the missing three, run back and brief the rest of the crew while they take off.....and that it is a bad day after all.
..................it might 'just' if the dice land in your favour, have a happy ending,
So having Marine VHF(s) rather than something else is still very worthwhile.