Paddling in the Gulf Islands I contacted Vancouver Traffic on VHF to tell them of my intended crossing of ferry lanes. They were very appreciative. I left the radio on and could clearly hear them warning large ships of my presence. I called again to inform them that I was across. Is there a similar traffic control in the San Juans to tell of my expected crossing of Rosario Strait? Channel number? Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Gerald Foodman wrote: > > Paddling in the Gulf Islands I contacted Vancouver Traffic on VHF to tell > them of my intended crossing of ferry lanes. They were very appreciative. > ... Is there a similar traffic control in the San Juans to tell of my > expected crossing of Rosario Strait? Channel number? In the San Juans (and throughout the North Puget Sound area) the channel for "Traffic" is 5A. (Please note the "A".) In the South Puget Sound area the channel is 14. Most folks (including myself) call them "Traffic" (e.g., "Traffic, this is Titanic...). However they are also called "Seattle Traffic", and I believe their official name is "Vessel Traffic Service", although I have never heard anyone use that name. Is this more than you wanted to know? Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington (from a perch high above the San Juans...) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 03:44 PM 6/1/98 , Gerald Foodman wrote: >Paddling in the Gulf Islands I contacted Vancouver Traffic on VHF to tell >them of my intended crossing of ferry lanes. They were very appreciative. >I left the radio on and could clearly hear them warning large ships of my >presence. I called again to inform them that I was across. > >Is there a similar traffic control in the San Juans to tell of my expected >crossing of Rosario Strait? Channel number? I thought that everyone monitored Channel 16, then shifted to another to talk. Am I wrong in this? ________________________________________________________________ Doug Barnard Virtual Acreage Agoura, California (near L.A.) Visualization in 2D/3D/4D http://virtualacreage.com 818-991-9328 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Barnard wrote: Gerry wrote: > >Is there a similar traffic control in the San Juans to tell of my expected > >crossing of Rosario Strait? Channel number? > > I thought that everyone monitored Channel 16, then shifted to another to > talk. Am I wrong in this? Depends on the area. Where there are defined shipping lanes and "inland" waters, such as in Puget Sound and Georgia Strait (extends to/through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, I believe), shipping traffic is monitored somewhat like air traffic near busy air corridors. This keeps ships more or less aware of the other heavy hitters, and allows coordination of joint usage of turning zones, etc. A VHF channel is reserved for this. 16 is reserved for hailing and emergencies. The "traffic" channel in these areas gets too much use to be used for hailing. [In my area, 13 is used for bridge-to-bridge calls for shipping traffic in the Columbia River channel. I monitor it when I'm on the River, because I can pick up on conditions (fog, etc.) through eavesdropping on tugs and ships.] Yakkers crossing Rosario Strait can quickly become a hazard to shipping traffic they could not even see when they started their crossing. It's also nice to know of any heavy stuff headed your way before you start a crossing, and most (all?) ship's captains do not respond to the random "securite'" announcement on 16 -- the usual mechanism for warning of a crossing of the shipping channel. Hence, the use of "Seattle Traffic" to warn the big boys of some nearly invisible yaks crossing the lanes. Sometimes Seattle Traffic tells us to buzz off, I've heard. I've never used the service, so all my comments are based on second-hand info. Hagen should have better info. He lives up there. Should be a similar service for the lanes offshore of SoCal -- Santa Barbara Channel, etc. Ask around at the marina and see what the serious powerboat crowd does. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Seattle Traffic in the San Juans is 5A. While they have radar coverage of traffic in Rosario Strait, they cannot "see" within the islands. Bill Gerald Foodman wrote: > > Paddling in the Gulf Islands I contacted Vancouver Traffic on VHF to > tell > them of my intended crossing of ferry lanes. They were very > appreciative. > I left the radio on and could clearly hear them warning large ships of > my > presence. I called again to inform them that I was across. > > Is there a similar traffic control in the San Juans to tell of my > expected > crossing of Rosario Strait? Channel number? > > Jerry > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Gerald Foodman wrote: > > I will cross from Anacortes to James Island. Do you think it is appropriate > to actually call Seattle Traffic and tell them? Someone else in this thread > said they were unfriendly. Vancouver Traffic in the Gulf Islands has been > very friendly and helpful to me while crossing there. I don't think that they will be "friendly", but why does it matter if they are friendly or unfriendly? While they don't encourage folks to call before crossing the lanes, they will respond if you feel the need to call. The key is to keep your call SHORT and TO-THE-POINT. An appropriate script would be the following: Gerry: "Traffic, this is Sea Louse [or whatever your boat name is], over." (Note: Traffic does not want you to give your call sign--it wastes time--just give your boat name.) Traffic responds: "Sea Louse, Traffic, over." Gerry: "Traffic, Sea Louse. I am a 17' sea kayak departing Shannon Point crossing the lanes in Rosario Straight. What do you have in my immediate area?" Traffic: "We have nothing in your area [or maybe they respond, "The aircraft carrier Lexington is off Blakely Island heading south at a speed of 35 knots", in which case you had better wait...] That's it. Short and to the point. They are busy--don't waste their time. But don't be afraid to use the service, either. Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dan Hagen wrote: > > Gerald Foodman wrote: > > > > I will cross from Anacortes to James Island. Do you think it is appropriate > > to actually call Seattle Traffic and tell them? Someone else in this thread > > said they were unfriendly. Vancouver Traffic in the Gulf Islands has been > > very friendly and helpful to me while crossing there. > > I don't think that they will be "friendly", but why does it matter if > they are friendly or unfriendly? While they don't encourage folks to > call before crossing the lanes, they will respond if you feel the need > to call. The key is to keep your call SHORT and TO-THE-POINT. An > appropriate script would be the following: I went to a Seattle Vessel Traffic session at the West Coast SK Symposium where a Coast Guard representative encouraged us kayakers to use their services. Dave Carlson *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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