OCC Atlantic Crossing West to East (AWE) Facebook Group Newsletter

Editor's Note: I wrote this for the OCC AWE Facebook Group. I am posting it here in case it helps others in need. 

Welcome to the AWE Group!

If you’ve joined this group, then you share with your fellow members several unfortunate circumstances. Chances are, you are stuck somewhere you didn’t plan to be and are evaluating what to do next to stay a step ahead of the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The OCC has been working with Noonsite to gather information from our helpful Port Officers around the world and make the information available to cruisers in one central location. Noonsite’s listing of Port Restrictions is the most complete and up-to-date information available. If you see something that needs updating, please send it to Sue Richards at Noonsite@noonsite.com.

The OCC has also petitioned World Sailing to represent cruisers in countries where draconian measures are being put into place that endanger cruisers’ safety, and we have encouraged other organisations to do the same. Finally, we have opened up some of our Facebook pages for cruisers facing similar circumstances to share information and ideas and weigh options. Past OCC Flag Officer Peter Whatley, currently in Antigua, s/v Henry, has offered to lead the charge and OCC Facebook Administrator Frances Rennie in Scotland is facilitating the discussion and lending support. OCC Vice Commodore Daria Blackwell in Ireland is leading the communications effort.

The OCC Caribbean SSB Net is operational on 6227 @0730h EST run by Gordon s/v Coho in Martinique at St Anne. Please feel free to check-in. Starts on 6227usb and drops to 4027usb around 0740hrs. Propagation has been poor this year. Unfortunately, some days his radio jams on 4mhz so he’s not guaranteed to be on 4027 daily. For those having trouble receiving the OCC Net, try the SSCA HF Radio Voice Service. Station KPK broadcasts daily at 1215 UTC (0715 Eastern Standard Time or 0815 Eastern Daylight Time) on frequency 8104. All vessels are welcome and encouraged to participate in this service and relays are encouraged.

Worldwide Covid-19 restrictions effectively mean that most, if not all, cruising, is currently prohibited or severely restricted. As of this morning, there is no country that does not report at least one case. A map of the distribution of the virus is being updated by Johns Hopkins University. The WHO is providing daily briefings and advice on the current understanding of the behaviour of the Coronavirus and what precautions to take.

We will send this newsletter out to all cruisers who have asked to be kept in the information loop.

What measures are being considered by the Caribbean fleet?

Cruisers heading to the US are joining the Salty Dawg Homeward Bound Flotilla for US citizens. At this time, it appears that US Citizens will be permitted to repatriate. No foreign nationals are being admitted into the US so vessels with non-US citizens as crew will not be allowed entry. The Salty Dawg Sailing Association is offering free-of-charge weather routing, vessel tracking, and entry assistance for northbound cruisers. Please pass the word to any interested parties.

Cruisers heading for the UK, Ireland and Europe have several options to consider:

1) Remain where you are, haul out if possible, fly home if there are flights available. If this is an option you might consider but there are no flights, the advice is to register with your local consulate in case your country of residence or citizenship organises repatriation flights. Germany, UK and Ireland are among the countries known to be trying to repatriate their citizens from abroad.

2)Remain where you are for now and wait to see if restrictions ease to enable movement to hurricane-safe locations. It appears at this time that restrictions for many countries will remain in place until at least the end of April, most likely longer.

3) Yacht transport ships scheduled to return to the UK from the Caribbean (DYT and SSYT) may still be running but some sailings have been cancelled.

4) Sail home once the weather improves. Our PO for Horta has arranged for yachts to stop in the Azores for re-provisioning and taking on fuel and water. No one is permitted to disembark.

The Cruising Association RATS have coordinated information for Europe/UK and have posted it online here. The RYA has issued guidance for recreational boaters.

If a number of vessels are interested in an informal flotilla providing radio contact, weather information, and possibly support on entry to European and UK ports, the OCC may help facilitate that. Please let us know what information you would like to see and what support you might need that the OCC could muster on your behalf.

Until then, please try to enjoy your stay wherever you are and please cooperate with local authorities’ restrictions.

Here are a few useful links:

· OCC Atlantic Crossing West to East FB page
· OCC Caribbean Net+
· Registration for OCC Fleet Map
· Noonsite Covid-19 Port Restrictions
· Cruising Association (Covid-19 RATS)
· WHO Covid-19 Update
· Covid-19 Global Map (Johns Hopkins)
· SSCA KPK SSB Net
· Waterway Guide Marina Service Reports and Access

Disclaimer: Any advice has been prepared voluntarily by the Ocean Cruising Club, its members and others, and they have tried to ensure that the contents are accurate. However, the Ocean Cruising Club, its employees, contributors and relevant members shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience of any kind arising in connection with the use of such advice, save to the extent required by applicable law.