Running an SSB radio net

Well, I ran my first radio net the other morning. After many months of being either a participant or troll (someone who lurks and listens in but does not check in) I was roped into running a net. 

The net we listen to is the Pacific Magellan every morning. It started with a group who left Panama at roughly the same time. As the group spread out over time so it fractured into the Eastern Pacific Magellan and the Western Pacific Magellan. It seems that most of the group are slower than us as many are going to New Zealand and as such we moved into the Western Pacific Net with only a few vessels checking in (hence I did my bit to pick up a morning or two). 

It is reassuring thing to know that there are people out there that have your lat and long up to date within the last 24 hours should anything happen. 

Here is my script:

Good morning cruisers; this is Orion for the Western Pacific Magellan net, can I get a radio check please?

<Wait for a vessel further away to confirm your broadcast strength and readability>

Firstly I will call for any emergency, medical or priority traffic. Any emergency, medical or priority traffic, please come now.

<Wait 10 seconds for any broadcasts> 

Nothing heard. {You can ask another vessel to rebroadcast / relay for any priority traffic if your SSB has poor propagation} 

Any vessels underway, please come now. 

<Wait as vessels underway check in with their vessel names> {If you are like me, it pays to write down the vessel names / order as they check in}

Vessel {xxxx} please go ahead with your check in.

{As net controller, you need to write down all the passage details for the vessel as you may be responsible for relaying it on to others should there be an issue etc. The details to collect for each vessel include:

Lat & long

Course (magnetic or true)

Speed (knots)

Weather conditions (including wind direction and speed, swell size and direction)

Other (destination)

After the vessel has broadcast, you need to repeat all the details they have offered to ensure correct documentation.}

All well on board? 

<Wait for reply>

Anything further for the net? 

<Wait for reply> {sometime a vessel may request traffic with another or have a question for the fleet}

Clear with {vessel name}. 

{Repeat vessel check in for all the vessels}

{You could ask a vessel further away to perform a relay for additional vessels underway if you wish}

Any vessels at anchor who wish to check in, please come now.

<Wait as vessels underway check in with their vessel names>

{Go through the list of vessel names that checked in and they will give a brief summary of where they are and if they require traffic with another vessel}

Anyone have anything further for the net today?

<wait for any further traffic>

{If there is nothing further…}

This is Orion for the Western Pacific Magellan net closing the net for today. 

{If there were vessels that wanted traffic with each other, you let them know that the frequency is now clear for their traffic}

…Then you listen in (read eavesdrop) to hear if they have any interesting gossip. Which generally they don't. 

As a note, if you are reading this to run a net (these are fairly informal cruisers nets) please don't  bore everyone with you boat name AND call sign. No one cares that you are "Whiskey, Alpha, November, Kilo, Echo, Romeo, 5, 9, 1, 6!!!!

Dylan out!