Reading the Mail in Georgetown 02/20/13

 I thought instead of describing our classic volleyball moves and the new drink  we discovered yesterday, I might give you a taste of communications aboard.  With society becoming so engrained in the use of cellular and electronics, reverting back to a more simplistic means of communication takes some adjustment at first.

Although cell phones are still quite common as primary communication for the intracoastal waterway along the East Coast, once you’ve left American waters, everything changes.  That’s when the mandatory and most basic piece of boating equipment, your VHF radio, becomes your lifeblood. 

Our day in Georgetown starts by turning the VHF on and the chatter begins.  In the islands, the VHF has been and still is the primary means of communication.  Every home and business has a radio, with channel 16 being the station for hailing another party.  When in a harbor such as Georgetown, channel 68 is used for this purpose.

So we’re tuned into 68 and it starts.

White Wing, White Wing, this is Stargazer.  Come back.

Pegasus, Java here.

White Wing, Stargazer.  Pick a channel.

Let’s go to 71.

Java, Pegasus back at ya.

Go to our regular channel, Pegasus.

Not only is the chatter pretty continuous throughout the day, the boat names themselves provide entertainment.  Escapaid, Breaking Wind, Between the Sheets to Southern Yankee and Independencia – you hear it all! 

Of course when you are in trouble or needing some kind of help, this is not a bad way to get it.  Get on the hailing channel and someone is always there.  Medical emergencies, escaped dinghies, needing a ride into town or even a taxi just requires an announcement on the radio.   If help isn’t immediately available, it won’t be but minutes before it’s found!

Another aspect of life with radios is lurking or “reading the mail”.  This practice is following conversations as boats choose and switch channels.  Wondering what Sea Shell and Pandora’s plans are?  Just switch to 72 when the hails come through and, voila, you’re an insider!  

Thankfully, this practice is widely accepted and anything that needs to remain private must be accomplished while in person.  It’s not at all uncommon for someone you just met to know where your next port destination is or where you were drinking last night!  It can be embarrassing in the beginning, realizing you just referenced something you heard while hiding on the line but everyone just smiles and says they had listened to you not minutes before!

So I sit here writing as the French Canadians hail each other from the funny house boats in the neighboring cove.   Papa YA, Papa YA, this in Pineapple Ouse (or Papaya, Papaya, this is Pineapple House - without the accent! )  It took me time before I got that one!  Breaking Wind is trying to find Déjà vu – and the fun continues. 

And so it goes for a taste of life on board.  Sit tight and wait for your next installment – could be dealing with bodily functions aboard or maybe the effects of salt and sand on daily living!  Better yet – Georgetown has a great airport and we’ve got a spare room . . . come get a taste of it for yourself!!