This week’s San Diego maritime VHF traffic was led by a boater aboard a 22-foot Sea Ray who issued a Mayday as the vessel was sinking near the Fly Navy sign, with two people aboard and no working GPS. Additional traffic captured a vessel striking the rocks at Zuniga Jetty and three people aboard the 24-foot Foxtail left dead in the water two miles outside the jetties after its engine shut down.
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. I am a 22-foot Sea Ray. I am currently sinking, over. Two persons are on board. My GPS shut off, and I’m taking on water rapidly. I’m right in front of the Fly Navy sign, maybe 500 yards past the green buoy. I have my navigation lights and a blue underwater light on. I have my phone flashlight in the air.
San Diego Coast Guard, San Diego Coast Guard, my boat’s on the rocks. I’m at Zuniga Jetty, hitting the rocks right now. I need assistance—my boat is hitting the rocks at Zuniga Jetty right now.
San Diego Lifeguard, San Diego Lifeguard, San Diego Lifeguard, this is Foxtail. I’m just outside the jetties, about two miles, and I am dead in the water needing assistance. I’m in a 24-foot Sea Fox, white with blue trim. My engine shut off, and I need a tow. I have three persons on board.
Maritime VHF activity built through the week and peaked on Saturday with 1,783 transmissions. The week included 606 Sécurité broadcasts, 72 Pan Pan transmissions and 356 hails, with urgent traffic appearing most frequently from Friday through Sunday.
Total transmissions: 7,499
Pan Pan transmissions: 72
Sécurité broadcasts: 606
Mayday transmissions: 6