One of the first things you need to know BEFORE becoming an active bluewater cruiser is to know how to send a MAYDAY. Sure, the VHF radio is equipped with a red ‘panic’ type button but that’s not necessarily going to save you. Your chances of getting help increase drastically if you follow up an alarm with a verbal VHF broadcast.
Furthermore, what if it’s you that’s gone overboard or is incapacitated? Make sure you have this MAYDAY template pasted near your VHF (perhaps under the nav station desktop?) so that other family or crew members can follow the text and get the help needed.
Sending a MAYDAY
This checklist can be used for sending a MAYDAY with any vessel fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC). Distress alerts should be made only when immediate assistance is required for the vessel you’re on. If immediate assistance is needed for another vessel do not use this procedure. Consider doing a MAYDAY Relay if another vessel is in trouble and unable to use the Radio. Make sure to get our FREE MAYDAY Template Here
Before sending a MAYDAY, familiarize yourself with these details
Vessel name ________________________
MMSI Number _____________________
Call Sign ____________________________
Position (lat/long)_____________________
Using the VHF Radio for sending a MAYDAY
- Make sure the radio is on (Check the main battery switch and VHF power)
- Open the cover over the red distress button
- Press the red distress button and hold while it counts down (3 seconds)
- If prompted to choose a relevant distress reason (fire, sinking, man overboard, etc.) do so and follow instructions
- Send an alert by pressing the button for 5 seconds (this will send an electronic alert to all boats/stations within range forcing their radio alarms to go off)
- You may or may not receive an acknowledgment that will be shown on your radio screen. Regardless as to whether an acknowledgment is received or not count for 15 seconds.
- Pick up the radio voice transmitter and depress the side button to announce the following broadcast. IMPORTANT: Speak as slowly as possible. Vessels in your area will be writing your broadcast down on paper.
Sending a MAYDAY Broadcast
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
This is _____________________, _____________________, _____________________.
(Name of the vessel spoken 3 times).
Call Sign ___________________ (Read Call Sign slowly)
MMSI _____________________ (Read MMSI number slowly)
MAYDAY _____________________ (Name of vessel spoken once)
Call Sign ___________________ (Read Call Sign slowly)
MMSI _____________________ (Read MMSI number slowly)
My position is ___________________________________________________________________ (Read your latitude and longitude or bearing and distance from a charted object)
The nature of distress is ________________________________ (Sinking, fire, etc.)
I require immediate assistance
We have _____ persons on board
Any other information – type of vessel, hull color, whether or not there is a life raft, etc. _____________________________________________________________________
Over (Remove finger from transmit button)
MAYDAY Acknowledgement
Keep listening on channel 16 for an acknowledgment
If an acknowledgment is not received repeat the voice distress call and message
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Make sure to get our FREE MAYDAY Template Here
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Sending a MAYDAY Example
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. This is Selene, Selene, Selene.
Call Sign V (Victor) X (X-ray) 4139.
MMSI number 234001547.
MAYDAY Selene.
Call Sign V (Victor) X (X-ray) 4139.
MMSI number 234001547.
My position is four-nine-degrees, three-eight decimal four-five North and Zero-Zero-Six degrees, two-zero decimal one-four West. The nature of my distress is an engine fire. I require immediate assistance. We have 4 people on board.
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If you’d like this MAYDAY template in a Word version so you can customize it to hold your unique boat details (name, call sign, and MMSI) AND have fully customizable templates for all the various VHF Broadcasts, including making a ship-to-ship call, MAYDAY Relay, Pan-Pan, Securite, Request for Medical Help, DSC Cancellation in addition to helpful hints, tips and best practice for the VHF. Get the full scoop here: VHF Radio Checklists And Templates For Sailors.
Reader Feedback
***** Five Star Review – Julie Applegate
Easy to understand verbiage and simple templates that make communicating easy.
Talking on a VHF makes me very nervous as I feel everyone in the world is listening and if I do not say the right thing then I will get forced to walk a plank.
With this book, it breaks down the procedure in small steps and provides proper background. I have taken the templates and customized them with our boat name so anyone on our boat can simply read off the list and feel confident that they will not embarrass themselves.
***** Five Star Review – Robert
As a first-time sailboat owner, I found the book extremely informative. With proper instruction of VHF procedures, I can now feel confident that I can communicate properly in times of need. The templates are helpful and will be installed onboard.
***** Five Star Review – Marianne M.
You need this!
Very easy to understand and very helpful.
***** Five Star Review – Flyfisher250
Most Helpful Checklist and Templates. It makes a complicated subject understandable. Very helpful.
Other Articles of Interest?
- VHF Radio Course – Is It Worth Taking?
- VHF Radio Marine for Sailing Cruisers
- How To Make A VHF Radio Call