09.05.13-1220z---14.313 kHz---German Segel Yacht Galeb--Skipper: Wolfgang / af6io -- en route from Carribian back to Europe has lost the mast, and is continuing with one of her two engines, to save fuel...--position 12/5 1630z 38.00n 050.51w--sailing eastbound--German radio amateurs in group Seelotse (N-Germany) have organized continued watch, - every full hour, from minute 00 till minute 05 so as to have continued communication with the yacht--I have been invited to participate, - which I have accepted... -- so I am qrv on 14.313 kHz every full hour from minute 00 till minute 05...+
09-05-14--2056z---Seelotse---The German Yacht Galeb now proceeding with one engine to Horta (Azores)--Another yacht will speed up, so as to meet her, and give fuel...--she is 800 m from Azores... -
Crew on Galeb... -- Skipper Wolfgang, - and wife, - and three (3) children...
From Horta to Lisboa a convoy will be formed, so as to protect Galeb and crew against hard weather, - if necessary...
09.05.17-0835z...---The catamaran Yacht GALEB has yesterday from a freighter 500 liter fuel bekommen, - and is now with two engines running on way to Horta (Azores)--
Yachts, commercial vessels, amateur radio stations had continuous contact to GALEB the two days she was drifting...
That is the way amateurs in all the World are acting, - day and night supplying communication service to the human society, when somebody is in need...
The crew on the yacht are:
Wolfgang Merz, office clerk, 43,---his wife Carina, - daughter Milena 3, son Moritz 11 and son Felix 15 years old...
09.05.27-1529z---German Sailing Yacht Galeb arrived yesterday 11.30z en Horta (Azores)--- all well onbord---
The skipper, Wolfgang Mertz, and his crew are now relaxing in Horta, - later the crew, - Wolfgang's wife, and the three children, will fly back to Germany, whereas Wolfgang will sail the Galeb on her two engines to Portugal, for repair...
09.06.05-0211z---Galeb c/s AF6IO with Wolfgang and family - Nieje Leef c/s DH3PP with Rudi - both emergency rigged as both lost principal mast - left 1/6-1800z Ponta Delgada (Azores) and with bearing 88 degrees direction Cabo San Vicente (Portugal) - distance 790 miles- Larossa c/s DK1LAR with Manfried left Horta (Azores) 1/6 as back-up and will accompany till they reach Cabo San Vicente-- All Sailing Yachts are on continuous QRV on 14.313 kHz -- At the same time Seelotse - substituted by Feli - from North Germany will be QRV on same freq to make continued radio watch-+
09.06.05.-0837z---Sunjet - c/s C56dl - mit Volker has joined the convoy so now they are 4 Sailing Yachts on way... -- two are sailing - Sunjet and Larossa... -- and two are runing af engine, Galeb and Nieje Leef -- this morning 0800z (1000 local) all have been in conversation on 14.313 kHz... and with the Seelotse himself, - Christoph, from Hamburg -- other ham-sailors have joined in the conversation... -- the spirit is high -- they are running around 4-5 knots, so they will have a good week at sea...
09.06.07-0703z---Next radio net with radio traffic between the sailing yachts between Azores and Portugal will be at 0800z (=1000 local Middle European time)...
Participants at sea are Wolfgang / af6io of "Galeb", Rudi / dh3pp of sailing yacht "Nieje Leef", - both yachts without main mast and running on their engines...
...and the escorts of Volker / c56dl of sailing yacht "Sunjet", - and Manfried / dk1lar of sailing yacht "Larossa"...
Two new parties participate in the radio traffic, - peter / dl4lac, - and Bernd / dj7re...
The land part of the radio net is occupied by the Seelotse, - Christopb Schütz / dh2lc, - from North Germany... -- Der Seelotse is on the air with 500 Watt...
The radio net is held on 14.313 kHz... --
Other radio amateurs, who do not participate in the maritime group are also from time to time using the same freq. -
...at sea 7/6-18.30z---Radio net with sailing yacht skippers Wolfgang, - Rudi, - Volker, - and Manfred, -- Peter and Bernd accompany on the freq. - Newcomer on freq Hannes / oe1sjb - from the Carribic...
...at sea 7/6-23.17z ---sailling yachts surfing considerably on the waves... -- SY Sunjet reports position 37.02n 015.03w --
---at sea 8/6-09.00z---Rudi's autopilot makes problems, - but still running...
...and there are still 270 sm to Cabo San Vicente (Portugal)...
...at sea 8/6-18.00z---Volker / C56DL has engine trouble. Sea water has via the exhaust pipe entered into the engine, and mixed with oil. - I meant cleaning the engine, - oil change, - oil filter change. ---
...and then the power net broke down... -- Short circuit in a battery... - But Volker has quickly disconnected the battery, - and re-loaded... -- it is now working normally...
...position 8/6-19.00z---37.04n 013.13w...
...and there are 200 sm to Cabo San Vicente...
The other yachts are closing up... -- Good teamwork...