Yourbestsail · video

What this video covers

Standard VHF radio protocol requires specific numerical ratings for signal intelligibility, ranging from 1 (unintelligible) to 5 (perfectly intelligible).0:52 Sailors should avoid subjective phrases like "five by five" in favor of the official ITU and IMO scale.1:43 When initiating a routine call to a coast station, such as Ibiza Radio or Cabo de la Nau Radio, vessels should use channel 16 for the initial contact before switching to a designated working channel.4:16 Operators must avoid the "prohibited periods"—the first three minutes of every hour and half-hour—to ensure clear channels for distress traffic.5:00 During a routine request for a weather forecast, the vessel Oriol Star contacts Ibiza Radio on channel 16 at 25 watts, then shifts to channel 3 to receive the report.6:09 Coast stations also provide navigation monitoring services for long passages, where they track a vessel's progress and verify arrival at the destination.7:57 Proper radio etiquette concludes with a clear sign-off, avoiding redundant phrases like "over and out."3:35

More from Yourbestsail

The genoa sheet car (Again!)Sep 2026The function of the centerboardAug 2026Marinas and Yacht Clubs: ProceduresAug 2026The 10 most common mistakes when docking a boatJun 2026

From Yourbestsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.