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wrote:
Guys,

in the boatless wintertime I have lots of time on my hands to
ponder
about theoretical questions like this:

I wonder in what situations should we send a MAYDAY and/or fire a red
parachute flare (not the little flare)?

I know the official lingo: If there is a threat to life or health.

"Mayday" is a distress call indicating that a vessel or person is in
grave or imminent danger (of loss of life or property) and is
requesting immediate assistance. Key qualifiers here are "grave" or
"imminent" and the need for immediate assitance to get out of the
sitiuation.

But lets look at actual examples.

- Please give examples when you DID send a MAYDAY for yourself or
others? And / or fired a red (SOLAS) or one of the required invisible
flares?

I have called for assitance for others, and responded to calls. I have
never made a "Mayday" call as I have never been a position to need to.

- Please give examples where you DID not do such but were wondering
if
you should (have).

- Please MAKE UP examples where you would or would not send mayday or
launch a flare.

Examples:

- I respond to a CG call that someone fell off a bridge (in the
water).
I get there, nobody else is there. Flare to attract others?

No flare. The Coast Guard knows where the problem is - that's how you
found out. Contact the Coast Guard, tell them you are there, tell them
what you observe (For example: "I have not seen a victim, but I am
looking...")

- I see a powerboat drifting under wind and waves into a cliff. I
know
it WILL be nasty but isnt yet. My ETA would be 10 minutes. Wait, til
they crash, then mayday? Wait til they crash, go there, then mayday?

Did the boat signal you indicating they are in distress? If they did,
the correct signal would be "mayday relay" as you are not the one in
distress but you are relaying a distress call. However, if your
relaying the message in good faith for what appears to be bonafide case
of distress, nobody will likely quibble about the term you used.

Given the information in your example, I might call the Coast Guard and
tell them that I see what may be an emergency, but I would not use the
"mayday" distress signal.

If what I saw really appeared to be a problem, I might broadcast an
urgent message with the "pan pan" urgency signal.

It should be noted that it is not appropriate to direct a distress
call. Don't call "Mayday Mayday Mayday," then say "Come in Coast
Guard." A distress call means you want help from anyone that can hear
you if possible.

- From the distance I see that 2 boats collided, but dont kow if
anybody got hurt. Mayday or go there first?

"Pan pan," broadcast what you have seen and indicate you are going
there. Someone may be closer but didn't see it happen and your message
may alert them. After your call, the Coast Guard will likely contact
you and ask for more information or confirm what they copied.

Unless I saw fire, or other obvious signs of imminent danger to the
boats' occupants, I would not use "mayday."

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