Why a clear call matters

Approaching an unfamiliar marina at the end of a long passage, the last thing you want is a muddled radio call. Marina staff are often juggling berthing, fuel sales, lock operations and a dozen other tasks. A concise, correctly phrased VHF call tells them you are competent, gives them the information they need, and gets you a berth allocation or waiting instruction without fuss. It also keeps the airwaves clear for other vessels. In UK coastal sailing, where channels are busy and weather can turn, good radio etiquette is not formality for its own sake—it is a practical safety and courtesy tool.

Know your channels before you call

In the UK, most marinas monitor a specific working channel. The common ones are VHF Channel 80 (duplex) and Channel 37 (M1) (simplex). Some smaller harbours use Channel 37 (M1) or Channel 6 for port operations. Find the correct channel in your pilot book, almanac, or on the marina's website before you set out. If you are unsure, call on Channel 16—the distress, safety and calling channel—but keep it brief. Say: "Oystercatcher Marina, Oystercatcher Marina, this is yacht Sea Breeze, request working channel, over." They will reply with the channel to switch to. Do not launch into a long request on Channel 16. Channel 80 is duplex, so a handheld may not work; a fixed set usually does. If you only have a handheld, check whether the marina uses simplex Channel 37 (M1).

Listen before you speak

Before pressing transmit, listen. Wait for a clear gap in traffic. If you hear another vessel mid-conversation, wait until they finish. If you hear a distress alert, do not transmit unless you are responding. Pressing transmit while someone else is talking blocks their signal and is deeply irritating. Set your radio to low power if you are close to the marina—usually within a mile or two. High power from close range causes interference. Make sure your volume is up and you are on the correct channel. A few seconds of listening saves a lot of repeated calls.

The call itself: phrasing and content

Use the standard format: called station, called station, this is your station, your station. For example: "Oystercatcher Marina, Oystercatcher Marina, this is yacht Sea Breeze, Sea Breeze, over." Speak slowly and clearly. Give your boat name, type, length, draft, position and ETA. For instance: "We are a 10-metre sailing yacht, draft 1.8 metres, approaching from the east, one mile off the harbour entrance, requesting a visitor berth for tonight, over." If your boat name is unusual, spell it using the phonetic alphabet. If you need fuel, water, electricity, or a specific depth, mention it—but keep the initial call short. Avoid slang and long stories. Never say "over and out"—use "over" to invite a reply and "out" when the exchange is finished.

After the reply: confirming and closing

When the marina replies, listen carefully. Write down the berth number, pontoon, and any instructions about locks, bridges, or tidal gates. Repeat back the key details to confirm: "So that's berth 42 on C pontoon, waiting for the lock at 14:30, over." If you did not understand, ask them to "say again" or to "confirm berth number". Do not guess. Once you have the information, thank them and say "out". If you are asked to standby, acknowledge and wait. Do not keep calling for updates every few minutes. If you are delayed, call once to inform them. When you arrive, switch off your radio or keep it on low volume unless you need to call again.

Common mistakes and special situations

One frequent error is calling on Channel 16 and then staying there for a chat. Channel 16 is for distress and calling only; move to a working channel as soon as possible. Another is assuming all marinas use Channel 80—always check. If you are in a busy harbour with port control, they may use Channel 12 or Channel 11 for port operations. Call port control first, then the marina. Finally, remember that silence is part of the procedure. After you say "over", wait a full few seconds before calling again. If there is no reply after two attempts, wait five minutes and try once more, or call on Channel 16 to ask them to move to a working channel. Patience and clarity will always get you a better response than persistence and volume.