One of our pastimes at anchor is listening to channel 68, which in the Abacos is the cruisers’ hailing channel or frequency. A hailing frequency is a VHF radio channel that cruisers use to call other boaters, marinas or emergency services. For example, in the states, channel 16 is use to call the Coast Guard or a tow boat. In the Bahamas, BASRA (the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Assoc.) monitors channel 16, the Hopetown Fire Brigade monitors channel 72, and other emergency services (police, ambulance) monitor channel 80. The Cruisers Net makes weather, community and news announcements daily on channel 68. The Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club makes club announcements on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings on channel 78. Marsh Harbour taxis can be hailed on channel 06. For boaters, VHF radios often take the place of cell phones.

 

As one listens to channel 68, one becomes aware of radio protocols and etiquette. Typically, one boat (e.g. Liahona) will call another boat (e.g. Wild Matilda) by saying, “Wild Matilda, Wild Matilda. Liahona.” Wild Matilda will answer, “Liahona, up one” or “Liahona, down one” or “Liahona, 18” meaning go to channel 69 or to channel 67 or to channel 18. Liahona will acknowledge by saying “Up one” to indicate it’s okay to go to channel 69 or “Down one” or “Liahona 18”, etc. If either boater were to start talking on the hailing frequency, they would probably get gently chastised by another listener and asked to go to another channel.

 

Sometimes one is tempted to eavesdrop on others’ conversations by switching the radio to the channel on which they are conversing, but while this is probably common practice, one rarely acknowledges this type of behavior. It does seem, though, that when you are chatting with folks at happy hour, they seem know where you’ve been, what you’ve been doing, who you’ve been with, etc.

 

One of the fascinating aspects of monitoring the hailing frequency is listening to all of the boat names. Names can be simple (Mary B) or obscure (Arwenstar) references to other people, real or imaginary. Some people use biblical names (Agur’s Wish), native American spirit names (Manitou), Buddhist names (Saranam) or fictional names (Youwarkee). Many sailors, of course, like to use wind (Windfall, Windswept, Wind Kissed, Windspray) or sea (Sea Smoke, Sea Echo, Sea Fox, Sea Lion, Roving Seas) or star (Stargazer, Star Dancer, Danali Star) in their boat’s name. Others like to name their boat after a sea bird (Shearwater, Puffin, Pelican, Eagle) or something else with wings (Pegasus, the winged mythological horse or Youwarkee, the half-woman, half-bird creature from Robert Paltock’s 1751 novel). Some use other languages to keep us guessing. Exotic sounding Ar Sgrail is actually just the Gaelic name for the medium-sized long-winged Shearwater. Paloma means pigeon (or dove) in Spanish, Te Amor, Ma Cheri, Bon Ami, Belle Ami – my love, my good friend, my beautiful friend – all romantic exotic-sounding expressions of the owners’ love for boating.

 

Boat names can tell us about the boat owner. Talespinner belongs to a famous mystery writer, Breakaway belongs to a former ice hockey player, and Privacy belongs to a famous golfer who probably wishes he had some. No doubt, the owners of Tarheel come from North Carolina while those on Canadian Odyssey hail from Canada (or at least the boat does!). Camanguista is Portugese for diamond trafficker. We assume that the owners of Last Call, Night Cap and One Olive or Two? enjoy the occasional alcoholic libation, but we don’t know quite what to think about the owner of Naughty Lady!

 

Many cruisers use the name of their boat to illustrate the mental benefits of sailing (Rejuvenation, Freedom, Therapy, Remedy, Exit Strategy) and how great they feel (Fancy Free, No Agenda, Brilliant, Take It Easy, Triple Seven) or not (No Justice, Catatonic).

 

Actually, we suspect that Catatonic belongs to a catamaran owner and refers to the “cat” being a tonic. Many catamaran owners use “cat” in their boat’s name (Stray Cat, Magnifi Cat) while Hattaras owners use “hat” (Hat Trick, Hat Time). 

 

Some names leave us feeling confused. Chautauqua could be an adult education movement, a city in Illinois, Kansas, New York or Ohio, or a word for philosophical musings. (We’ll go with philosophical musings.) Ciganka could be a hill in Slovakia or the name of a foreign movie from 1953. Kilissa could be a rock singer from Buffalo, New York or a historic battle in Turkey. Papillion could refer to the famous book, movie, ballet, or dog breed!

 

Our favorite name, of course, is Liahona. Many people think it is Hawaiian, but it is actually from The Book of Mormon. The previous owner was Mormon, and he explained that in the Book of Mormon, Liahona is a compass of faith. We decided that, while we are not Mormons, we like that; if you have faith in the boat, she will get you where you want to go. And she has.