SSCA’s Trans-Atlantic Cruisers’ Net (SSCA TACN)

• 8104 kHz at 1215 UTC.
• 8152 at 1700 Eastern Time (Doo Dah/SSCA Trans-Atlantic Cruisers’ Net).
• Then when the Doo Dah Net/SSCA TACN concludes (usually 10-15 minutes) all net controllers and relay stations will switch to frequency 12.350 to pick up the vessels farther out at sea.

The Net is in operation during the traditional Trans-Atlantic crossing seasons of mid-April thru early July and mid-October thru Christmas. Cruisers do not have to be SSCA members to utilize the service. This service will take position reports, do phone patches to family/friends, medical or mechanical professionals, or conduct Internet searches.

The primary participants are:

Glenn Tuttle, Coastal Station KPK, Punta Gorda, FL
Chris Parker, Coastal Station WCY, Lakeland, FL
Jim West, Coastal Station KJM, Ellijay, GA
Dick Giddings, Coastal Station, KNC, Dover, NC

The Net provides position reports, phone patches to family, friends, medical or mechanical professionals, or internet searches, plus invaluable advice from Chris Parker of the Marine Weather Center on weather and currents.

Vessels participating in the Net must have:

1. A Float Plan, which can be found at this link.
2. An alternate means of communication should the SSB propagation be poor or you are having radio issues. This alternate means of communication must have the ability to send and receive E-mail or text messages via a satellite device, such as an Iridium Go, Inmarsat, Garmin In Reach, or even a SPOT, although the SPOT devices are usually unreliable in far reaching areas due to the use of the inferior Globalstar Satellite system.

If you comply with these terms, and agree to do your best to check in every day, SSCA will be glad to accept your Float Plan. Send to KPK@ssca.org.

The Net does not send or share this information with the Coast Guard unless there is some type of emergency on your vessel. If nothing is heard from you for two days in a row, it will be assumed you are in trouble and SSCA will notify your family as well as the appropriate Search & Rescue Authorities. SSCA will keep your float plan but your primary emergency contact should be a close friend or family member who is familiar with your boat and cruising plans. They should also have a copy of your float plan. SSCA can not be your primary emergency contact.

SSCA US East Coast/West Atlantic Nets

Summer 2025 SSCA expanded support of Marine HF radio nets to seasonal regional nets for the Chesapeake and southern New England, in addition to the Maine net of recent years. The nets are open to all cruisers and will be supported by AI feeds summarizing weather, navigation issues, and fun events of interest.

The seasonal nets will operate on separate frequencies at 0700 hours ET:

• Chesapeake Bay: mid-May to end October: 4417 (4C)
• Southern New England: mid-June to mid-September: 4149 (4B)
• Maine: July 1 to mid-September: 4006 at 0700 and 6227 (6B) at 0715

SSCA and Ocean Cruising Club members have for several years quietly supported an 0700 net among Maine cruisers.  SSCA lifetime member Russell Frazer has been the anchor boat for that net. In addition to the safety and check-in work, cruisers share news of concerts, fireworks, art shows, races, tall ships and their next anchorage.

Net time is 0700. The 4MHz band is relatively short distance – 200 miles +/-. The 0700 hour fits well with other morning HF and MF services reaching further (“MF” is marine HF):

• 0730 ET MF Chris Parker radio (and internet) US E Coast & W Atlantic
• 0745 ET HF WRCC – Waterway Radio – 7268MHz Chesapeake to Florida and Bahamas; ham only
• 0815 EDT MF KPK/Boatwatch 8104MHz Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean
• 0830 EDT MF Cruiseheimers 8152 MHz – Florida based; relays follow the snowbird migration to Chesapeake.

European Maritime Mobile Net

• 14297 kHz at 1900 UTC. HAM net.

UK Maritime Mobile Net

• 14303 kHz at 0800 & 1800 UTC
• http://www.qrz.com/

TransAtlantic Net

• 21400 kHz at 1300 UTC. HAM net.