Day sailors and weekend cruisers do not often associate ham radio with sailing but for offshore racers, long distance cruisers, and passage-makers, long range communications are more than a convenience.
Whether you call it HF radio, shortwave, or SSB “it” is an important element of long-range communication. For marine band SSB you are required to have an FCC ship’s station license (for the boat) and a restricted radio operator’s permit (for you). For those of us who love long distance sailing, ham radio provides an outstanding supplement to the marine bands.
Ham radio requires a separate license that tests knowledge of basic radio electronics and some radio regulations. Ham radio clubs provide training classes, there are online resources, and of course license manuals to study from. The best of news for many is that Morse code is no longer required!
The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) has an FCC Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team to test for ham radio licenses. SSCA VEs have delivered ham radio tests in Palau, in New Zealand, in Florida, Connecticut, and most recently in Galesville MD.
The picture shows the test team (with heads up) and examinees (heads down) at Pirates Cove Restaurant and Marina. Much appreciation for their support to the cruising community.
For more information on courses and testing see arrl.org. For more information about SSCA see ssca.org.
