Who is Patrick Childress..and why a YouTube Channel?

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7364 Subscribers, 34 videos, and over 3 millions minutes of watch time now!

Watch the video to find out why Patrick loves YouTube…And Read below for his background…

Who is Patrick Childress, and why a Youtube channel? Patrick and Rebecca Childress are sailing around the world on their 1976 Valiant 40,  SV BRICK HOUSE, one of the sailing world’s most famous Bluewater Cruising sailboats.

Patrick learned to sail when he was a young child, and has played around and worked around both sailboats and powerboats for half a century.  Rebecca didn’t learn to sail until she was in her 20s when the sailing bug bit her hard!p, but has been at it with both feet in for a few decades now. But we are both still really young!!!

Patrick completed a solo-circumnavigation on Juggernaut, a Catalina 27 in his younger days. He has been published in most U.S. and many foreign sailing magazines, for both his writing and photography. He co-authored a book titled “The Cruising Guide to Narragansett Bay and the South Coast of Massachusetts”. He holds his 500 Ton Masters Captains License, and is an active delivery captain and instructor. His Ham license is a General.

Captain Patrick Childress owned a home improvement business in Newport, RI but retired in June 2007 to cruise a second time around the world on Brick House.

He is also, most importantly, Captain of SV Brick House, AND married to Rebecca Taft, now Rebecca Childress! (July 4, 2007)

Rebecca Childress is an accomplished sailor as well. She has owned many boats ranging from a 17′ MacGregor, a Catalina 27′ and a 36′ Catalina, and now the Valiant 40 that she purchased a few years before meeting Patrick. (Lucky Patrick hah?)

Before meeting Patrick and heading out on this circumnavigation, she had completed numerous blue water passages between Rhode Island and the Caribbean and passages across the Gulf of Mexico. Cruising has included the Bahama Islands, New England, Nova Scotia, the Florida coast and the BVIs, all in preparation for the day she could circumnavigate.

Rebecca holds her 50 Ton Masters Captains License with towing and sailing endorsements. She is also a General Licensed Ham Radio Operator.

She met Patrick on her first NARC Rally from Newport to Bermuda. She had always dreamed of sailing around the world, and knew that a passage to Bermuda in November would teach her more about heavy weather sailing since it is usually rough that time of year.

Several years later when Patrick and Rebecca got together, they set their sites on earning enough money to cruise around the world together! Three years later, they had saved just enough money and were ready to move aboard!

First mate Rebecca became a successful Realtor in Newport, RI, and has an extensive list of Computer Certifications and experience as well.

Now they are both retired!

After almost 8 years of exploring the Globe, they decided to add another crew member to Brick House. This was while in the island nation of Palau. They got Lily, a 7 week old practically wild little tiger kitten from a local apartment building. She has grown up on Brick House, learning how to sail ( the first time a freighter passed and stirred up a wake, she vomited at the sight of it. She hasn’t been sick since, even in 50 knots of wind!) She has learned how to fish, lets us know when people approach the boat, and has learned how to swim too.  With almost 15,000 miles and 18 countries under her belt, she is a well traveled cat. On the rare occasion she gets to a marina, she decides its time for her to to see the world! I guess she takes after us!

Together, we make a great team taking our home around the world,

Here is a good place to start…and continue your sailing education:

YouTube Sailboat How To Videos…Tools we use for growing our sailing Youtube channel that have worked

 

Ever wonder if Patrick wrote any books in his life?

FLASHBACK! The Day We Untied the docklines and left

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Indian Ocean Emergency Contacts for Sat Phone

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There are new updates to the Emergency Contacts for the Indian Ocean.

Here is the new version..most important is SRILANKA addition.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

IERCC +1.936.582.3190. This is for nonemergency at sea for SAR and MedEvac with GEOS Safety Solutions…This is for technical questions, changes of phone numbers etc. Make sure you complete registration and setup with them BEFORE you head out to sea.

For emergencies, press the SOS on the iridium GO or in the application and they will be called. You want to have completed registration and setup with them so they know who your emergency contacts are, what you phone number is, the particulars of those onboard, etc. 

Here are other numbers to program in to your contacts on your phone/application. They should be verified. Contacts can change frequently, and while MOST of these numbers have been called by me personally to make sure that they go to a person and are the right numbers to use, do NOT rely on them without your own verification. I compiled these in late 2017 with updates in early 2018.

Contacts for RedSea Passage are NOT included in this list, primarily because I decided not to go that way. If anyone has the contacts BEYOND the Seychelles and wants to forward them to me for inclusion in this list, I can do an update to the list. If you prefer to send me a link, I can include the link instead. 

I hope this list can make life a little easier for you, for I never found one anywhere when it was my time to go. Again…verify them!!! I will not be responsible when and if nobody answers on the other Ned or new numbers come in to effect. This is meant to be only a guide for the information you should look for to have the proper information to store in your phone.  Hopefully you never need any of these contacts:

SriLanka

[Feb 2019] NEVER involve the agency in your distress call, or even for a tow. The agencies in SriLanka charge exorbitant fees, such as $1000 for a 3-5 mile tow…instead call Coast Guard or Navy:

Navy: +94262220045 This # is right in Trinco) +94112210000.  +94772530934 +94112212650 +94112466236 +94112212121 +94112212151 +94112212501 +94112212311 (These numbers are in Columbo or selsewhere…try them all til you get someone)

Coast Guard: +94412260265 +94412260268 +94412260267 +94412260312 +94412260752

Also some emails that may work:

Cofn@navy.lk

Cos@navy.lk

Nhqdgo@navy.lk

Comeast@navy.lk (Trincomalee)

Australia  +61 2 6230 6811 

India west  +91 22 24316558 &  +91 22 24388065

India east   +91 44 25395017 &  +91 44 25360342 &

+91 44 25363210

Andamans +91 3192 246081

Mauritius  +230 208 8317  &  +230 208 3935 & 230 208 5950 & 230 211 0839

Reunion +262 262 434343  

Seychelles +248 4610293  OR  +248 4224616

S Africa Capetown + 27 21 9383300

AUSTRALIA- Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre 

 

  Email: rccaus@amsa.gov.au 

Phone: +61 2 6230 6811 

——————-

INDIA- Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres:

Email  – indsar@vsnl.net (24 hour response time)

  • icgmrccmumbai@mtnl.net.in 

  • mrcc-west@indiancoastguard.nic.in

Phone – +91 22 24316558 &  +91 22 24388065

Eastern region – MRCC Chennai

  • Email enquiry response time – never
  • Information provided by Mumbai
  • Updated:  January 2013

Email – mrcc-east@indiancoastguard.nic.in 

  • isareast@dataone.in 

Phone – +91 44 25395017 &  +91 44 25360342 &

+91 44 25363210

Fax – +91 44 25395018 & +91 44 23460405

———————————————————

ANDAMANS region – MRCC Port Blair

  • Email enquiry response time – never
  • Information provided by Mumbai
  • Updated:  January 2013

Email – mrcc-ptb@indiancoastguard.nic.in  &

  • com_cs@dataone.in

Phone – +91 3192 246081

Fax – +91 3192 242948

  Website: www.indiancoastguard.nic.in

—————————————————————

MAURITIUS- MRCC – via Mauritius Radio – 3BM

  • Email enquiry response time – within a few hours 

  • Updated: October 2015

Email: opsncghq@orange.mu or ncgo9ps.mpf@govmu.org

Phone: +230 208 8317  &  +230 208 3935

Fax: +230 212 2770

HF/SSB:  DSC watch on all DSC Distress alarm frequencies –

2 to 16 Meg – to initiate contact

Use 2-16 Meg distress frequencies to manage an

incident

VHF:  DSC listening watch 24/7

Voice listening watch on ch16 24/7

MMSI number: 006459022

INMARSAT number:  464 500096  &  464 500097

Note: HF/SSB and/or satphone to maintain contact with a

vessel in distress during an incident. 

————————————————————-

 

REUNION – MRCC – via Mauritius Radio – 3BM

  • Email enquiry response time – within a few hours 

  • Updated: October 2015

Email: reunion @mrccfr.eu or 

Phone: +262 262 434343  

Fax: +262 262 711595  

HF/SSB:  DSC watch on 2Meg DSC Distress alarm frequency

only – to initiate contact

Voice watch on 2182 only to initiate contact 

Use 2-16 Meg voice distress frequencies to manage

an incident

24/7 voice listening watch on 2182 & 8291

VHF: 24/7 voice listening watch on ch16 

MMSI number: 006601000

INMARSAT number:  422799193

Note: HF/SSB and/or satphone to maintain contact with a

vessel in distress during an incident.

———————————————————————————

 

SEYCHELLES- MRCC via Seychelles Radio – S7Q
– Email enquiry response time – within 24 hours
– Updated: June 2011

Email: mrcc.seycoast@email.sc   OR   shipshore@cws.cwpls.com 

Phone: +248 4610293  OR  +248 4224616

HF/SSB:  No DSC alert service 

Voice listening watch on 2182 & 7696 ONLY 

Prefer email communication for incident management

VHF:  NO DSC listening watch

Voice listening watch on ch16

INMARSAT C: 466499997

—————————————————————-

SOUTH AFRICA – MRCC Cape Town 

  • Email enquiry response time – Immediate 

  • Updated: January 2013

Email – MRCC SA: mrcc.ct@samsa.org.za

Phone – MRCC SA: + 27 21 9383300

Email – Cape Town Radio: maritimeradio@ixmail.co.za 

Phone – Cape Town Radio: +27 21 5510700

Fax – Cape Town Radio: +27 21 5513760

 

HF/SSB:   DSC watch on all DSC alert frequencies to initiate

contact

Voice listening watch on 2182 via coastal network of

11 sites

Voice listening watch on 4, 12 & 16 Meg distress
freq (not 6 or 8 Meg)

Uses 2-16 Meg distress frequencies to manage an

incident

VHF:  NO DSC listening watch

Voice listening watch on ch16 via a coastal network of 27

sites

——————————————————

USCG Regional Emergency Numbers 

ATLANTIC Area SAR Coordinator

Commander

U.S. Coast Guard

Atlantic Area

Portsmouth, Virginia

Overall responsibility for areas covered by RCC Boston, RCC Norfolk, RCC Miami, RSC San Juan, RCC New Orleans and RCC Cleveland plus a portion of the North Atlantic Ocean out to 40 degrees west longitude.

(757)398-6700

PACIFIC SAR Coordinator

Commander

U.S. Coast Guard

Pacific Area

Alameda, California

Overall responsibility for areas covered by RCC Alameda, RCC Seattle, RCC Honolulu and RCC Juneau.

(510)437-3701

RCC Honolulu

(operated as JRCC with DOD)

Commander

14th Coast Guard District

Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii, U.S. Pacific Islands and waters of Central Pacific Ocean assigned by international convention (extending from as far as 6 degrees south to 40 degrees north latitude and as far as 110 west to 130 east longitude).

(808) 535-3333

Sector GUAM

(coordinates SAR under RCC Honolulu)

Commander

SectorGuam

Guam and other U.S. territories and possessions in the far western Pacific Ocean.

(671)355-4824

RCC USA

Boston

Commander

1st Coast Guard District

Boston, Massachusetts

New England down to and including a portion of Northern New Jersey plus U.S. waters of Lake Champlain.

(617)223-8555

RCC Norfolk

Commander

5th Coast Guard District

Portsmouth, Virginia

Mid-Atlantic states including the majority of New Jersey down to the North Carolina / South Carolina Border.

(757)398-6231

RCC Miami

Commander

7th Coast Guard District

Miami, Florida

Southeast states from the South Carolina / North Carolina border around to the eastern end of the Florida panhandle plus a large portion of the Caribbean Sea.

(305)415-6800

RSC San Juan

(Sub-Center of RCC Miami)

Commander

Sector San Juan

 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Southeast portion of the Caribbean Sea

(787)289-2042

RCC New Orleans

Commander

8th Coast Guard District

New Orleans, Louisiana

Southern states including the Florida panhandle to the U.S. / Mexico border in Texas plus the inland rivers including the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and tributaries.

(504)589-6225

RCC Cleveland

Commander

9th Coast Guard District

Cleveland, Ohio

U.S. waters of the Great Lakes, their connecting rivers and tributaries.

(216)902-6117

RCC Alameda

Commander

11th Coast Guard District

Alameda, California

California and Eastern Pacific Ocean waters assigned by international convention off the Coast of Mexico.

(510)437-3701

RCC Seattle

Commander

13th Coast Guard District

Seattle, Washington

Oregon and Washington

(206)220-7001

RCC Juneau Alaska

Commander

17th Coast Guard District

Juneau, Alaska

Alaska, U.S. waters in North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean

US offices that may or may not help.  At least they may be able to look up the right number or contact the right person for you, and speak english

(757)398-6700

(510)437-3701

(671)355-4824

(617)223-8555

(757)398-6231

(305)415-6800

(305)415-6800

(504)589-6225

(216)902-6117

(510)437-3701

(206)220-7001

 

Sailboat vs Tugboat: We prepare for a passage to Zanzibar, East Africa

 

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Zanzibar Marina, Tanzania, East Africa – A month at the new marina!

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Zanzibar Marina, East Africa, Tanzania, a month at the new marina! It’s the only marina in East Africa, and is barely open. It is also known as Azam Watersports Marina, or Verde Hotel Marina, and is located a couple of miles north of Stonetown. It is a safe haven for sailboats. It’s brand new, and barely open, but when we heard the price, we almost decided NOT to come….$50 per night!!! But then we found out if you stay for a month or more, the prices come down to less than half. So we decided to time our arrival to Zanzibar for the Sauti Za Busara Music Festival in early February.

It was to be a safe place to leave our home at a dock, with guards, while we spent until the wee hours of the morning, in town, listening to the great lineup of African musicians, for 4+ days. It was a great 4 days, and we never feared for our boat, our dinghy, our outboard or our possessions the entire time we were away. Guards quizzed us each night upon return until they got to know exactly who we were and where we were going. I would wish them a “Lala salama”, and they would assure me that only I would have a good nights sleep…not them…they would be awake all night to guard the premises!

For a month, we did laundry on the dock, took endless showers, and walked on and off the boat any time we wanted to, together or by ourselves. I sat in a free massage chair for an hour a day getting a luxurious foot massage some days, and total body massage other days, after having a cappucino on fine china. Patrick went to the gym twice a day and got in a good routine, enjoying the air conditioning, nearly as much as the workout itself.

Every once in a while someone would turn off a motor that needs to run for the RO water to come from our hose on the dock, and we would have to wait until the next morning for dock water. But with a quick call to the manager, it would all come back on again. We were there for the hottest part of the year…February…and an AC unit would have made things better during the day, especially since electricity is included. Free WiFi is available in the restaurant and the lounge upstairs with the great coffee bar. The manager told me they are in the process now of trying to include more for visiting yachts including some Watersports…kayaks for example, and Showers, toilets, and laundry. Right now, if you want laundry done it it some outrageous amount per item, at the hotel. We never once used this expensive system. We hunted for showers to sneak in to, but alas, there were none. They did finally offer some outdoor, unisex showers that are used for the ocean part of the water park, but warned us to keep our clothes on 😉

With a nice restaurant at the head of the dock (which does not serve alcohol) , we splurged and ate dinner here every 4th or 5th night. Other times we ate on the boat running to town every few days for cheap fresh veggies and expensive boneless chicken breasts. Luckily we still had lots of food in the freezer not only from Dar, but from Mayotte and even ReUnion, so we never went hungry!

The dala dala or a taxi can be caught right outside the gate of the hotel, and though they always asked for more, you could generally get a taxi in for 5000 Tanzania Shillings, a little over $2 usd. If you came back late late at night, it could be as much as double that, and again, they start at 3x the price they are willing to go for. The Dala dala (a small bus or pickup truck with seats) costs about 12 cents, so when we could, we would catch the dala dala and be crammed in to a small pickup truck with seats in the back. There are also a few tuk tuks though most rare.

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