Humorous stories from the life of lighthouse workers

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

A story that has been circulating on the Internet for a long time, and even appeared at a concert with Mikhail Zadornov

And it starts like this:

Real recorded conversation between Spaniards and

Americans on the “Extreme Situations at Sea” frequency of the navigation

channel 106 in the Strait of Finisterra (Galicia). October 16, 1997

Photo from the site 2005.novayagazeta.ru

Spanish: (static in background) ... says A-853, please turn 15 degrees south to avoid collision with us. You are heading straight towards us, a distance of 25 nautical miles.

Americans: (static in the background) ...we advise you to turn 15 degrees north to avoid collision with us.

Spaniards: The answer is no. We repeat, turn 15 degrees south to avoid a collision.

Americans (another voice): The captain of the ship of the United States of America is speaking to you. Turn 15 degrees north to avoid a collision.

Spaniards: We do not consider your proposal either possible or adequate, we advise you to turn 15 degrees south so as not to crash into us.

Americans (in a raised voice): THIS IS CAPTAIN RICHARD JAMES HOWARD, COMMANDER OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, THE SECOND LARGEST WARSHIP IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY 2 CRUISERS, 6 FIGHTERS, 4 SUBMARINES AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT SHIPS. I DO NOT "ADVICE" YOU, I "COMMAND" YOU TO CHANGE YOUR COURSE BY 15 DEGREES TO THE NORTH. OTHERWISE WE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR SHIP. PLEASE GET OUT OF OUR COURSE IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Spaniards: Juan Manuel Salas Alcantara is speaking to you. There are 2 of us. We are accompanied by our dog, dinner, 2 bottles of beer and a canary who is now sleeping.

We are supported by the radio station "Cadena Dial de La Coruna" and channel 106 "Extreme situations at sea". We are not going to turn anywhere, given that we are on land and are the A-853 lighthouse of the Finisterra Strait of the Galician coast of Spain. We have no idea how large we rank among Spanish lighthouses.

You can take all $%"% measures that you consider necessary and do anything to ensure the safety of your $%"% ship, which will be smashed to pieces on the rocks. So once again, we strongly recommend that you do the most sensible thing: change your course 15 degrees south to avoid a collision.

Americans: Ok, accepted, thank you.

Photo from the site 2005.novayagazeta.ru

There are various photos of the lighthouse on the Internet, but most often it is believed that this is it. Although we have not yet been able to find an official photo of the A-853 lighthouse, if anyone has one, please let us know.

How a joke is born

“New”: Transcript published 10/10/95 by the Commander of US Naval Operations. It was not off the coast of Spain, but off the coast of Canada. Then the story began to turn into an anecdote. A rare opportunity to track how this happens.