My phone and radios are also in a waterproof bag and stay in it the entire time. I never take them out to use them. It works great through the bag. I have no reason to think the sat phone would be the same......
Greg
The sat phones can be used while in a waterproof bag - but the bag has to be quite big because of the size of the antenna. I know one distance racer who calls in race reports from his while on the water - so it is doable.
I keep mine folded in the dry bag for emergency use only. I figure you take it out the bag, make a call and then put it back.