Anyone used a Nasa Weatherman?

[Suerose]

Just been caught out off Spain in a storm - anyone any experience with a Nasa Weatherman? It's not cheap, but I could do with knowing if it gives reliable information for mediteranean sailing

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[philip_stevens]

You may have been at sea when it was discussed, but have a look at the post,

(subject)NASA Weatherman (posted by)LORDNELSON (on)29/10/2003 10:01

and the subsequent replies. It may be of interest and answer you question to some extent.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[HenryB]

I don't use a Weatherman but I do receive the same German forecasts using SSB and a laptop. I find them invaluable in the Med for planning ahead. Their 6 day forecasts are also transmitted vocally by the Med Cruisers Net who operate during the summer months on SSB at 05.30 UTC, 8122 KHz.
I guess that the NASA Weatherman would be well worth it if you don't have SSB and laptop.

Safe sailing,

Henry

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[minquiers]

yes fitted one to the boat in greece this year as trying to get forecasts there is nigh on impossible, you can programme it in to the relevant local area and the forecasts are good,we had a storm come through in porto heli one night which the weatherman forecast, so we were tied up on the quay, during the night, a force 8 blew, and the next morning there were a lot of boats that had broken loose and a lot of damage was caused, so i can only speak well of them.

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[charles_reed]

My friend Francois Gavot has one on board "le Chouan" and swears by it. He's had it for 2 seasons.

As a long-haul pilot for Air France he's very familiar with automatic weather equipment and rates his very highly for Mediterranean sailing (he's out of Antibes)

It's mainly as a result of his recommendations that I'm getting one.

They're about €400 in Europe and £295 in UK, not what I'd call expensive.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

There is someone on here selling them for £239.95 inc vat.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/ag/product.asp?dept_id=1&pf_id=AG3883>Here</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

 

[Gunfleet]

Le Chouan? Is he serious? What an extraordinary name for a boat. I can't go round Quiberon bay without a shiver running up my spine. Have you read 'memoires d'outre tombe'? Chateaubriand describes a pal who was brought up with him in St Malo. When the landing fails the friend swims out to the British ships to tell them the news, then swims back knowing he will be shot. Why? Because he gave his parole.
Best wishes to you and your counter-revolutionary friend M Gavot
John

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[Rohorn]

Hi ...ref Greek weather forecasts, try WWW.poseidon.ncmr.gr...this is the Greek National Centre for Marine Research....very detailed graphics up to three days ahead, all in English. Used by the Greek TV forecasts. For further ahead "guesstimations" WWW.accuweather.com and specify the locality. For Paros for example I specify "Naxos Island, Greece" or "Milos Island, Greece"
Cheers, R

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[charles_reed]

Le Chouan

It's not many know the meaning of that word - it's not even mentioned in the big Larousse - and you need to be from the Vendée to really appreciate its true depth of meaning.
By the way Francois, like me, was born in the colonies, the unreconstructed Bourboniste is his wife Martine, who's a Contesse in real life.

My family, when drinking the loyal toast, still pass the glass over the water before quaffing.

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[brians]

Is Weatherman more useful and reliable than Navtex?

I am more concerned with Solent and Channel down to N Spain.

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[HenryB]

The Weatherman displays the information transmitted by the German Weather Service. Many of the forecasts can be seen on-line from
http://www.dwd.de/de/WundK/W_aktuell/Seewetter/
Just click the area of interest on the left of this page.
The same forecasts are transmitted with English titles, but the weather content is the same. Take a look and you can judge for yourself if the Weatherman is worth getting.
I don't know of any other source of long range forecasts in such an easily understood format.
I have discovered that when the German forecast shows relatively moderate winds but with gale force plus gusts it normally means that a front is passing during the period so I then try to confirm this from weather faxes.

Regards,

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[brians]

Thanks for that.

I am not so bothered about presentation - what I want is reliable and accurate forecasting - something our Met Office seems to find difficult.

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[charles_reed]

Not the same

Navtex gives you up to 36hrs weather info, plus lots more filterable information.

Weatherman ONLY gives weather info and up to 120 hours ahead.

Of course the probability of the outer horizon is only about 60%

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[charles_reed]

Be aware of the place of probability

in weather forecasting.

A 6 hour forecast generally has a 95% probability of accuracy.
By 24 hours it's down to about 80%
And by 120 hours to 60%.

You would do far better to develop some forecasting skills and use the same raw material as the forecasters - who, poor devils, will always be accused of inaccuracy when they try and keep it simple and obscuratism if they try and tell the truth.

Fortunately Atlanyc weather systems are pretty consistent and easily forecast, though timing can be dodgy. Mediterranean weather is far more changeable and irrational.

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[BrendanS]

Re: Be aware of the place of probability

the poor buggers at the Met Office are trying to persuade broadcasters (TV, Radio, Internet) to use probability forecasting. Most people here would understand it? but not the general public.

It's a difficult concept for those who don't understand the basics of weather forecasting, and even more difficult for many who do understand a little?

<hr width=100% size=1>Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo

 

[charles_reed]

Re: Be aware of the place of probability

Yes and then they complain about the lack of reliability of forecasts or, even worse get caught out in a gale.

I believe that there is an enormous weakness in all the RYA exams in the lack of any but the most basic met knowledge.

In my opinion far more important than ColRegs and far more likely to promote safety at sea.

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[Birdseye]

ref JohnM and CharlesReed

You've roused my curiosity. My French simply isnt good enough, so what does Le Chouan mean, and whats this about "over the water"?

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[Gunfleet]

Le Chouannerie

Les Chouans were Catholic counter revolutionaries in the Mayenne and Lower Brittany regions, centred on Fougeres, led by the Cottereau brothers from Brice en Cogles who used to use owl calls to communicate in the forests, 'chouan' representing the owl call. When the revolt spread to the Vendee all 'casual' armed resistance against the revolutionaries took the name Chouannerie and the soldiers were Chouans. The more formal insurrections guided from London and more particularily St Helier were 'Royalist' and there is a difference - Chouans were much more concerned with the revolutions attempts to control the catholic church. Despite beating off an invasion of royalists in the bay of Quiberon in 1795, the revolutionaries never had complete control over the west of France until Napoleon made a concordat with the Pope in 1805. He also had the leader of the counter-revolutionaries, a lawyer from Quimper called Georges Cadoudal, murdered. And that's quite enough history for PBO. By the way I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it. Most Frenchmen haven't either. I'll leave 'over the water' to Charles.

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[Oldhand]

Re: Be aware of the place of probability

Hmmm! More important than ColRegs??? I suppose if you sail in uncrowded waters it could be a valid statment but I can't agree with that in the Solent and English Channel. Ofcourse knowledge of weather and forecasting is important but at best equally so to the ColRegs.

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[charles_reed]

Over the water

A number of Highland regiments used to do this - drinking to the health of the king "over the water" viz the Stuarts.

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