Do you find forcasts frustrating

[nickjaxe]

Hi all I wonder if many people find the weather forecasts as frustrating as me, I have a 15.5ft day boat small cuddy 60 yam, I have planned a trip of about 20 miles that I would like to do the summer but every time I have a chance, I get a forecast and its just outside my limit of force 3, I look out of my window on the day and there does not seem to be a breath of wind very frustrating indeed, any of you guys got a similar sized boat if so what would you go out in.

Nick.

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[kindredspirit]

a) the wind is usually lighter over land than sea.

b) what forecast are you using? Try something like "theyr.net" or "harbourmasters forecasts" which will give you a forecast more applicable to the area you are boating in.

c) try a lake/river instead of the sea??

d) F3 max sounds about right for your boat. But is it really F3 out there although the forecast may say so?



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[duncan]

Agree the frustration that there aren't many F3 windows right now but in general, as already said, there are sources of local weather that are pretty accurate as to content within say 48 hours - even if the timing can get a few hours out.
I would however add that it is the combination of wind strength, direction and tide that will create the sea conditions - but as a diver you will realise that. Friday last was a good example of it not quite panning out for us - forecast was for SW 3-4 going cyclonic 2 in the early evening then NW 3. Well we sat it out bobbing around from 1000 to 0100 Sat morning and never saw less than a low 4..........even after Solent read the above forecast out they confirmed the conditions at Lee on Solent as a SW5!

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[Peppermint]

Re: Most Forecasts are pretty dire.

The "Shipping Forecast" or Inshore Waters Forecasts" really only give you a guide to start working with yourself.

Quite a lot of quite accurate DIY forecasting is based on what did it do the last time it was like this. So observing and remembering or logging what you see builds up data that you can apply to the general picture covered by the forecast.

Yotties very often take the forecast at face value but then "go and have a look at it" setting of with contingency plans in place to either return or go somewhere else if the winds stronger than we like.

For powerboaters windstrength is relevant but seastate is crucial. A F5 in flat water is OK but a F3 with a big chop left over from the night befores F5 might be a bit testing.

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[Dave_Snelson]

Yes Nick, I find exactly the same thing. Trouble is, how do you trust it?? The danger being that you run into much worse weather than you bargained for on your trip.

Being Cheshire based, where do you do your boating from?

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[nickjaxe]

Thank you guys for your input much food for thought, its just the getting out in my own boat that bugs me, my brother in law lives on the coast at trearddur bay anglesey, and loves to get out on my boat, we arrange to get out I get a forecast from the coastgaurd which turns out to not quite good enough for what we have in mind, call it off only to have my brother in law phone me on the day we were going out telling me its flat as a pan cake here thinking I am making excuses, I also have the use of our dive club ribs which I feel more confident in using in marginal conditions, I think I will just have to get a bigger boat, dave the boating area for my boat and our clubs RIB use is 95% anglesey, kindredspirit thanks for the link very interesting, I do like the harbour masters forecast site, thanks again guys.

Nick.

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[markdj]

Maybe you should set your limiting force a bit higher...?

A F5 offshore is not going to be bothersome to anything but a punt with a 2hp and one oar but a boat your size and hp is what many fishermen use for lobsterpots etc. inshore. A course in boathandling would maybe increase your confidence in you handling your boat in less than perfect conditions.

Just my thoughts



MarkDJ

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[BrendanS]

Agree. I've been out in an F7 offshore when the sea conditions have been like a mill pond. Everyone else was sat at home, and it was a wonderful day out. Did need a little experience though for the berthing side of things. Sea conditions are what matter, not wind speed

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[nickjaxe]

Thanks for the advise guys, but it just the yard stick I use, In one of my dive club RIBs I would have no probs, I have a 110mile trip to do to get to the coast dont want to go if its unsuitable, maybe I am being to cautious, as for the RYA coarse, I have done a BSAC boat handler/diver cox, dont really want to do any more coarses, have been boating for 13 years, thanks again guys.

Regards Nick.

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