bilbobaggins
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
That sort of a wimp.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Don't ask - don't tell!"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
That sort of a wimp.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Don't ask - don't tell!"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
mono
Active member
No...you did the right thing. I remember the gale that sank Morning Cloud. Forecast gave plenty of warning but I, along with dozens of others, set out from Harwich in a gentle breeze and clear skies.
The only warning was a fast advancing, leaden sky before the wind hit with a fury. I beat a hasty retreat back to Harwich and as we closed the coast, I noticed red flares going off to seaward.
Now I always follow the forecast.
The only warning was a fast advancing, leaden sky before the wind hit with a fury. I beat a hasty retreat back to Harwich and as we closed the coast, I noticed red flares going off to seaward.
Now I always follow the forecast.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
I suppose the real problem (apart, obviously, from how good the met office is at guessing) is that the sea areas and inshore forecast zones are too big. With more granularity in forecasts, rather than a blanket F9 warning, they'd be able to say (for a mini area) "F2 - 3, then F9 expected after (time)." That would let us decide whether we could enjoy a potter before tying-up, battening hatches, etc.
Evadne
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
F2 - 3, then F9 expected after (time).
[/ QUOTE ]
I expect that the Met office and every honest forecaster looks forward to the day when they'd be able to say that with confidence, more than a few hours ahead. I just don't think the science has reached that point, even though the technology to display it has. People look at a picture on their computer, such as the Theyr or xcweather maps (and I'm not knocking them per se,) for the weather 2,3 or even 5 days ahead and think that it is somehow more accurate than a more honest "Staying unsettled, with brisk to strong winds (F5-6) and bands of showers at times. Outlook more of the same."
F2 - 3, then F9 expected after (time).
[/ QUOTE ]
I expect that the Met office and every honest forecaster looks forward to the day when they'd be able to say that with confidence, more than a few hours ahead. I just don't think the science has reached that point, even though the technology to display it has. People look at a picture on their computer, such as the Theyr or xcweather maps (and I'm not knocking them per se,) for the weather 2,3 or even 5 days ahead and think that it is somehow more accurate than a more honest "Staying unsettled, with brisk to strong winds (F5-6) and bands of showers at times. Outlook more of the same."
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Agreed, just that a sea area like Wight is something like 80 miles west - east, so if a front is moving through it at 20 mph, it'll be 4 hours before the east gets the weather that west is getting now. Four hours is enough for a nice little sail. That's why smaller forecast areas would help.
FAITIRA
New member
"There are old sailors and there are bold sailors, but not many old bold ones".
When forecasterers say it,s to be bad then it turns out to be good, thats ok.
When they say it,s to be GOOD and it turns out to be BAD, then thats a much bigger potential prob.
When forecasterers say it,s to be bad then it turns out to be good, thats ok.
When they say it,s to be GOOD and it turns out to be BAD, then thats a much bigger potential prob.
Sgeir
Well-known member
Depends where you are I suppose. As Webcraft suggested, in the sheltered cruising areas near our mooring, sailing in a F6/7 can be a real pleasure as the wave height isn't too intimidating.
On the other hand, trying to leave Lough Swilly in these conditions was, for us at least, a very unpleasant experience, with Atlantic waves cutting up rough in shallow waters (and with a very nasty "echo" effect as they bounced back out at a different angle). It was viable, but very uncomfortable - we retreated. Took two or three days to settle down - the waves were still about 4m, but spaced further apart.
It's the wave height and sea state imho.
On the other hand, trying to leave Lough Swilly in these conditions was, for us at least, a very unpleasant experience, with Atlantic waves cutting up rough in shallow waters (and with a very nasty "echo" effect as they bounced back out at a different angle). It was viable, but very uncomfortable - we retreated. Took two or three days to settle down - the waves were still about 4m, but spaced further apart.
It's the wave height and sea state imho.
Rob_Webb
Active member
Good to know weather forecasting remains pretty shabby around the world. Here in NZ our metservice couldn't forecast christmas.
Wimp? Not really. As they say, "It's better to be in here wishing you were out there, than out there wishing you were in here."
Wimp? Not really. As they say, "It's better to be in here wishing you were out there, than out there wishing you were in here."