Met office lost the plot?

ianfr

ianfr

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Monday 11:00, just left Bradwell for a little jolly down to Brightlingsea, and Thames Coastguard come on with an additional gale warning. Severe gale 9 decreasing 8 imminent.

It was decided to turn for home rather than carry on, despite there not being much evidence for the imminent gale. Sat through the afternoon with gradually decreasing winds, and improving weather feeling a bit cheated.

Did anyone see anything of the gale?

Regards

Ian
 
Had the same in the past Ian. Came home a time or two, but last time decided to stick it out, with the intention of running for home at the first (unlikely) sign of wind. Spent the day on a near flat calm sea.

It is hard to sit out there ignoring a gale forecast, even when you're sure it's rubbish.
 
ianfr said:
Monday 11:00,
Did anyone see anything of the gale?
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Monday morning in Calais was foul. Certainly 6s and &s if not a gale. Dont think anyone left on the late morning tide. A few went out on the late evening tide when it had died away.

I left (with Clive) on Tuesday late morning and by time I got to Bsea about 12hours later the barometer had fallen by 12 mb and wind gone from F2 to F6.
 
Having kept a seriously close eye on the met office weather last week I am totally amazed that a/ its not more accurate b/ how quickly the forecast changes and c/ how completely differant various weather stations predictions are...!! :confused:
 
We were returning from Dunkerque on Monday. Double checked the weather with no problems (SW - force 5) and then got hit by the gale (N - force 8, gusting to 45 knts)before we made the shipping lane. Turned around and surfed back to Dunkerque with a spluttering engine.

It was horrendous but we got back ok.

We then checked a lot more weather sites before catchuing the window on Tuesday and getting back before the bad weather hit Ipswich.
 
mariadz said:
We were returning from Dunkerque on Monday. Double checked the weather with no problems (SW - force 5) and then got hit by the gale (N - force 8, gusting to 45 knts)before we made the shipping lane. Turned around and surfed back to Dunkerque with a spluttering engine.

It was horrendous but we got back ok.

We then checked a lot more weather sites before catchuing the window on Tuesday and getting back before the bad weather hit Ipswich.
Click to expand...

http://passageweather.com/#
http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/dover_langdon_bay
 
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I must admit I don't normally bother with the Met office, using WindGuru and XCWeather who seem to be reasonably accurate. But when Thames coastguard announce "Severe Gale 9 decreasing 8" you do have to just take a moment to reflect.

I really wanted to know if anyone saw anything of the imminent severe gale on Monday. I guess Mariadz did! Well done you! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Regards

Ian
 
ianfr said:
I really wanted to know if anyone saw anything of the imminent severe gale on Monday. I guess Mariadz did! Well done you! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Regards

Ian
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We were headed for Tollesbury from Woodbridge when we read that gale warning. Turned round twice on the Deben but decided to go for it after checking other sites. The trip down the Wallet was superb - 5's and a bit all the way. Would have felt pretty peeved at the Met office if we hadn't gone.
 
It was quite windy in Calais.
We stayed an extra day to avoid it.
Now hiding on Shotley to avoid the next lot.
What a wonderful Summer!!
 
I also heard that F9 warning on the VHF(twice), decided not to tell a friend on the other boat as he was still on a 'steep learning curve', carried on down the Orwell with a reef in the main and made for the Deben. It blew up a bit going past Landguard, 22 Knots according to my friend when we spoke later when safely moored up about an hour later. It turned into a pleasant afternoon.
 
Passed The Lazy Kipper at least twice on the Deben, Monday afternoon....we decided on the easy option and spent the afternoon sailing between Ramsholt and Felixstowe and back - again and again.......great sail actually even if it was only a stones throw from our mooring!
Wished we had the bottle to venture further afield as originally planned though......roll on the next outing!
 
Monday gales???

We got that gale warning out near the Wallet. Bit blustery but nothing us salty old seadogs could manage. Dropped to a dead calm later. Film being edited at the moment, will post it soon if anyone is interested. XC is my preferred source of local forecasts.
 
CliveG said:
It was quite windy in Calais.
We stayed an extra day to avoid it.
Now hiding on Shotley to avoid the next lot.
What a wonderful Summer!!
Click to expand...

I was looking for you guys!

Glad to hear you got back ok..

We are around till Sunday.. Probably popping up to ipswich tommorrow for a meal out and a change of scenery...
 
Sophie19 said:
We got that gale warning out near the Wallet. Bit blustery but nothing us salty old seadogs could manage. Dropped to a dead calm later. Film being edited at the moment, will post it soon if anyone is interested. XC is my preferred source of local forecasts.
Click to expand...

Your videos are always of interest, so yes please
 
According to Frank

Thfere have been discussions like this on other forums.. Seems the met office will always post a warning of the highest possible wind in any sea area.. So if there is a brief puff. Of an eight on the far north of Thames they will advise a gale...

Having said that I do not often hear stories of hitting a gale when they forecast a solders wind. If they are simply putting out predictions they should underestimate as often as they overestimate... Which tends to make me think they are deliberately over cautious... Whilst that may seem a good idea .... It is somewhat like crying Woolf..... I no l longer listen to met office shipping forecasts...

Or to put it another way... That is a met office gale warning???
 
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