Rubbish Weather Forecasts

[Wandering Star]

Moving my small boat from Algarve to Camarinas or La Curuna before Biscay. Not too bothered by wind direction as I'm not a sailing purist so happy to motor sail. Weather from all publicly available online sources was for North Westerlies with max wind speed of 24 knots on Monday, reality was 40+ knots of Northerly wind by the time we reached Cape St Vincent so turned back. Following days forecasts were for 15 - 20 knots of wind from same direction so set out again and this time rounded CSV in 24 knots, much better except that it then continued to increase to a maximum sustained speed of 42 knots.

We did carry on but put into Cascais at 2.00am today to catch our breath! A passage I'd estimate would take 25 hours took 40 hours and in fact I hadn't even planned putting in here. The forecasts are still for 18 - 22 knot max winds but the reality is they're still blowing at 35 knots outside according to a sailor who's just arrived.

We found the same on our last Transat too, the GRIB forecasts we received via email bore very little resemblance to the actual weather we encountered.

Anyone know when we can expect some better weather or why our forecasts are so badly out?

Cheers, Brian.

 

[oldvarnish]

We found the same on our last Transat too, the GRIB forecasts we received via email bore very little resemblance to the actual weather we encountered.

Someone will be along shortly to outline the reasons why you put your faith in GRIBs at your peril - although, aware of their limitations, I've found them to be useful in mid-ocean situations.

 

[Davy_S]

I have always been of the opinion that highly paid weather forecasters should be birched when they get it wrong, lets be quite honest now, if the quack doing your vasectomy made a serious error, and left you impotent, would you brush it off with a ; we can all make a mistake?: exactly, birch them, then sack them, we may as well look at some tart in a short skirt giving a bummer of a forecast, at least it would be pleasing to the eye.

 

[jbweston]

I have always been of the opinion that highly paid weather forecasters should be birched when they get it wrong, lets be quite honest now, if the quack doing your vasectomy made a serious error, and left you impotent, would you brush it off with a ; we can all make a mistake?: exactly, birch them, then sack them, we may as well look at some tart in a short skirt giving a bummer of a forecast, at least it would be pleasing to the eye.

Frank Singleton will be along shortly, I hope. But shortly not in a short skirt.

 

[OGITD]

Davy_S .... You're So Right!

I have always been of the opinion that highly paid weather forecasters should be birched when they get it wrong, lets be quite honest now, if the quack doing your vasectomy made a serious error, and left you impotent, would you brush it off with a ; we can all make a mistake?: exactly, birch them, then sack them, we may as well look at some tart in a short skirt giving a bummer of a forecast, at least it would be pleasing to the eye.

+ BIG 1

Do they realise (probably do but obviously don't care!) that they put peoples lives at risk and are probably accountable for a number of deaths!

I do hope all the 'Frontmen' & the team behind the scenes aren't retired on golden public sector pensions after their many 'classic' c@@k-ups.