Shipping Forecast

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I am new to boating and do not understand the shipping forecast.
Anyone out there able to expalin the rudiments to me?

Would be most grateful
 

longjohnsilver

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The easiest way to find out what it all means is firstly to click onto the BBC weather site and then go to the shipping forecast which shows all the different areas. You'll find that generally depending on where you do your boating only one or two of the areas are of interest to you.

For an explanation of the Beaufort scale (wind speeds) go to Google.co.uk and type in beaufort scale, this will then give you a selection of sites which will explain it all in full.

Remember when listening to the shipping forecast or inshore waters forecast (which covers 12 miles offshore and is generally of as much if not more relevance for most boaters) that the wind direction is the direction the wind is blowing from and not blowing to. Therefore say you are on the south coast and you have a southerly wind it will be blowing onshore and the sea within a few miles of the shore is likely to be much rougher than if it was blowing from the north ie offshore.

Generally speaking most boats can cope quite happily with wind force 3 or less from almost any direction. Force 4 and above is when conditions are likely to get much more uncomfortable, and again depending on direction force 6 and above would generally see most motorboats staying in port as conditions although maybe not dangerous, depending on size of boat and wind direction, would almost certainly be extremely uncomfortable.

www.onlineweather.com will give much of the info you need as well as regional forecasts. It's an excellent site and one I check most days.

Hope this helps.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by longjohnsilver on Tue Oct 23 07:42:28 2001 (server time).</FONT></P>
 

jfm

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Seamus we could give more specific info if you advise what size of boat you have, power or sail or both, where do you sail it, do you have VHF/Navtex or whatever on board? Please advise, thanks. (Suitable reply should also deal with the DFL-syndrome issues)

JFM
 

kimhollamby

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Knock it off please. You all started somewhere and weather is a black art even for some very experienced boatowners.

Seamus, you might want to contact the Motor Boats Monthly guys to see if they have any copies left of their Weather supplement. Call 44(0)20 7261 7256 or e-mail neale_byart @ipcmedia.com
 
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Thanks to all who gave guidance.

We've all got to start somewhere havent we!
 
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