Weather forecast coverage UK to Azores

[theotter]

Looking for advice regarding the best way of sourcing weather forecasts between UK and Azores (including the bit in the middle!). Looking for the most effective at least cost with emphasis on the 'effective'. Do not want to go the SSB route. Not likely to do trip till 2009 so any further advice of what systems might be in the pipeline. Thanks in advance.

 

[starboard]

Try this for starters, the actual synoptic chart gives reported winds from vessels at sea and the other surface charts give forecasts up to 96 hours. It is one of the sites I am using at the moment to send weather data to my pal who is doing the AZAB race , Paul
http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/

 

[Billjratt]

Why not SSB ? at least it's free, and can do a lot more than getting weather forecasts. second-hand stuff is reasonably priced and relatively easy to install.

 

[BAtoo]

http://www.grib.us/ gives you wind & rain forecasts out to 5 days for any area you select; arrives as small data file ( if the area selected is not huge) so quick to download even via cellphone/slow modem etc. & its free.

 

[Sandyman]

I have been doing some research in recent weeks into the collection/retreval of weather data and have found grib.us, as BAtoo mentioned, to be excellent.

 

[FAITIRA]

The internet before you go then you are stuck with what happens there after. Then the French forecasts are as good as they come imho. Bill

 

[KellysEye]

Get hold of a second hand Inmarsat C system. Registration is free, weather info is free. IMO it's the quickest and easiest way to get ocean area forecasts.

 

[allanc]

Navtex covers the two ends of the trip:
NAVTEX STATIONS for an Azores trip:
Navtex reception and information in English was good from the French, Spanish and Portuguese stations for most of the way with a gap of about 400M when the screen stayed quiet until we were closer to Horta. (July 2004)
Stations:
Niton E,
North France K,
Corsen A,
Coruna D,
Monsanto R,
Horta F,
Madeira P,
Casablanca M,
Las Palmas I.

Messages:
Navigation warnings A,
Gale warnings B,
Weather forecast E

The 'middle bit' is covered by an SSB receiver (150 - 29999kHz) ie Saisho SW500 (Roberts World Radio type) bought at a car boot for £15 (not a receiver/transmitter which is where the hassle of ground plate etc is) linked to an old laptop running Meteo Scan (bought properly for £150). This will, in mid ocean, give screens of synoptics from Northwood or Hamburg or USCG. The aerial is a length of 50ohm coax attached by crocodile clips to the backstay chainplate, nothing fancy as it's only receiving.
The 'middle bit', in fact the whole planet, may be similarly covered by an Iridium phone dialling into the web and downloading to the same old laptop. You'll need to talk to Mailasail or Datayacht about the setup and airtime contracts, but once done, it's relatively painless. It may be more expensive than SSB, but it does give you e-mail as well.
As your trip is not for another two years, I wouldn't want to do anything more than this as 1) it does what you want and either way is not expensive and 2) who knows what technowizardry will be around then.
Regards