Weather Information

[Athene V30]

Getting a bit if a 'bee in my bonnet' about getting reliable weather information in our area and the coast of Holland (Flushing south) to France (maybe Fecamp). Last weekends Inshore Forecast would have put me off going anywhere on Sunday but CliveG reported a good (if cold) sail - certainly no F6 to 8 as I seem to remember being mentioned.

I have various free sites I look at including windguru which seems to present the data quite clearly for spots along the coast. Does anyone use the paid for bit of windguru (pro) all of 2euro a month - if so what do you get that you don't get for free? What other sites are useful - I look at UK windmap & metcheck too as well as Simon Keeling's TV forecast.

I really want planning info so before I go away, particularly my 10 day trip in May, I can get a feel for what is likely to happen in the next few days and then go North or South as appropriate to make the most of it! Once I am onboard I am stuck with whatever is on the radio as I doubt I can set my phone up to get the web - but maybe my 9yo could do it for me!

What do you use at home and onboard?

 

[MoodySabre]

This has lots of info (right or wrong I couldn't say)
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/marine/weather?03&LANG=en&WIND=g197

Likewise
http://www.passageweather.com/

At home I use Metcheck and weatheronline.
You could look at it for a few days and compare with a weather station like Burnham or IOSSC to see how accurate it is. Or weather buoys http://www.pdfamily.com/weather/buoy/UKbuoy.php

 

[wingdiver]

When we are away, we use the laptop to access the 'web' via the wifi hotspots which many marinas now have for free.
When these are not available (or prohibitively expensive) we also use Internet cafes and information posted by local harbourmasters.

 

[CliveG]

Peter

I use WindGuru Pro.
You get the more WRF detailed forecasts without the 12 hr delay.
You can also set up a forecast for any location you want.
It seemed pretty accurate this weekend.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I generally stick with GRIBs.... free from usgrib.....

Although I am also quite a fan of winguru and also like Metcheck....

I also use www.stronge.org.uk as there are some great links to various GFS forecasts..... and its run by a fellow forumite!

 

[Sixpence]

Mark Stronge ? Which forum user is that ?

 

[SwedishLass]

Markdj runs stronge.org.uk, most convenient one stop shop for weather sites, been bookmarked for years as lets me compare weather sites quickly. can also be accessed on mobile as he has a pda version.

 

[bastonjock]

hows about,its hailstones in Peterborough right now,ive has sun all morning now its hail stones,poxy weather

 

[Sixpence]

Matt, you should have stayed at home, glorious sunshine again here.

 

[MoodySabre]

I've been reading the paper on the balcony enjoying a cold beer watching the the tide come in without a ripple /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

(Enter Morgana calling me a git /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[Athene V30]

Apart from a very light shower it has been sunny all day in central Nofolk. We did sit out for about 5 minutes after lunch in the lee of the portacabin, but no beers I'm afraid - well I am supposed to be working!

No doubt it will change for the weekend!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

GIT

 

[Sixpence]

Some of us have been busy little bees, I now have a battleship grey foredeck, all shiny looking and new /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[bastonjock]

[ QUOTE ]
Some of us have been busy little bees, I now have a battleship grey foredeck, all shiny looking and new /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

T25,the grey is the reflection off of those clouds mate /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bastonjock]

Has anyone got Navtex? if so is it any good for the east coast?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

No, but did have on previous boat... and yes it works well on East coast....

 

[eastcoastbernie]

yes i have Navtex. works ok most of the time. sometimes text is a bit garbled. sometimes it decides I only want forecasts in a foreign language. but generally a useful bit of kit.

It should be mentioned it gives the same info as the coastguard gives on the vhf, so if you always listen to the CG safety info broadcasts Navtex doesn't give you anything more. Just more time to consider it all.

 

[bastonjock]

can you still pick up the weather forecasts from the VHF in the middle of the northsea? my concern was that once you are out of line of sight,you will no longer recieve info on the VHF

 

[CPD]

VHF range 30-40 miles (line of sight). I have heard Navtex 2-300 miles so yes it would have its uses in the North Sea. I too have Navtex and echo what the others have said. A useful bit of kit.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

You'll barely be out of VHF range across to Belgium or south Holland....

If I had 150 quid to spare now, as much as Navtex is good, i'd spend it on an AIS receiver.....