Rob_Webb
Active member
Whilst you\'re all complaining about weather forecasts.....
I realise that some people have got an issue with BEEB's new weather format but it strikes me that trying to get them to improve it to the point that it includes any decent sailing/nautical content is like painting lipstick on a bulldog.
The single most useful weather service we've got here in NZ is a 24hr rolling forecast on one of the VHF channels. It's called 'nowcasting' and includes:
1. (Automated) current wind speed and direction readings from half a dozen different stations
2. Times of high and low tides for next 24 hrs inc tidal heights
3. General weather synopsis for country inc. any wind warnings
4. Specific forecasts for region 24/48/72/120hrs
5. Swell/surf forecasts
6. Barometric pressure
The whole forecast takes about 5 mins to cycle through and is updated every few hours. Although the wind speed and direction are automated in real time (updated each 5 min cyle).
You can obviously receive this when on your boat. But it also means that if you are anyway within VHF range (e.g. sitting at home or office) you can just switch on your handheld VHF to get the latest info. And you can also simply text the letter 'A' to destination 'WIND' (no = 9463) and you receive an instant text msg back containing the latest nowcast cycle info, which works anywhere (even outside region).
So forget trying to catch the time of the next forecast or dailling up for some sexy online charts, this is the simplest and most accessible way to get weather info to the boating masses.
So why not campaign to get an equivalent system running on one of the VHF channels in your area. Imagine how many 'customers' it would serve in the Solent area for example - yachties, dinghy sailors, fisherman etc
I realise that some people have got an issue with BEEB's new weather format but it strikes me that trying to get them to improve it to the point that it includes any decent sailing/nautical content is like painting lipstick on a bulldog.
The single most useful weather service we've got here in NZ is a 24hr rolling forecast on one of the VHF channels. It's called 'nowcasting' and includes:
1. (Automated) current wind speed and direction readings from half a dozen different stations
2. Times of high and low tides for next 24 hrs inc tidal heights
3. General weather synopsis for country inc. any wind warnings
4. Specific forecasts for region 24/48/72/120hrs
5. Swell/surf forecasts
6. Barometric pressure
The whole forecast takes about 5 mins to cycle through and is updated every few hours. Although the wind speed and direction are automated in real time (updated each 5 min cyle).
You can obviously receive this when on your boat. But it also means that if you are anyway within VHF range (e.g. sitting at home or office) you can just switch on your handheld VHF to get the latest info. And you can also simply text the letter 'A' to destination 'WIND' (no = 9463) and you receive an instant text msg back containing the latest nowcast cycle info, which works anywhere (even outside region).
So forget trying to catch the time of the next forecast or dailling up for some sexy online charts, this is the simplest and most accessible way to get weather info to the boating masses.
So why not campaign to get an equivalent system running on one of the VHF channels in your area. Imagine how many 'customers' it would serve in the Solent area for example - yachties, dinghy sailors, fisherman etc
