Slightly off topic - In these days of satellites, vhf, Navtex and
other seaborne electronic information systems, it has been suggested
by an urban, iconoclastic, landlocked, northern barbarian that no
seafarer actually listens to the daily BBC Shipping Forecast radio
broadcast. The Shipping Forecast radio broadcast may be heard by many
but not for obtaining, as a primary source, meteorological information
to make safe and assist the voyages of ships, fishing vessels, yachts
and boats.

And that although the accuracy of the forecast is agreed to be very
high, the only reason the BBC still transmits the daily forecast is
because they are all long-haired, sensitive liberals who are awake to
the glorious poetry that is the much-loved Shipping Forecast. This
is laudable and may justify its continuation as entertainment but, it
is argued, not on the basis of a marine aid. It is a waste of license
payers' money if no "shipping" actually listens to it.

On this newsgroup, in 2002, when Finisterre became FitzRoy, the author
of the change said... There is a certain romance about the Shipping
Forecast on the BBC, but at the end of the day it is the information
in that bulletin that is of vital importance to safety of
life at sea...

Yes.. so is this a debate not about substance (the forecast has
always been highly respected) but about the form by which information
is transmitted ? Has there been a significant nautical electronic
change which bypasses and renders obsolete the need for the daily
Shipping Forecast radio broadcast? Are the only people listening to
the Shipping Forecast on the radio landlubbers and romantics ? Seems
a shame because it is easily the most accurate and easily absorbed
general purpose forecast if you live near a coast... yes, quite.

Giles