Hi,

Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore waters
forecasts?

For those that are interested.. The reason.

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father(50th b'day), the day
was to be spent on either America's cup yachts France 1 or 2 racing around
the solent. The pack clearly indicated that cancellations only occurred in
severe weather conditions. My parents set off on the Saturday to stay in a
hotel so my father would be fresh for Sunday.

On arrival at the venue my father was met by a chap with a clip board
clearly ticking off names for the days sail. As fast as my father mentioned
the words "Red Letter" he was told the day had been cancelled because Force
8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.

I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. We spent the
weekend on a club rally and I kept track of the forecast locally in the
Thames, the whole situation had calmed considerably from the original Friday
night forecast. My mother has since phoned the met office and been told
verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast in the relevant
sea area.

We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
figured I would try the net first.

All responses greatly appreciated,

Paul

"Paul Brant" wrote in message
...
| Hi,
|
| Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore waters
| forecasts?
|
| For those that are interested.. The reason.
|
| My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father(50th b'day), the day
| was to be spent on either America's cup yachts France 1 or 2 racing around
| the solent. The pack clearly indicated that cancellations only occurred in
| severe weather conditions. My parents set off on the Saturday to stay in a
| hotel so my father would be fresh for Sunday.
|
| On arrival at the venue my father was met by a chap with a clip board
| clearly ticking off names for the days sail. As fast as my father mentioned
| the words "Red Letter" he was told the day had been cancelled because Force
| 8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.
|
| I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
| Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. We spent the
| weekend on a club rally and I kept track of the forecast locally in the
| Thames, the whole situation had calmed considerably from the original Friday
| night forecast. My mother has since phoned the met office and been told
| verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast in the relevant
| sea area.
|
| We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
| anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
| would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
| figured I would try the net first.
|
| All responses greatly appreciated,
|
| Paul
|

A date Paul ?

Joe

Last Sunday, the 7th !


"Joe Hunt" wrote in message
...

"Paul Brant" wrote in message
...
| Hi,
|
| Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore
waters
| forecasts?
|
| For those that are interested.. The reason.
|
| My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father(50th b'day), the
day
| was to be spent on either America's cup yachts France 1 or 2 racing
around
| the solent. The pack clearly indicated that cancellations only occurred
in
| severe weather conditions. My parents set off on the Saturday to stay in
a
| hotel so my father would be fresh for Sunday.
|
| On arrival at the venue my father was met by a chap with a clip board
| clearly ticking off names for the days sail. As fast as my father
mentioned
| the words "Red Letter" he was told the day had been cancelled because
Force
| 8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.
|
| I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
| Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. We spent
the
| weekend on a club rally and I kept track of the forecast locally in the
| Thames, the whole situation had calmed considerably from the original
Friday
| night forecast. My mother has since phoned the met office and been told
| verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast in the
relevant
| sea area.
|
| We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
| anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
| would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
| figured I would try the net first.
|
| All responses greatly appreciated,
|
| Paul
|

A date Paul ?

Joe

Paul,

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father(50th b'day), the day
was to be spent on either America's cup yachts France 1 or 2 racing around
the solent. The pack clearly indicated that cancellations only occurred in
severe weather conditions.........Does anyone know of a site that has
archived shipping and/or inshore waters
forecasts?..............

Don't spend too much time looking for the shipping forecast and IWF. The
Met Office forecast is only one piece of information a skipper might use to
determine whether the weather is appropriate or 'severe'. Other factors
include, amongst others.............

Various forecasts from various agencies - Navtext, weatherfax, foreign
services and several private companies.....
Skipper's own forecast based on local observations and experience
Discussions with locals - e.g. coastguard, NCI coas****ch, other sailors....
The direction of the wind and sea state (*very important*)
The state of the tide
The condition of the vessel (*very important*)
The experience of the crew and passengers (*very important*)

Remember, a forecast is only a forecast as any sailor knows from (sometimes
bitter) experience. It is the skipper's duty to take all factors into
account before going to sea and the term 'severe' in 'severe weather' is
relative not just to the absolute meteorological conditions but also
relative to the other conditions I've outlined above.

For this reason, sadly for you I don't think you'd win a case but isn't it
sadder still that the organisers didn't either refund in full or re-arrange
the passage? Pretty tacky, if you ask me. Thanks for bringing it to our
attention; let's all remember not to give 'Red Letter Day' gifts!

David

Paul Brant wrote:

Hi,

Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore waters
forecasts?

A long shot, but you could ask the BBC - they might be able to point you
in the right direction. If they are really nice they might be able to
provide you with a relevant recording of the SF - they have to keep
copies of broadcasts for 40-odd days I think.

Jonathan

This is a copy, the original reply sent yesterday didn't show on two of my
ng servers, so here it is again.........

Paul,

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father(50th b'day), the day
was to be spent on either America's cup yachts France 1 or 2 racing around
the solent. The pack clearly indicated that cancellations only occurred in
severe weather conditions.........Does anyone know of a site that has
archived shipping and/or inshore waters
forecasts?..............

Don't spend too much time looking for the shipping forecast and IWF. The
Met Office forecast is only one piece of information a skipper might use to
determine whether the weather is appropriate or 'severe'. Other factors
include, amongst others.............

Various forecasts from various agencies - Navtext, weatherfax, foreign
services and several private companies.....
Skipper's own forecast based on local observations and experience
Discussions with locals - e.g. coastguard, NCI coas****ch, other sailors....
The direction of the wind and sea state (*very important*)
The state of the tide
The condition of the vessel (*very important*)
The experience of the crew and passengers (*very important*)

Remember, a forecast is only a forecast as any sailor knows from (sometimes
bitter) experience. It is the skipper's duty to take all factors into
account before going to sea and the term 'severe' in 'severe weather' is
relative not just to the absolute meteorological conditions but also
relative to the other conditions I've outlined above.

For this reason, sadly for you I don't think you'd win a case but isn't it
sadder still that the organisers didn't either refund in full or re-arrange
the passage? Pretty tacky, if you ask me. Thanks for bringing it to our
attention; let's all remember not to give 'Red Letter Day' gifts!

David

"Paul Brant" wrote in message
...

Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore
waters
forecasts?

The reason...

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father.. to be spent ..
racing around the solent.

On arrival at the venue my father .. was told the day had been cancelled
because Force
8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.

I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. My mother has
since phoned the met office and been told
verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast ...

We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
figured I would try the net first.

Paul


I know it's not that helpful, but the following is a link to
Wetterzentrale's archive of the UK Met Office synoptic chart for 7th Sept.
Personally I can't see how you could possibly have forecast a force 6 in the
Solent let alone a force 8!
http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030907.gif

On the other hand in July I set off from the Crouch in a gentle force 4 to
sail to Ramsgate. The forecast was to expect up to force 6. Approaching
North Foreland this was updated to force 8 'imminent' and we got it right on
the nose! It got very rough, we got very wet, and I wouldn't have wanted to
be responsible for a novice crew in those conditions!

Pete.

================================================== ==================
This posting expresses the personal view and opinions of the author.
Something which everyone on this planet should be able to do.
================================================== ==================

Not unless someone was expecting that low of 1006 to do something ?

Will.
--

" Love begins when judgement ceases "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

mailto:
www: http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk

DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter Hayman wrote in message ...
"Paul Brant" wrote in message
...

Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore
waters
forecasts?

The reason...

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father.. to be spent ..
racing around the solent.

On arrival at the venue my father .. was told the day had been cancelled
because Force
8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.

I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. My mother has
since phoned the met office and been told
verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast ...

We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
figured I would try the net first.

Paul


I know it's not that helpful, but the following is a link to
Wetterzentrale's archive of the UK Met Office synoptic chart for 7th Sept.
Personally I can't see how you could possibly have forecast a force 6 in the
Solent let alone a force 8!
http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030907.gif

On the other hand in July I set off from the Crouch in a gentle force 4 to
sail to Ramsgate. The forecast was to expect up to force 6. Approaching
North Foreland this was updated to force 8 'imminent' and we got it right on
the nose! It got very rough, we got very wet, and I wouldn't have wanted to
be responsible for a novice crew in those conditions!

Pete.

"Paul Brant" wrote in message
...

Does anyone know of a site that has archived shipping and/or inshore
waters
forecasts?

The reason...

My mother purchased a "Red Letter" day for my father.. to be spent ..
racing around the solent.

On arrival at the venue my father .. was told the day had been cancelled
because Force
8 winds had been forecast the previous evening.

I knew strong winds had been forecast for Sunday on the Friday but by
Saturday morning the Met office had wound down the forecast. My mother
has
since phoned the met office and been told
verbally that 23 knots, the low end of a six, were forecast ...

We are all a bit puzzled as to where this Force 8 forecast came from. If
anyone has a forecast for the area or knows of an archive of forecasts I
would be most grateful. The met would like hard cash for a hard copy. I
figured I would try the net first.

Paul

Peter Hayman wrote in message ...

I know it's not that helpful, but the following is a link to
Wetterzentrale's archive of the UK Met Office synoptic chart for 7th
Sept.
Personally I can't see how you could possibly have forecast a force 6 in
the
Solent let alone a force 8!

http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030907.gif

Pete.


"Will" wrote in message
...

Not unless someone was expecting that low of 1006 to do something ?

Will.



Strong winds are not produced simply by an area of low pressure (not that
1006 is all that low of course), but by the pressure gradient from an area
of high to an area of low pressure. If you have a look at the charts for the
three days around the 7th:

http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030906.gif
http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030907.gif
http://217.160.176.95/wz/pics/archiv...ka20030908.gif

it is obvious that there was very little by way of a pressure gradient over
most of western Europe - hence isobars that are widely spaced, indicating
that there should be very little wind.

What it also indicates of course is generally clear skies, leading to plenty
of solar heating of the land and the likely generation of sea breezes,
usually from mid to late afternoon. It's often the case that these can reach
force 6, but it's rare that they exceed this, and to cancel a trip in fine
summer conditions because of the remote possibility of a particularly strong
sea breeze appears perverse in the extreme! I would say that the company was
looking for an excuse not to honour its commitment and should come clean -
and at least cough up a refund. Perhaps Paul could let us have the name of
the company involved (I'm not familiar with 'Red Letter' days) so that we
can all avoid getting conned!

Pete.