Greetings
This weather orientated question came from a conversation on the jetty with a few boat owners. It has several parts. Do your best to write your answers down before looking.
1. You are going afloat for the day at your local sailing centre, which is situated on a reservoir. Write down three different sources of weather information that you could access.
2. When you arrive at the sailing centre, the instructor says that he has heard the local land forecast, which said that you can expect moderate winds. What wind strength does this correspond to on the Beaufort Scale and in knots, MPH and KPH, What is the sea state and what would the anticipated wave height be?
3. Several of your group are novices. Would these be suitable conditions for a first sail? If not what would you say are suitable conditions for a first sail?
4. When you arrive home later that afternoon, you speak to a friend who sails out of Douglas. Your friend describes the sea conditions today as "moderate waves, many white crests and spray." What wind strength does this correspond to on the Beaufort Scale and in knots, what is the likely wave height?
5. Later that evening, you are listening to the shipping forecast, when you hear the following announcement:
"The Meteorological Office issued the following gale warning to shipping at 1845 hours:
Sea Areas Portland, Wight: South West Gale Force 8 Imminent."
What do the following words mean in this context?
Sea Areas and how many are there, which ones extend furthest to the north, south, east and west?
Gale Force 8 - give wind speed in kts, probable wave height and sea state?
Imminent?
6. You have been invited out for the day on a friend's motor cruiser. You listen to the shipping forecast before you leave. For the area you are going to be operating in, it gives the visibility as moderate, becoming poor later. What does this mean?