Introduction
Self sufficiency is a key principle for all who sail. The abundance of weather forecasts and electronic weather charts has to a degree masked the importance of personal skills in weather prediction.
Forecasts sometimes differ and occasionally contradict one another. The predicted progress of weather features on different charts sometimes vary. Selecting from the wealth of information is itself a skill. Technology can and does go wrong (usually at critical moments!) and no public forecast can predict all events at the micro-scale, precisely the area in which most of us do our sailing.
Objectives
- To provide training of the highest quality in the principles of weather and weather forecasting.
- To contribute significantly to personal safety at sea.
- To assist sailors in making the best use of weather and weather windows.
- To study weather at the meso-scale as it affects small craft and passage planning.
- To emphasise the application of this knowledge through practical exercises.
- To enable the extension of knowledge between the levels leading up to Yachtmaster.
- To provide assistance to all sailors including those preparing for RYA practical exams.
- To provide an opportunity to update knowledge in the context of the proliferation of sources of information and forecasts.
- To address individual training needs and interests.
One Day Course Content
- Theory
- Weather charts & satellite imagery
- Clouds, other observable predictors & barometer reading
- Depressions - theory & in practice
- Anticyclones
- Predicting wind, weather routing
- Affects of land on wind & weather
- Meteorological dangers & avoidance
- Forecasts & forecasting: macro & meso-scale
- Sources of weather information
- Building charts from surface data
- Methodology & practical exercises
Course Status
The RYA does not run or register short stand alone weather training courses similar to their Sea Survival, Radar, GMDSS & First Aid courses. The 'Weather~To~Sail' course therefore is not an RYA approved course, but is based closely on the weather components of the syllabus, and the wording "Suitable for all, including those doing RYA Day Skipper to Yachtmaster courses" has been approved by the RYA.