Weather or not?

[David Hudson]

We all have our preferred weather information sites, Perhaps XC or WeatherUnderground.

I visited the Met Office site today. I found an interesting, to me, page on inshore forecasts.

You might find this useful, or are already aware.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/marine-inshore-waters/#?tab=map

[Peter Taylor]

An alternative to the Met Office site is the BBC Coastal Forecast which has slightly smaller coastal divisions and breaks the forecast down into 6 hour periods...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/coastal
...from the same page there is a link to the BBC's repeat of the inshore forecast...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/inshore_waters

The advantage of the BBC pages compared to the MO is that they allow you to bookmark, and then go directly to, the specific coastal area that you are interested in - useful when accessing using a phone.  If you are in the Solent area the weather page of http://www.scra.org.uk/ gives access to all the local coastal and marine weather information.

For me, the most useful Met Office pages are the pressure charts...
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/surface-pressure/
and the rain radar...
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/observation/map/#?map=Rainfall

XCweather is great for the latest wind and pressure observations but only includes a limited number of marine sites. igrib on a mobile device gives you access to much more marine information e.g. if you are planning to enter your Swallow Boat in the Fastnet race you should definitely use it!

It's worth remembering though that the free (non-Met Office) weather forecasts on the web tend to come from relatively low resolution global models (usually from the US where the results are public domain). MO forecasts come from higher resolution local models so should be more accurate.  Unfortunately the MO is required to run as a semi-commercial organisation which sells its products - which is why we often have to rely on non-UK sources.

Peter

[Rob Johnstone]

I used "pocket grib"  (a free iPad app) most of the time whilst wandering around Britain (you can find  similar software for a PC). It links into a US weather bureau, interpretating their forecast Grib files to show an isobar, precipitation and wind vector/strength indicators at sea level, overlaid on a map of your choosing. The grib files are developed on the 10km cube forecast models. The forecast can be shown as a sequence of snapshots at 3hr intervals, or as an animation at 1 hr intervals.

In general, I've found it more realistic than the Met Office over a 2 -3 day period: I find Met Office forecasts of wind strength (generally) to be too high.

The trouble with all these models is that they are not very good at taking into account weather features introduced by local terrain.

If the forecast looks awful, I look for other sources (usually XC weather) for confirmation. On reflection, I should probably do this if the forecast looks good!

[David Hudson]

I have used surfing sites, fell walking sites etc. etc. You can never have enough info.

Your replies add to my sum of knowledge.

Thank you.

[Peter Taylor]

Woke up this morning on board "Snowtern" - at least this is what counts as a snow fall in balmy Southampton! It was presaged by a beautiful halo around the moon last night so not entirely unannounced.
Peter
(yes I know I'm mad!)

[Rob Johnstone]

And you haven't even lit your stove! 

[Peter Taylor]

And you haven't even lit your stove! 

Oh yes I had! It was off when the photo was taken but had been keeping the cabin snug earlier in the morning.  The wet patch on the canopy roof is where heat escaping between the top wash board and the hatch has partially melted the snow which has then slid forward. I need one of those sausage shaped draft excluders, but it must be able to hover at the top of the companionway - anyone know a supplier?

[Tony]

Hi, Peter.
Sausage shaped draught excluder?

Easy DiY project:
1. Get a strip of material of the right length  plus 4cms.  The width should be the circumference of the sausage you need plus 2cms. (Any material will do but if you're buying it get something quick drying)
2. Fold in half lengthways (good side, if it has one, in)
3. On a sewing machine, using appropriate thread, sew across one end. Do it twice for strength .
4. Sew, double again, down the length thus making a tube, sealed at one end.
5. Turn the whole thing inside out -  or rather, outside out . (!)
6. Stuff with anything that won't hold water. Polyester  padding, cooker hood filter material, even old tights. (With a wife, four daughters and four granddaughters  I have an endless supply of those.)
7. Sew up the open end as neatly as you can by tucking in the edges then over sewing. (I had to do this by hand, not being adept at this sort of thing.
The resulting  draught excluder will be very light, so use stick-on Velcro to hold it in the right place.

I used this idea (a long tube of Hessian, coiled and lashed) to make a crash mat/cushion  for "Four Sisters". Rope is easier but soon gets waterlogged.  When this thing gets wet either  whirl it around your head or hang it up to drip dry.  To be honest,  a square of closed cell foam (old KipMat) does a better job as a cushion but will blow away if you don't sit on it.

Another use for laddered "pop socks" (For any crusty old bachelors out there, these are socks made from the same sheer nylon as tights.)
Pull pop socks over the rubber feet of your drysuit. Protects the rubber from cuts when hopping about on one foot trying to put the damn thing on but, more usefully, makes putting on dinghy boots much less of a struggle, even when dry. Very slippery and adds no bulk.

[Peter Taylor]

Hi Tony,

Actually I was joking about a "hovering" draft excluder but now you've sent me the recipe I suppose I'll have to make one!  Looking at the shape of the corner between closed hatch and washboard I might try a piece of  pipe lagging (22mm size) as the stuffing; as you suggest covered in cloth to which velcro is attached to keep it in place.

(for the H&S people reading this, yes I do have some ventilators in the bottom washboard to allow air for combustion!)

Peter

[David Hudson]

Peter,  I know of some asbestos offcuts going cheap that might do the job?

[Tony]

Hmmm. Not sure, David.
Asbestos has some pretty useful properties I believe, but Velcro might stick a bit better?

Peter.
Not all the Needle Work advice on this Forum is worth listening to.
( I've seen some pretty dodgy stuff about crochet coasters and macramé rigging, for example, not to mention petite pointe fender cosies. )
However, advice on Swallow Boats, generally speaking, ain't so bad being mostly based on (bitter?) experience.

PS
Picture shows a cute little sun hat I crocheted earlier. Send you the pattern if you like?

[Peter Taylor]

I think I'll try using the expanded foam type pipe insulation rather than asbestos! It will need fabric covering to prevent the velcro pulling bits off it!  Re. crochet; someone I know used to be known as "Mr Diesel" in the days that he had a refuelling barge here on the River Itchen.  His wife used to crochet covers for the fenders!