Historical Weather Data - Planning Ocean Passages

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D

Ducati

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Nov 19, 2008
380
Boatless Boatless Annapolis
In the next few years we are planning on a future ocean passage. Aside from having a well prepared vessel, we are looking for some historical weather information. With our proper due-diligence by referring to any source of information regarding historical oceanic weather data we are looking for best times of the year to sail a passage.

Question: Where or who can we consult for weather history as we prepare for our future trip?

Regards,
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
Information such as this is available in cruising guides for the area that you intend to sail. They usually cover weather patterns. You certainly know about Hurricane season and then in Florida and the Bahamas there are the Northerlies that last through Feb or Mar. The trades of the Caribbean are different than the winds of the south Atlantic, etc. This will help plan when you sail, but while you are sailing you really need to be aware of the weather and weather windows for safe passages. Watch for highs and lows and fronts. Radar will show you weather in your immediate area and weather info with SSB is one of the best sources of weather info on board. With your computer you can get marine weather anywhere in the world and more detailed info is something you can subscribe to where you can get weather reports for specific buoys located throughout the world. There are also services where you can contact a weather expert to tell you when the best window for travel is on the route you intend to take in any given time of year.
 
newly anonymous

newly anonymous

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Sep 24, 1999
1,511
Hunter H46LE Sausalito
the seminal work would be...

...World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell. I believe it's now in its 5th edition.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Suggest you also learn to become your own weather forecaster to cover those times when the 'averages' do not match the actual and when your contact with your weather 'router' is unobtainable. Serious weather prediction is not an impossible science. Probably the 'best' source for study, etc. is the Dashews "Mariners Weather Handbook", then do some of your own forecasting to see if it matches the actual, etc.

For the Atlantic there is the famous Herb Hilgenberg (Southbound II @ 12.359 USB @ ~0700Z) and Chris Parker in the Carribean basin, etc.



As for pilot charts, etc. these are 'averages' of many years and dont always stack up with the actual; thus, changing the average.
 
richk

richk

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Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
The earlier comments about cruising guides and pilot charts are valid. For planning purposes, you can't beat the pilot chart for your intended route. As a former ship router and ocean weather person I relied upon them for pre-sail briefs. If you are more interested in actual weather and can read a synoptic chart I suggest exploring the National Climate Data Center's Service Records Retention System web site at http://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/ncep/NCEP. If you can't read a synoptic chart, now's the time to learn. Visit http://www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/synoptic/wxmaps.htm for a short course. Learning how to read a chart could be valuable if you are in mid ocean and have access to weather fax.

Rich in Annapolis
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
One of the things I noted in the early pags of the pilot charts atlas is the explaination of the major weather influences each month. We all know that the weather will deviate from the average but it is nice to know why the average exists. Month to month averages are useful annual average temperature and rainfall are of little use for two months of the year.
 
Fairwind

Fairwind

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Feb 1, 2007
113
-Lancer -28 The Sea Of Cortez
The Royal Navy accumulated maritime weather information for over 3 centuries. His Majesty's Sailing Directions, something like that. But global warming is CHANGING historical weather patterns so that needs to be taken into account when ocean voyaging today..
 
richk

richk

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Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
As noted in earlier posts on this subject, pilot charts may be your only source for route planning when you want to consider environmental influences. Please note: two pilot charts are not available in electronic form...

Pub. 105 - Atlas of Pilot Charts South Atlantic Ocean

Not yet available for download, as they are still awaiting digital conversion
Pub. 108 - Atlas of Pilot Charts North Pacific Ocean

Not yet available for download, as they are still awaiting digital conversion
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Ross—

Be aware that some of the files in the third link that Ross posted are executable files and require a Windows-based PC to extract. Why the government does this is beyond me, they should have kept the files in PDF format IMHO.
 
richk

richk

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Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
Fairwind said:
The Royal Navy accumulated maritime weather information for over 3 centuries. His Majesty's Sailing Directions, something like that. But global warming is CHANGING historical weather patterns so that needs to be taken into account when ocean voyaging today..
Click to expand
How does one take this into account:confused:
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
sailingdog said:
Ross—

Be aware that some of the files in the third link that Ross posted are executable files and require a Windows-based PC to extract. Why the government does this is beyond me, they should have kept the files in PDF format IMHO.
Click to expand
There is another OS? ;)
 
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