• Sailing is all about the Weather.

    Big into the exploration of Atlantic Hurricanes since Katrina came uninvited into his world, James (Jim) Gurley (JamesG161) has followed every Tropical Storm birthed in Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean waters since. Being a boater, he knows that we often need more time to prepare than we get from the TV weather folk. Jim relies on the science of storm development to share early warning info with friends and fellow boaters.

    Early in 2018, Jim and John Shepard, (JSSailem) started to chat about the weather data available. John asked Jim to help forecast Pacific NW storms, and this morphed into discussions on weather forecasting.

    For John, sailing in the PNW is sometimes hit and miss. One day is ugly, then a string of beautiful days but no wind, followed by a series of blue-sky days and 12 knot breezes. Being ready for those great sailing days means you need to look to the Pacific Ocean and what is brewing. John has been into Pacific NW Weather since the 1970’s when his first PNW November storm hit bringing more than 40 days and 40 nights of continual rain.

    Together we want to share information, new APPs, safety, and thoughts about letting the weather help you. Identify some of the resources for sailors and help prepare you for your next sailboat outing.

    It is far better to go out on the water knowing what to expect in weather terms, than to be out on the water and see dark ominous clouds suddenly appear, unprepared.

Cristobal Wind Info

Jan 7, 2011
4,726
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Predicted to miss Chicago, a bit to the west of us.
Well, I spoke too soon. Winds were forecast to be up to 50 knot gusts today...and some storms around 3:00.

Went out around 1:00 In 25-35 knots of wind. Small handkerchief of jib out. Plowed through the building seas..and kept a weather watch for rain (left the top down on the roadster). Didn’t stay out too long, but had a blast.

Poured rain and blew 40 knots for 10 minutes after I was back at the dock. But dropped the top on the roadster on the way home. Another band blew through after I got home...

Temps dropped nicely though.

Hope everyone is safe and dry.

Greg
 

WayneH

.
Jan 22, 2008
1,039
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
The Admiral and I were in Pensacola on Bayou Chico for the storm. Being on the dirty side of the storm was interesting. The tide rose about 2-2.5 feet above normal but we are way back from the pass and behind a bottleneck at the mouth of Bayou Chico. We were taking 10-15 degree rolls in the gusts. I can't tell how fast the gusts were because my anemometer bearing were froze up when we got here. UGH! Climbed the mast today in the light north winds and yeah, it's broke. Won't even spin by hand. And just out of Fricking extended warranty. GRRR.

Anyway, we came through the event just tired from the rocking to and fro while trying to sleep. Hopefully, we won't hear about someone losing their boat from this.