Sources of Weather Information for Safer Sailing

/ 22 February 2017 /

Knowing what weather is coming is as important to sailors as how to raise a sail, steer the boat, or how to tack.

Choosing the right weather to sail in can make the difference between a pleasant, safe voyage or race, or an uncomfortable, dangerous situation.
The most important decisions for a successful voyage or race may be prior to your departure time.
Spend a lot of time on the internet learning which weather sites have what you need.
- Know the weather forecast well ahead of time.
- Know what weather products or services you will use at sea.
- The ultimate responsibility for weather forecasts and routing rests with the skipper and his or her properly trained crew.
- Know how you are going to get weather on the boat and practice using it onboard.
- If bad weather is forecast, postpone your departure.
- Even if it is a race, it is the responsibility of the skipper to make the decision not to start the race if weather conditions are a danger to the crew and boat.