WHATS THE WEATHER LIKE
Fog
Fog can be very dangerous, so to make you a little more aware lets firstly have a long at the main two types of fog you may encounter:
Radiation or land fog forms over land in clear conditions and at night. Caused during the night when the heat from the land rises upwards and there are clouds to trap this rising heat. It can potentially last for many hours.
Advection or sea fog is found at sea level, and is caused by warm, moist airstreams that blow over cooler water. These are most common during the spring and winter months. Make sure to log your boats accurate position. This type of fog will disperse when a change in wind brings drier air.
Frontal fog can arise and follow a warm front of a depression and is caused by warm air rising over cold air cooling swiftly to below its dew point which can form a narrow strip of fog along its front. Beware if navigating in this type of fog at landmarks can be obscured such as transits or lighthouses.
Arctic or sea smoke, found in arctic and polar regions, occurs when cold air absorbs moisture as it passes over a warmer sea. This fog effect resembles smoke, quickly forming, dispersing, and reforming. Lasting only a short time until the sea warms the air sufficiently eliminating the effect, sea smoke is not mainly a major hazard to mariners.
Major dangers
Collisions –
More prominent in open waters or approaching harbour or port entrances. Lesson danger can be avoided by GPS.
How to avoid –
Sound your fog signal (horn)
If accompanied have a lookout
Keep to shallow water, ideally to shallow for ships
Raise a radar reflector, and if you have a radar fitted operate it
Make sure the engine is warmed and ready
If possible try to avoid area’s that have a lot shipping i.e. harbours’, major waterways
If in any doubts other steps to take-
Set a minimum or clearing depth and continually monitor
Find a shallow position and drop an anchor and wait until the fog clears
You could change your route to a better area
Follow contour lines if possible
Weatherbound
If you plan to sail over 30 miles offshore you should ideally carry NAVTEX (NAVigational TEXt) is described by UK Coast Guard (HMCG) as the primary method of disseminating Marine Safety Information (MSI) out to 270 miles and is .part of the integrated Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
Navtex provides the following information:
Navigation warnings
Meteorological warnings
Ice reports
Search & rescue information, piracy warnings
Meteorological forecasts
Navigation warnings - additional to letter A - see below
Weather actuals – only on UK 490 kHz
Timings for Navtex Broadcasts
Niton (Located on the Isle of Wight, covering the south coast)
(I) Inshore Waters Forecast
490 0520/1720
Latest actual weather reports
0120/0920/1320/2120
Portpatrick (located at Dumfries and Galloway for Scotland)
(C) Inshore Waters Forecast
490 0820/2020
Latest actual weather reports
0020/0420/1220/1620
Cullercoats (Located in the North East)
(U) Inshore Waters Forecast
490 0720/1920
Latest actual weather reports
0320/1120.1520/2320
Last but not Least
Weather and sea conditions play a large part in over 40% of all fatal boat accidents
In 13 of the 19 accidents where weather and sea conditions played a large part, a weather forecast was not obtained or not acted on. Too many mariners do not know how to access or understand a marine weather forecast.
Before you go out in a boat –ALWAYS check and understand
the marine weather forecast for your area. If in doubt DON’T
