Presentation to The Canadian Recreational Yachting Association Instructor and Schools Conference October 22, 2022.

1. Understanding Coastal
and Offshore Weather
Jack Dale
CRYA Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor Evaluator
2022 Instructor’s Conference

2. Day Skipper
1. Collect weather information from three sources, including Coast Guard
Radio and accurately describe the conditions expected for that day.
2. Describe local weather problems that might occur with little warning at any
time during the year.
3. Demonstrate the ability to understand and use Tide and Current Tables, for
reference ports and stations.
4. Demonstrate the ability to translate the following standard meteorological
terms describing wind, into wind speeds and expected conditions for sailing:
a. Light winds,
b. Moderate winds
c. Strong Wind Warning / Small Craft Warning in US waters,
d. Gale Warning,
e. Storm Warning.

3. Coastal Skipper
1. Identify sources of marine weather forecasts
2. Using VHF radio, accurately describe the weather forecast for the area to be
navigated.
3. Demonstrate the use of the Marine Weather Hazards or similar Weather
Hazards publication for the region.
4. Describe the formation of coastal fair weather cumulus clouds.
5. Describe what weather patterns to expect from cold and warm fronts.
6. Describe or identity the basic cloud layers.
7. Describe three types of fog formation.
8. Describe the difference between "Wind wave" and "Swell height".
9. Describe local wind effects, including "Lee effect" and "Convective gusts".

4. Yachtmaster Offshore
1. Describe the overall weather patterns associated with the northern hemisphere.
2. Describe the formation of low and high pressure areas.
3. Describe what conditions are indicated from the information on barometric pressure changes.
4. Describe the conditions to be expected using both the Beaufort scale and reported wind speeds.
5. Describe the clouds, precipitation, pressure and wind direction, expected close to the following:
a. The leading edge of a cold front.
b. Behind a cold front.
c. The leading edge of a warm front.
d. Immediately behind a warm front.
6. Describe the geostrophic flow around high and low pressure systems.
7. Identify sources of appropriate meteorological information
a. Grib files
b. Weatherfax
c. VHF
8. Assess the information provided by grib files, Weatherfax and VHF.
9. Using appropriate software interpret grib file presentations.
10. Using grib files, Weatherfax and VHF, in conjunction with current meteorological information, describe the expected conditions for the next 4-5 days.

5. Yachtmaster Ocean
1. Use and understand the information on a Pilot chart to determine the best time of year for a
passage.
2. Use publications such as World Cruising Routes to determine the best time of year for a passage.
3. Determine landfalls.
4. File passage plan with appropriate persons.
5. Review grib files and Weatherfax prior to departure.
6. Use SSB and satellite phone to acquire meteorological data
7. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of various routes across oceans.
8. Produce a passage plan across an ocean.

6. Coastal Weather
Sources
VHF
Newspaper
Phone
Internet

7. An essential resource
https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.630051/publication.html

8. Environment Canada – West Coast Guide
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/
collection_2014/ec/En56-233-2013-
eng.pdf

9. Environment Canada – Marine Forecasts
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/
region_e.html?mapID=03
Compare to VHF broadcasts

10. Environment Canada – Marine Forecasts
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?
mapID=03&siteID=14301

11. Weather Conditions
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?
mapID=03&siteID=14301
Updated hourly
Drop down menu

12. Synopsis
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?
mapID=03&siteID=14301

13. Interpreting Weather Forecasts
https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/education-
careers/education-program/k-12-teachers/education-
materials/

14. Local Weather
Fog
Steep waves (Strait of Georgia)
Katabatic winds
Land / sea breezes

15. Offshore Weather
NOAA Weather Fax
Grib Files
Grib Readers
NAVTEX
Weather Routing Services
Internet Resources
Smartphone Resources

16. Weatherfax
From NOAA
500 Mb Analysis & Forecast
Surface Analysis & Forecast
Sea State Analysis & Wave Period Forecast / Direction
Wind / Wave Analysis & Forecast
 Satellite Photos
Gales, Storms and Hurricanes
https://www.weather.gov/marine/nepacificbrief

17. Acquiring Weatherfax
Internet
SSB radio
Weatherfax receiver
Satelitte Phone (email)

18. GRIB Files
A widely used bit-oriented data exchange
scheme is the WMO GRIddedBinary (GRIB)
format. GRIB is an efficient vehicle for
transmitting large volumes of gridded data
to automated centers over high-speed
telecommunication lines using modern
protocols.

19. GRIB Readers
Grib.US
Free

20. GRIB Readers
Expedition –
US $1295
Uses polars
Sail inventory
Coastal
Current
Wind

21. Expedition Offshore

22. SailGrib WR
$49.95
Android
Integrates with
Navionics

23. Acquiring GRIB Files
FTP
Email – SailDocs
To: query@saildocs.com
Subject: anything
send gfs:40N,60N,140W,120W
Note that this is identical to:
send gfs:40N,60N,140W,120W|2,2|24,48,72|PRESS,WIND
gfs = Global Forecast System
File extension .grb

24. Weatherfax and GRIBS
https://www.weather.gov/
marine/nepacificbrief
Compare the two.

25. Acquiring Weatherfax Graphics
To request a current 500 mb analysis
To: query@saildocs.com
Subject: blank
Message: send
https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/fax/PPBA10.gif

26. GRIB in Open CPN

27. NAVTEX
Used in Sea Area A2
150 miles offshore
Synopsis
Forecast
Waves
NAVTEX Receiver
 Printer
 Display
 Keyboard

28. NAVTEX Introduction & Synopsis
FQCN33 CWVR 281826
NAVTEX FOR TOFINO VAE AT 10:30 AM PST MON 28 FEB 2011.
VLD 28/18Z-02/08Z,
WND(KT), VIS(NM) ABV 1 NM UNL IND, FOG IMPL VIS LESS THAN 1 NM.
SYNOPSIS:
28/18Z Q-STNR LOW 990 MB OVR WRN QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND. 28/18Z BLDN
RIDGE OVR NRN BC INTERIOR.

29. NAVTEX Local Forecast
WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND - N:
WNG: GALE.
WND: SW15-25. 01/05Z S25-35. 02/05Z SE45.
VIS: 28/18Z-02/05Z 0-1 SHWRS/LGT-SN.
WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND -S:
WNG: GALE.
WND: SW15-25. 01/17Z SE15-25. 02/04Z SE35-45.

30. NAVTEX Local Forecast
EXPLORER-NW:
WNG: GALE.
WND: W25-35. 01/16Z W15-25. 01/20Z V5-15. 02/04Z NE25.
EXPLORER-SE:
WNG: GALE.
WND: SW25-30. 02/00Z SE30. 02/05Z SE45.

31. NAVTEX Wave Forecast
WAVES(M) VLD 28/12Z-02/08Z.
WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND - N:
3-4. 28/17Z 2-3. 02/02Z 2.
WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND -S:
3-4. 01/11Z 2-3.
EXPLORER:
3-5. 01/08Z 3. 01/23Z 2.

32. Requesting Navtex from NOAA.
Send an e-mail to: NWS.FTPMail.OPS@noaa.gov
Subject Line: Put anything you like
Body: open
 cd data
 cd forecasts
 cd marine
 cd coastal
 cd pz
 get pzz100.txt
 get pzz156.txt
 get pzz176.txt
 quit

33. Navtex - Sources
Environment Canada Website
 https://weather.gc.ca/marine/marine_bulletins_e.html
NOAA – Canadian Navtex
 https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/canada.txt
 Request
 Send an e-mail to: NWS.FTPMail.OPS@noaa.gov
 Subject Line: Put anything you like
 Body: open
 cd data
 cd raw
 cd fq
 get fqcn14.cwnt..txt
 cd ..
 cd fi
 get ficn14.cwis..txt
 quit

34. Weather Routing Services
Commander’s Weather
http://www.commandersweather.com/
Gulf Stream analysis as well
Fee for service

35. Pilot Charts
https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APC

36. Weather Routing Services
Commander’s Weather
http://www.commandersweather.com/
Gulf Stream analysis as well
Fee for service

37. Apps
Sail Flow - https://www.sailflow.com/
Buoyweather - https://www.buoyweather.com/#6/47/-125/SWELL
Windy - https://www.windy.com

38. Making your own forecasts
Barometer
Trend
Winds
Direction
Strength
Clouds
Note on deck log

39. Buys Ballot Law

41. Cold
Front
Before Passing While Passing After Passing
Winds south-southwest gusty; shifting west-northwest
Temperature warm sudden drop steadily dropping
Pressure falling steadily minimum, then sharp rise rising steadily
Clouds increasing: Ci, Cs and Cb Cb Cu
Precipitation short period of showers
heavy rains, sometimes with hail,
thunder and lightning
showers then clearing
Visibility fair to poor in haze poor, followed by improving good, except in showers
Dew Point high; remains steady sharp drop lowering

42. Making your own forecasts
Barometer Clouds Winds Temperature
1010 ↓ High Cirrus SSE Warm →
1005↓ Stratocumulus SSW Warm ↑
1015↑ Clear N Cool →

43. Mnemonics
Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s take
warning.
Others?

44. In Closing
I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms
have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very
quickly to look further and understand that I am
not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise
the art of patience and to respect the fury of
nature.
Paulo Coelho