Sailors understand how a good weather forecast can set them apart from the competition and keep them safe as well. In fact, weather knowledge is so crucial to a skilled sailor that sailing students are often required to learn about weather in training classes.
Checking the weather forecast is often the first thing a sailor does before setting out to the water. Wind speed and direction act as the fuel for sailboats, hence the importance sailors place on an accurate wind forecast. Competitive sailors will monitor winds days in advance, attempting to produce a game plan for race day. Experienced sailors look for high resolution wind forecasts that take local effects into account. Sea breeze onset, wind shadows due to land, frontal wind shifts, and coastal jets are a few examples of small scale effects on wind that can have significant effects on sailing. Too slow of winds can delay the start of a race and too fast of winds can lead to large waves, capsizing, collisions, and damage to equipment.
Even a morning that starts out with sunny skies can quickly turn into stormy conditions within a short amount of time. Thunderstorms pose a risk to sailors as the storms often produce strong wind gusts, rough waves, and poor visibility. Lightning can also strike the sailboats as the metal mast extending upward acts like a lightning conductor. In the more severe cases, thunderstorms can produce large hail and waterspouts.
For sailors who travel long distances, storms are often just another part of the journey. However, hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones pose a more serious threat. Wind gusts in excess of 74 mph, large wave heights, and heavy rain make extremely dangerous and life threatening conditions for sailors. The good news? Hurricane, typhoon and cyclone warnings are often issued well in advance, giving sailing crews enough time to prepare and alter their course away from the storm.
Dense, heavy fog over the water can obscure visibility, making navigation difficult when sailing. Sailboats run the risk of crashing into another boat, especially since light signals are obscured by fog. Special precautions are often taken during a fog event, such as the use of a fog horn to alert nearby boats of their presence.
Temperature is often the least of sailors concerns, but it can still cause major impacts for sailors. Excessive heat can cause sailors to become exhausted and overheated. In sharp contrast, freezing temperatures can lead to icy conditions on the boat, causing potential injuries or damage to the equipment.
Whether there is a sudden wind shift, a change in wind speed, or a thunderstorm on the horizon, an experienced sailor will know how to adapt to most changing weather conditions, and this knowledge will help maximize the efficiency of the sailor’s ride.
Photo: Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool