Weather information needed to stay out of trouble

Proper use of weather information is generally recognised to be a principle means of preventing accidents to mariners. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has focused since early 2005 on its wish to improve the information available and has shown itself willing to listen to proposals, within the limits the limits of its responsibilities and of its resources and budgets. The debate and MCA's efforts to respond are ongoing, see Marine Guidance Note 44 at www.mcga.gov.uk. Yachtsmen do, however, need encouraging to use effectively the available weather information from public and private sources and this is seen as a self-training and experience objective.

Analysis of the issue

The main forecasts used by yachtsmen are those purchased by the MCA from the Met Office to meet the UK's international obligations and provide twice a day the shipping forecast with a 24 hour outlook, gale and storm warnings, high seas forecasts and, also twice a day, inshore waters and strong winds forecasts. Separately from the MCA and GMDSS, BBC Radio 4 broadcasts the shipping forecast four times a day, without the outlook, and an abbreviated inshore waters forecast twice a day. All these forecasts are free-of-charge to the user. Telephone and internet forecasts are increasingly available, but are typically for charge, unless accessed from official sources, notably US and German government agencies. See www.franksingleton.clara.net for an inventory and assessment of offerings)

CYCC conducted an extensive survey in 2004/2005 of forecast provision and shared its findings with the RYA and RIN, working towards common positions. Conclusions were that MCA and BBC forecasts met most needs, but there were weaknesses in broadcasting and more use should be made of developing Met Office capability. Typical concerns were that more forecasting of the outlook up to three days ahead is essential for passage planning, forecasts tended to be stale when broadcast and timings were not respected. Members felt that telephone forecasts are costly and often stale. Strong regret was expressed by some that the BBC had reduced its inshore waters forecasts and coastal stations reports due to other pressures on broadcasting time. Practical problems seem to flow from time constraints for the rather lengthy VHF broadcasts, a ten minute limitation on Navtex international 518 kHz transmissions, limited use of the Navtex 490 kHz national channel and lack of understanding that Navtex is designed for use at sea, not in port. Others are due to old equipment inherited by the MCA from BT five years ago and lack of budgets for renewal. Further, the same HM Coastguard officers broadcast the VHF forecasts as deal with distress working and the latter takes priority. On the other hand, we gained an impression that many UK yachtsmen do not take advantage of available sources, notably Navtex, and may not listen routinely to the VHF broadcasts, relying heavily on BBC Radio 4. We also found cultural resistance to internet sources, partly due access problems when at sea.