Have you ever listened to a weather forecast stating there may be a slight chance of showers but the rain is coming down so hard you are seriously considering a lifejacket while standing on the dock? During such times, one suggestion to the forecaster runs through everyone's mind: "Look out the window!!" That is certainly one of the most accurate methods to forecast the immediate weather.
Everyone knows the look of the sky when a thunderstorm or squall is moving in, but few know how to determine what is in store more than a few hours ahead.
Frank has taken the mystery out of weather forecasting in his book Marine Weather Forecasting. He explains how to tell more about the weather, for hours and days to come, than any broadcast. But you must know what to look for when you go on deck. The wind, clouds, moon and sun all tell the story and Frank explains how to read these signs.
Anyone can understand Frank's detailed descriptions of forecasting and the illustrations add to the ease.
Caution: After reading this book you may never rely on another broadcast report.
Illustrated
Weather, both good and bad, is a constant companion to the small boat at sea. Weather is a fact of life. It must be taken as it comes, enjoyed or endured, but it must be accepted. One cannot run away from it in a small boat. The boat and her crew must always be prepared for whatever Nature has ready to hand out in the way of fog, wind, waves and rain. There is no reason why the yachtsman need be surprised, however. Nature always gives fair warning of what she has in store and her signs are clear to those who know how to read them.
This book demonstrates how to recognize and interpret Nature's warnings, both those visible to anyone with eyes and those which may be measured with simple instruments which are on board practically every small boat. There is no added expense and very little which must be learned. All the yachtsman needs to know to enable him to make accurate local weather forecasts in minutes, which will preview the weather to be expected over the next six hours to two days ahead, is explained in the chapters which follow.
Every small boat which ventures out of sight of land will someday be forced to ride out a squall or period of foul weather. Knowing what to expect and how to make certain of the safety of the boat and her crew will give much confidence to those aboard. Storms at sea can be both safe and exhilarating; rarely are they dangerous to those prepared and aboard a well-found and seaworthy boat.
This book is not a treatise on meteorology. There are no weather maps, no cryptic symbols to decode. There is no mathematics involved, not even as simple as 2 + 2. This book is intended for the sailor who wants to spend his time sailing, not studying, but who also needs a rapid, simple and accurate means for discovering what the weather will be like this afternoon, tomorrow and possibly the day after.
The ability to forecast local weather conditions accurately adds immeasurably to safety at sea and, because weather changes are anticipated and do not come as surprises, the pleasure of extended cruising is greatly enhanced. Weather forecasting is an art, however and not a science as yet. There will be a few surprises, though not major ones; and some mistakes in forecasting the weather. The National Weather Service also makes mistakes. They have the best in instruments, weather radar, satellites and information from local observers in many places upon which to base their forecasts and they still make mistakes. The interested and observant user of this book will not make as many mistakes -- not because it makes him a better forecaster than the entire National Weather Service, but because his forecasts cover only a small area and are limited to a few hours or a day or two ahead. This considerably reduces the chance for errors to creep in and practically precludes major errors being made.
A knowledge of the weather is as vital to the cruising sailor as is a knowledge of navigation. No one should ever go to sea in a small boat without a confident mastery of both subjects as they affect his travels and are modified by the size of his boat and the extent of his experience.
