Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 15: Weather You Like It or Not
suns, bright spots in the sky displaying the spectrum of colors, show the same conditions,
and also are most common when bad weather is on the way.
A rainbow is the mythic promise of an end to flooding, but in reality it depends on when
and where you see the phenomenon. A rainbow in the west in the morning may mean rain
on the way. In the east in the afternoon, it’s usually a sign that the rain has passed.
Wind Speeds
In general, winds are an enemy to the powerboater and friend to the sailor—to a point.
Most powerboat-drivers would just as soon see the water dead calm every time they leave
the dock, offering a smooth surface where they can let their horses run at full speed without
pounding the crew to Jell-O.
However, for a powerboater, winds up to 10
knots are generally not a concern. Ten to 15
knots makes things uncomfortable, and over
15 knots, only the tough head out.
Sailors hate dead calm with a passion, love 10
to 15 knots, and the young and reckless may
take on 20 knots or more in a catamaran. It’s wet,
wild, and risky, but you go fast.
Small Craft Advisories (SCAs) are posted on
weather stations and at some large marinas when
winds exceed 18 knots. The signal is a triangular
red flag, or at night a red light over a white light.
They’re an indication that anything less than a
ship should stay in port.
Fetching Considerations
The wind is only half of the equation in determining
when it’s going to be too rough for you
and your boat. The other is the fetch, or the distance
the wind will blow over unobstructed water.
A long fetch can create big waves even on an
inland lake with 15 knot winds, while a short fetch
will prevent much stronger winds from making
the water too rough for comfort.
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Boat Bytes
Although the most common
weather pattern in the
United States is west to
east, there are times when
rain and storms come from
the east. It’s common in Florida
in summer as storms drift off the
Atlantic, and in New England in
winter, as particularly vicious
storms sweeping in from the
southwest rotate as they hit
the sea and strike back toward
the mainland, producing the
dreaded “nor’easter.”
Boater-ese
Fetch is the distance the
wind blows over unobstructed
water. It directly affects wave
height.