Bemoaning the loss of the Three Day Outlook
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:49 am
I realise this has probably been done to death but I really am convinced that safety is being compromised now the outlook has been dropped from Coastguard Weather Bulletins.
Sat in Plockton a week or so ago with all fine in the world. Planning a leisurely return to Tobermory via Loch Nevis, all the Forecasts had been N or NW 3 -4 for days and the synopsis reports seemed fairly innocuous and the next thing we get "Ardnamurchan to Cape Wrath - South Westerly 5 - 7...etc"
Anyone knowing the area will appreciate that it is a fairly exposed piece of water and not really the place to bashing into a Southwesterly near gale.
Last year we would have had an indication that this was a possibility and therefore could have planned accordingly - as it was we took the decision to leg it back in one go which was fine - and a good thing we did as the weather did come in.
Surely there must be something we can do to persuade the MCA or whoever that the ommission of the 3 day outlook denies leisure sailors of a vital part of their planning and is therefore a threat to safety?
Sgeir and I talked of this and I'm not wishing to steal his thunder or topic but what would be the most effective way or raising this in the consciousness of the authorities? I realise that suggests that the authorites are conscious - I suppose we can live in hope.
Sat in Plockton a week or so ago with all fine in the world. Planning a leisurely return to Tobermory via Loch Nevis, all the Forecasts had been N or NW 3 -4 for days and the synopsis reports seemed fairly innocuous and the next thing we get "Ardnamurchan to Cape Wrath - South Westerly 5 - 7...etc"
Anyone knowing the area will appreciate that it is a fairly exposed piece of water and not really the place to bashing into a Southwesterly near gale.
Last year we would have had an indication that this was a possibility and therefore could have planned accordingly - as it was we took the decision to leg it back in one go which was fine - and a good thing we did as the weather did come in.
Surely there must be something we can do to persuade the MCA or whoever that the ommission of the 3 day outlook denies leisure sailors of a vital part of their planning and is therefore a threat to safety?
Sgeir and I talked of this and I'm not wishing to steal his thunder or topic but what would be the most effective way or raising this in the consciousness of the authorities? I realise that suggests that the authorites are conscious - I suppose we can live in hope.