Weather for Sailors and Boaters

Name: Weather for Sailors and Boaters
Rating: 4.7 (436 reviews)

Understanding the atmosphere and making better decisions on the water

Highest Rated

Created byChristopher D. Nolan

Last updated 5/2021

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

In this course, you will learn about weather fundamentals, weather tools, and weather decisions for sailors and boaters.

Course content

5 sections • 37 lectures • 2h 20m total length

Introduction1:43
In this course you will learn about weather fundamentals, weather resources, and weather decision making for sailors and boaters.

Introduction to this Section0:22
Explore marine weather fundamentals and principles to help sailors and boaters make better decisions at sea. Learn about cold fronts, warm fronts, low and high pressure, thunderstorms, clouds, and fog.
Differential Heating4:02
In this lesson, we discuss how weather occurs when areas are heated at different rates.
Sea Breeze4:24
In this lesson, we discuss the sea breeze, why it forms, and how it can be used for boating.
Land Breeze4:42
In this lesson, we discuss the land breeze, which is opposite of the sea breeze.
Low Pressure Traits2:49
In this lesson we synthesize what we know so far about low pressure systems.
High Pressure Traits2:24
In this lesson we synthesize what we know so far about high pressure systems.
The Coriolis Effect5:20
In this lesson, we discuss the Coriolis Effect and how it causes winds to deflect from their apparent path.
Global Wind Patterns10:48
In this lesson, we put it all together. We discuss how differential heating and coriolis lead to the global wind patters on Earth.
Weather Systems5:24
In this lesson we discuss weather systems such as high and low pressure systems.
Isobars and Wind Speed and Direction5:07
In this lesson we discuss how isobars can be used to determine the wind direction and speed.
Weather Fronts5:36
In this lesson we discuss warm, cold, and occluded fronts.
Sailing Near Thunderstorms and Squalls7:56
In this lesson we discuss operating near squalls and thunderstorms, and what to expect nearby.
Clouds4:28
In this lesson we discuss common cloud types and how you can use them to determine approaching weather systems.
Fog and Humidity5:07
In this lesson we discuss how fog and humidity are related and why they impact us as humans and boaters.
Tropical Revolving Storms8:22
In this lesson we discuss the importance of staying away from tropical revolving storms and how to determine the safer side of the storm if you are nearby.

Introduction to this Section0:43
Website: Ocean Prediction Center5:59
Website: National Weather Service2:04
Use the National Weather Service to view region-specific coastal and offshore forecasts with wind data in knots; color-coded warnings like gale alerts appear and are clickable for details.
Website: National Data Buoy Center1:23
Explore current and historical data from the National Data Center, administered by NOAA, through coastal buoys that reveal wind speeds, wave heights, temperature, and buoy camera views.
Website: Windy and Similar Visual Sites2:38
There are a wide variety of websites which take unfiltered weather data such as the GFS model and translate it into visually appealing weather data. These are helpful when trying to get a sense of the wind and weather near you. However it is important to realize that not all websites have filtered data that has been analyzed by a human meteorologist. Attached to the lesson are a few of many websites that you can refer to.
Website: National Hurricane Center1:40
Website: Worldwide Weather Resources2:20
Discover worldwide weather resources for mariners, including New Zealand Met Service and the UK Met Office, near coastal and offshore forecasts, tide data, and radio broadcasts to plan safer sails.
At Sea: VHF Radio Broadcasts2:23
At Sea: Weather Fax2:43
At Sea: Satellite Internet and Hotspots1:30
Planning: Books and References4:11
Planning: Pilot Charts for Marine Navigation3:12
Explore how pilot charts, published by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, synthesize ocean data into monthly averages to help sailors plan voyages with wind, currents, and storm tracks.

Introduction to this Section0:33
Explore seven practical weather scenarios to decide where and when to sail, including island effects and tracking low and high pressure systems, using real case studies to synthesize course concepts.
Scenario 1: Frontal Passage2:09
In this lesson we discuss the clouds you might see as a cold front approaches your position.
Scenario 2: Sailing Race from Florida to North Carolina6:09
In this lesson we are sailing from Florida to North Carolina and must determine what weather we will encounter using the surface forecasts.
Scenario 3: West Coast USA Transit6:29
In this scenario we are sailing on the west coast of the USA and must use the surface forecasts to estimate what weather we will experience.
Scenario 4: Mid Atlantic Low Pressure Tracks4:35
In this scenario we are in the middle of the Atlantic, and use the surface analysis along with the 500mb forecast chart to determine the track of a low pressure system.
Scenario 5: Island Effects2:48
In this scenario we use windy.com to showcase the effect of land and islands on local wind fields.
Scenario 6: North Pacific Low Pressure2:59
In this scenario we discuss the formation of a low pressure system near the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
Scenario 7: North Carolina to St. Thomas - When to Depart5:01
In this scenario we discuss resources one might use to determine when to depart North Carolina for the Caribbean in November.

Requirements

No prerequisites.

Description

We've all experienced a bad day on the water thanks to our planet's atmosphere. Whether that is being rained out on a holiday, or getting ourselves in a dangerous situation in a thunderstorm, the weather is a sailor or boaters main concern on the water.

In this course, taught by a professional mariner, you will learn about the principles of marine weather and the resources available to you as you make sailing and boating decisions on the water.

First you will learn about weather fundamentals such as fronts, air masses, and hazards such as thunderstorms and tropical storms. Next you will learn about resources available both on the internet and at sea for weather data such as weather faxes and forecast models. Finally, you will practice weather routing with a few common sailing situations such as a daysail or a hypothetical trip from North Carolina to St. Thomas to help you make more informed choices regarding the weather.

This course is helpful for beginners or experienced sailors and boaters alike. It is all about being informed and being safe on the water. Happy navigating!

Your instructor is Captain Chris Nolan, an experienced military and civilian ship captain who has sailed in the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, and Polar regions.

Who this course is for:

Recreational or professional sailors and boaters.

Weather for Sailors and Boaters

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Weather Principles and Fundamentals15 lectures • 1hr 17min

Weather Resources for Sailors and Boaters12 lectures • 31min

Weather Decisions at Sea8 lectures • 31min

Conclusion1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: