Tell anyone you are a weather forecaster and inevitably they will at some point say "why do you always get it wrong then?" After a brief, grumpy explanation that we don't, and pointing out that Michael Fish and 'the Hurricane' was 17 years ago, we can sometimes feel despondent. Yet the forecast is of course relied upon for sports, fetes and gardeners.

However, for many the daily forecast is utterly vital, especially at sea. The Shipping Forecast and Inshore Waters provide a guide to the general forecast within an area, although there will always be little headlands with their own fluky winds, so local knowledge is useful too.
For yachtsmen (and women) the forecast winds are the main concern when racing. One example of chasing favourable winds is the Round Britain and Ireland race .Over the past 2 weeks eight 72 foot yachts have been racing around Ireland, up past Shetland and down the North Sea.

The start of the race did have light winds, just around the Isle of Wight, so the spinnakers were out briefly but as soon as the yachts started their progress west up the Channel, they had some fine sailing into a moderate WSW breeze. Once past the Isles of Scilly, things got rather rough thanks to a nearby low pressure and in a NW force 5 the seasickness kicked in for some. Moving north through the Atlantic, there was a torn sail and near St. Kilda live missile firing had to be avoided. Near the Northern Isles, it was dead calm thanks to a Col. A Col is the quiet zone between 2 high pressures and 2 low pressures, arranged alternately. At this point, it looked like the race would be late back but after favourable winds through the North Sea, the boats all caught up and currently look like making an early arrival at the finish. The last bit of the race includes some strong tides and the Channel's busy shipping, with light SSW winds picking up through Thursday 10th.

This race is used by some as a practice for the main Global Challenge. This is a 9 month race around the world, the wrong way. The wrong way - being into the prevailing winds for much of the race. The weather centre's very own Philip Avery is taking part in this year's race, leaving in October. The pressure will no doubt be on him to translate the weather charts with pinpoint accuracy to help his boat into the lead, and with the Met Office's figures for accuracy standing at 86%, I'm sure there will little to complain about.

Related Links :
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