Weather :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

Weather

TylerH

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 31, 2010

Last visit: Jun 21, 2017

Posts: 280
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 10:03 AM

Should i believe http://Weather.com or wunderground.com?

One forcast say's 18mph for caterwaul this weekend,
And another say's 6mph...i do not know what to believe.

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Tyler holmes
Panama city, FL

Boat whore
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sailinagin

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 14, 2010

Last visit: Aug 18, 2014

Posts: 242
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 10:28 AM

Go with the one that gives you what you want to hear

I like Wunderground.

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David
Memphis, TN
'84 Hobie 18
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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: Dec 04, 2024

Posts: 7090
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 10:31 AM

it's good to see different forecasts as it can give you a better range of wind

i have been very closely following forecasts for wind for the past 6 years and usually they are close but sometimes very wrong.

i think its more important to know when fronts are moving through, and when there is a good chance for thunderstorms..
turtlecat

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 26, 2007

Last visit: Jul 13, 2012

Posts: 181
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 11:19 AM

I also use sailflo.com in the mix of the forcast voodoo.
Rider_55

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 26, 2009

Last visit: Mar 20, 2015

Posts: 150
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 11:49 AM

turtlecatI also use sailflo.com in the mix of the forcast voodoo.

Do you mean sailflow.com ? BTW thanks for the links. I have been using weather.com exclusively but more info is better.
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: Dec 04, 2024

Posts: 7090
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 01:30 PM

i use iwindsurf.com which is the same engine as sailflow
i also use local radar from our local news
i also use noaa sites
coastrat

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jul 16, 2009

Last visit: Oct 28, 2014

Posts: 1271
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 02:15 PM

i use the weather channel online and get the marine forcast...they are almost always different. they got it all, tides, wind direction maps, near coastal forcast and so on. i always check in on my noaa weather bouys for real time and historical wind speed and direction to see which forcast have been accurate in the past day or so...twc will forcast say 5-10kt winds but the bouys will show 12-15kts and so on...i also like the interactive map.

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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popeyez7

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 26, 2004

Last visit: Nov 05, 2024

Posts: 399
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 04:11 PM

~~ I stick my head out the door & a wet finger in the air

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~ Vietnam Vet 69-71~ 17 Hobie w/big jib, ~18 Hobie mag,~DN Ice sailor,
and other toys.......
~~ I live in NY state on the north shore of Oneida lake in
Bernhards Bay. ~~~~~~
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TylerH

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 31, 2010

Last visit: Jun 21, 2017

Posts: 280
Posted: Oct 14, 2010 - 08:49 PM

coastrati use the weather channel online and get the marine forcast...they are almost always different. they got it all, tides, wind direction maps, near coastal forcast and so on. i always check in on my noaa weather bouys for real time and historical wind speed and direction to see which forcast have been accurate in the past day or so...twc will forcast say 5-10kt winds but the bouys will show 12-15kts and so on...i also like the interactive map.

I like your thoughts.

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Tyler holmes
Panama city, FL

Boat whore
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smfinley

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 24, 2005

Last visit: Apr 18, 2023

Posts: 709
Posted: Oct 15, 2010 - 10:41 AM

I use a combination of intellicast's WINDcast, NOAA nearshore marine forecast and weather bouys / webcams. I have an hour drive to get to the water, so I try to see what it is going to be like before going.

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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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coastrat

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jul 16, 2009

Last visit: Oct 28, 2014

Posts: 1271
Posted: Oct 15, 2010 - 11:18 AM

the main thing i'm looking for on the 10 day marine forcast is wind! i will adjust my scedule to accomadate a 15-20 or 20-25 kts day. small craft warnings get me excited and speek to me in the language of love. 5-7' seas get me giddy/www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="icon_biggrin" /> " rel="lightbox">/www.thebeachcats.com/modules/bbsmile/pnimages/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="icon_biggrin" /> " alt=" " width="250"/>

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Aug 10, 2024

Posts: 2531
Posted: Oct 15, 2010 - 09:37 PM

As long as you realize the 10 day forecast is a thrown dart. The fact is anything beyond 3 days should be taken with a shovelful of salt.
One of the guys I teach skiing with works for the weather network. He told me they got rid of the 14 day outlook because its accuracy was abysmal. John Q Public bitched so much they started to lose advertising, so they put it back in. Of course it's still a wild guess, but hey most of the public has no idea what anything on a weather map means anyway.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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coastrat

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jul 16, 2009

Last visit: Oct 28, 2014

Posts: 1271
Posted: Oct 15, 2010 - 10:45 PM

lately here its been right on but we have had the same weather for a month now. between the satellite/doplar,marine forcast,the guy on the skinnard station,hubble space feed,and the swollen ice chest, we useually go anyway! hell, if it storms it's a bonus! free entertainment!!!

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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golfdad75

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 29, 2010

Last visit: Apr 28, 2015

Posts: 454
Posted: Oct 16, 2010 - 12:36 AM

Hey BIll going tomorrow?

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Nacra 5.2
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coastrat

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jul 16, 2009

Last visit: Oct 28, 2014

Posts: 1271
Posted: Oct 16, 2010 - 09:26 AM

sunday sunday sunday for us, have to work(4letter word)saturday.

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Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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kingwilly

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Mar 14, 2009

Last visit: Feb 05, 2014

Posts: 53
Posted: Oct 16, 2010 - 11:46 AM

Between work and other commitments, I usually go whenever I have a free weekend, don't pay much attention to the weather as that will not change my mind anyway. Besides, sometimes they are wrong and I'd hate to be stuck in jakarta if a decent wind sprung up and I wasn't there to take advantage of it.
dewy2437

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 05, 2010

Last visit: Jun 06, 2012

Posts: 33
Posted: Oct 17, 2010 - 10:49 PM

I agree with popey, but i use weather.com to get a general idea. Rule of thumb is know your local climate. There are certain days of the week that just seem to be more windy like weds. Another good measurement to look at is the barometric pressure when this starts to fall dramatically that usually means weather aka wind is in full effect. although with a high pressure weather cell just look at the trees and see if the wind is blowing, if the wind moves the leaves in the tree tops that is usually a pretty good day of sailing in my experience. remember the wind will generally build as the day progresses and will ease off so make sure you take this into account when sailing a significant distance from home.