We also listen out on VHF for the coastguard weather updates, more usually when we are actually sailing when the VHF is on all the time.
In port we have the internet and mobile phone forecasts from the Met office, we can download synoptic charts and GRIB files. In short we are spoilt for choice.
Yesterday the forecasts were predicting force 8-9 gales, however in Ballycastle the sun was shining and the wind was a SE force 3, because it was SE, and SE was the direction we were wanting to go we went to the beach and sunbathed in the afternoon.
Within a couple of hours angry black clouds were looming and we only just had time to pack up and shelter under a tree before an angry downpour soaked us both to the skin, it also got a little windy.
After 20 mins or so the rain stopped and a beautiful rainbow arched across the sound towards Rathlin island.
We walked back to the Marina via a route we hasn't used before and came upon the ruined Friary at Bonmargy. We had a good look around while our clothes dried out a little.
As you can see the sun was out again!
these are the war graves of some sailors from the first and second world wars whose bodies washed ashore after their ships sank off the coast.
We returned to Dark Tarn to prepare a meal and within a few hours the wind was blowing over 35 knots and the rain was lashing down. We snuggled down in our warm cabin after quickly checking our mooring lines.
The moral of the story is that I had come very close to not believing the forcast, which turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
However even if it had turned out to be wrong I had lost nothing, in fact had gained a lovely afternoon and had a shower into the bargain.
In other words trust the forecast!
No comments:
Post a Comment