ORCV Weather for Sailors Online Course

Overview

Our Weather for Sailors course provides you with the meteorological knowledge needed to safely enjoy your time on the water.

The course is structure with 3 modules The Fundamentals, Coastal Sailing and Advanced Weather. It is led by our highly qualified ORCV members Robin Hewitt and Andrew Roberts both weather enthusiasts and contains a mixture of lectures and practical exercises. Our course provides a solid foundation in marine weather, with the opportunity to discuss more advanced topics with our expert as the course progresses

Weather for Sailors course is designed to inform all types and levels of sailors, racers and cruising sailors alike, how to observe weather conditions and how to find the right forecasting advice from the vast array of modern resources available.

Knowledgeable on weather and seasoned sailors, Robin Hewitt and Andrew Roberts take a practical approach to weather looking at the applications and linking these back to visualizations before looking at various technology platforms now available.

Module 1 – The Fundamentals, Enclosed Waters: this online course covers the fundamentals of weather

Module 2 – Coastal Sailing 3+ days: this online course builds on the fundamental knowledge of Module 1 and prepares a sailor for longer coastal passages usually 3 days or more, whether that be racing or cruising including: further applications and building of module 1.

Module 3 - Trans Ocean and Extended Voyages: this online course looks at planning for a much longer voyages where a high degree of self-sufficiency is required. For those considering a Trans-Oceanic passage this course is a must and includes weather of the tropics.

Suitable for Ocean Racers, Cruisers, Motor Boats, Skippers and Crew.

Module 1 – The Fundamentals, Enclosed Waters

Over 3 nights, this online course covers the fundamentals of weather including

Fundamentals of weather terminology.
Definitions.
The Barometer
Vectors in sailing
Seasons
Coriolis
Weather systems, Global mechanisms
The forecasting process, the weather map,
Weather information, how to read and use it.
Fronts
Weather Warnings
Waves & Tides
An introduction to Clouds and their signs.
Gusts, lulls, and coriolis.
Sea breezes-local- -autumn, winter, summer. Land breezes, katabatics.
Obstructions
Topography, land effects & Bathymmetry

Pre-requisites: There are no pre-requisites to attending this course

Course Dates:

Tuesday 25 & Thursday 27 July and Tuesday 1st August 2023, 7- 9pm

Cost: $150 per person non member, $127.50 per person ORCV Member

Module 2 – Coastal Sailing (Voyages 3+ days)

For 2 nights, this online course builds on the fundamental knowledge of Module 1 and prepares a sailor for longer coastal passages usually 3 days or more, whether that be racing or cruising including:

4 & 7 day prognosis-maps
Routing Software and forecasts
Topography-sea breezes-land breezes-katabatics-timings, clouds-temperatures-airmasses
Other land effects, headlands, indents, rivers, mountains, cliffs, islands, wind directions
Thunderstorms etc
Jet streams briefly
Bathymetry, tides, currents,(and shallows) moon passage, tidal nodes, using port data
Using ORCV Bass Strait tidal model
Gribs
Coastal tides & Currents
Severe weather systems
Sailing the tropics

Pre-requisites: A sound understanding of weather terminology and basics of module 1.

Course Dates: TBC

Cost: $150 per person non member, $127.50 per person ORCV Member

Module 3 - Trans Oceans and Extended Voyages

Over 2 nights, this online course looks at planning for a much longer voyages where a high degree of self sufficiency is required. For those considering a Trans Oceanic passage this course is a must and includes:

Planning,-wind roses-world circulations,trades-Internet sites
Seasonal variations and timing-monsoon
The Gradient wind analysis
Ocean circulations
Cyclones
Gribs-w/fx-polar maps, Satellite pictures.
Time limitations
Bathymetry-undersea mounts,-currents
Continent influences-southern/ northern hemisphere
Technology-prediction programs etc w/fx-sailmail-comms-HF cf sat phones, Predict wind, windy, expedition

Pre-requisites: A sound understanding of both the Fundamental and Intermediate course content is a must to attend this course.