Module 13 - Meteorology
Shipping Forecast Times and Weather Sources for Sailors
Quick answer
For UK coastal sailing, combine the Shipping Forecast, Inshore Waters Forecast, Coastguard VHF broadcasts, NAVTEX, and current Met Office coastal forecasts.
- Shipping Forecast: useful big-picture sea-area forecast.
- Inshore Waters Forecast: usually more relevant within 12 nautical miles of the coast.
- Keep monitoring updates during the passage, not only before departure.
BBC Radio 4 broadcasts the Shipping Forecast at 0048, 0520, 1201, and 1754. The Inshore Waters Forecast (for within 12nm of the coast) is broadcast at 0048 and 0535 on Radio 4. Use Inshore Waters for near-coastal passages; use the Shipping Forecast (and wider sources) when planning longer legs or when conditions may differ offshore.
Other sources include: NAVTEX (automatic text receiver on 518 kHz for MSI), VHF Coastguard forecasts (scheduled broadcasts on local channels), Met Office website and app, and marina/harbour forecasts displayed locally. GRIB files provide downloadable gridded weather data for offshore and multi-day passages.
Key points
- Shipping Forecast: BBC Radio 4 at 0048, 0520, 1201, 1754
- Inshore Waters Forecast: Radio 4 at 0048, 0535 (near-coastal sailing)
- Coastguard: scheduled VHF broadcasts on local channels
- NAVTEX: automatic text weather receiver (518 kHz)
- Met Office website and app: detailed coastal forecasts
- GRIB files: gridded data for offshore/multi-day passage planning
Common mistakes
- Using only one forecast source.
- Confusing sea-area forecasts with local inshore detail.
- Forgetting that conditions can change faster than your original passage plan.
Practise weather decisions
The meteorology module links forecasts, Beaufort force, pressure systems, fronts, and practical passage choices.