Download SailMail Primer

SailMail Primer
The SailMail system will pass ".fcst" files that are less than 10kBytes in length via PactorII or 30kBytes in length via Pactor-III. Because the ".gfcst" files are pre-compressed
they SailMail system can only pass ".gfcst" files that are 5kBytes in length via Pactor-II or
15kBytes in length via Pactor-III.
How can I arrange to receive custom weather forecasts via SailMail?
There are a number of meteorologists that are in the business of providing custom weather
forecasts for cruisers (and especially wealthy racers). These services are particularly
helpful for determining when to leave on a passage. These meteorologists are also willing to
send you periodic emails during your passage with custom routing advice and forecasts.
Generally these services cost from $75 to $300 per passage, depending on whether you
want continuing help during your passage and how often. All of the services below are
familiar with sending advice via SailMail. We highly recommend the use of a consulting
meteorologist, particularly for new cruisers who have not yet become confident in their
ability to interpret weather data. If other consultants would like to be listed please send
your contact information to [email protected]
Commanders' Weather MA USA, 603-882-6789, info@commandersweather.
com, www.commandersweather.com
Rick Shema, WeatherGuy.com HI USA, 808-291-9949, hawaii@weatherguy.
com, www.weatherguy.com
Chris Bedford, Sailing Weather Services MA USA, 617-926-7457,
[email protected], www.sailwx.com
Bob McDavitt, Weather Ambassador for METSERVICE New Zealand, 649 377
4831, [email protected]
Chris Tibbs, Sailing-Weather UK, [email protected], www.sailingweather.com
Weather Consultancy Services Ltd UK, 01902 895252, office@weatherweb.
net, www.wcsmarine.com
Weather Routing, Inc (WRI) - New York, USA (518) 798-1110 www.wriwx.com
Ken McKinley, Locus Weather, 207-236-3935, [email protected], www.
locusweather.com
How can I learn more about weather?
Take courses, read books, and watch the weather maps and sky every day even when ashore.
Practice.
Lee Chesneau, whose name experienced cruisers will recognize from thousands of OPC
weathermaps, has retired from OPC and now does a terrific job of teaching meteorology to
sailors. Lee's courses are listed on his website at www.ChesneauMarineWeather.com
Various community colleges also have courses on meteorology.
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