If you know everything about sleeping aboard and camping ashore, or simply know everything about what to take on board for a safe and enjoyable day trip, please email us with your suggestions for this section.
The Dinghy Cruising Association web site is a gold mine of cruising tips. If you're serious about cruising it should be on top of your bookmark list.
|
Beaufort |
Windspeed |
Description |
Sea Condition |
|
0 |
0 |
Calm | Sea like a mirror |
|
1 |
1 - 3 |
Light Air | Ripples but without foam crests |
|
2 |
4 - 6 |
Light Breeze | Small wavelets. Crests do not break |
|
3 |
7 - 10 |
Gentle Breeze | Large wavelets. Perhaps scattered white horses |
|
4 |
11 - 16 |
Moderate Breeze | Small waves. Fairly frequent white horses. |
|
5 |
17 - 21 |
Fresh Breeze | Moderate waves, many white horses |
|
6 |
22 - 27 |
Strong Breeze | Large waves begin to form; white foam crests, probably spray |
|
7 |
28 - 33 |
Near Gale | Sea heaps up and white foam blown in streaks along the direction of the wind |
|
8 |
34 - 40 |
Gale | Moderately high waves, crests begin to break into spindrift |
|
9 |
41 - 47 |
Strong Gale | High waves. Dense foam along the direction of the wind. Crests of waves begin to roll over. Spray may affect visibility |
|
10 |
48 - 55 |
Storm | Very high waves with long overhanging crests. The surface of the sea takes a white appearance. The tumbling of the sea becomes heavy and shock like. Visibility affected |
|
11 |
56 - 63 |
Violent Storm | Exceptionally high waves. The sea is completely covered with long white patches of foam lying in the direction of the wind. Visibility affected |
|
12 |
64+ |
Hurricane | The air is filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white with driving spray. Visibility very seriously affected. |
 |
© 2003 Laser Stratos Class Association. Last updated on January 21, 2004. |