Two-Day Marine Meteorology Weather Course (Level 1) by Lee Chesneau

Sail America presents a two-day Marine Meteorology Weather Course by Lee Chesneau, Senior Marine Meteorologist, formerly with NOAA/NWS's Ocean Prediction Center, and now owner of Lee Chesneau's Marine Weather. This two-day course will provide mariner's self reliance in understanding High Frequency (HF)-Single Side Band (SSB) Radio-facsimile weather charts (also available on the Internet) and predicting marine weather.

Lee’s 38 years of forecasting marine weather and strategic route planning on a global, synoptic, and local scale for mariners has been now successfully transferred to the classroom where he takes you step by step toward understanding both the ocean and atmospheric environment specific to boaters. As a former mariner, Lee understands the importance of not only determining your own weather forecasts, but making strategic decisions for coastal waters, offshore passages, or trans-ocean crossings.

Two-Day Course Includes:

Day 1 - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

1. Overview of how weather works: The atmosphere and principles of how clouds form; observing cloud types and what they mean to a mariner.
2. Basic review of pressure and wind concepts.
3. Global pressure and wind patterns.
4. The surface weather map: A detailed overview of surface weather systems (lows, fronts, and troughs; highs and ridges). Important discussion of warning labels and wind barbs and other surface chart symbols as depicted on Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) and Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) marine surface weather maps.
   
   

Day 2 - 8:00 to 4:00 PM

1. Review of key points from day 1, finishing up the surface weather map.
2. Local weather phenomenon (Emphasizing; Puget Sound Convergence Zone, Santa Anna Winds, Catalina Eddy & Tehuantepec episodes).
3. Introduction to sea & swell wave formation, propagation & decay concepts; Overview of OPC and TPC wind & wave analyses and forecast charts.
4. Overview of Tropical Cyclone basics and the 1-2-3 rule for avoidance.
5. Navigating for your weather information; where to access weather information while at sea from the public domain.
   
   

Reinforcement review questions and application exercises will be administered to ensure that the objectives of surface marine weather charts are properly interpreted and read. Review handout material will supplement the course notebook which will be provided to students as part of the course.

An ideal course for all participants of the Pacific Cup and Vic Maui sail boat races this summer