CONTENTS OF SSB GUIDE
The document linked below describes the following:
1. How to receive GRIB FILES over SSB Email
2. How to get weatherfax files through Saildocs server
(works with winlink too!).
3. Get weather bouy and other Information from NOAA
4. How to download text versions of any website.
5. Access Buoyweather.com & QuickScat data for
free.
6. Mexican & Central American Sites via email with
helpful comments from Don Anderson
7. Get Spot Forecasts for your position from saildocs.
In order to make sure that no additional formatting
characters are inserted, the text file is available for direct download.
This way you can email it to your SSB email account and use it on board your
boat without worrying about picking up any stray characters.
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
Right click on this link
for the guide and
choose SAVE TARGET AS to save it to your computer. This will help
prevent your computer from inserting any extra formatting characters so you
can just cut and paste from the guide directly into your SSB email program.
EXAMPLE FOR THE GULF OF TEHUANTEPEC
Here is an example of how to use this guide to
receive weather data relevant to crossing the dangerous Gulf of Tehuantepec
in Southern Mexico. I used 4 different sources of data to double check
the models against each other.
SPOT FORECAST
Send "query@saildocs.com" the following line of
text:
send spot:16N,95.5W|7,12|
This will generate
a detailed weather forecast for 7 days at 12 hour intervals for the area
that is at the shotgun barrel of the Tehuantepec. This is a similar
feature to buoyweather, but you can get more detailed information.
BUOYWEATHER
First off, construct a Virtual buoy about 5 miles offshore in the center of
the Tehuantepec (16.0d N and 95.5d W). Then check the region code (ME
for this area), then make the following URL based on the one found in the
guide (don't use return, just make it one long line of text):
http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=ME&program=nww3BW1&grb=enp&latitude=16.0&longitude=-95.5&zone=-6&units=e
Now create a blank email to "query@saildocs.com" then in the message
body (pick any subject you like), paste the URL for buoyweather and send it.
In less than 5 minutes a reply will be ready for you to down load with a 3
day outlook at that position.
Note that the Gulf of Tehuantepec creates its own high
speed wind funnel down the middle and that all of the forecasts are averaged
over much bigger areas. So if the Tehuantepec is blowing from the
North, double all the numbers you get from any official forecast and that
will be roughly the worst case conditions. Buoyweather is good for
noting the sea-state and in the Tehuantepec pay close attention to the
period between the waves. There's a big difference in 10 feet at 4
seconds and 10 feet at 15 seconds.
GRIB FILES
Getting the GRIB File covering the Tehuantepec is easy. But expect the
wind strength to be 50% higher and gusts to be double the forecasted winds
if it is blowing from the north. Anyway, following the format
presented in the guide, just send "query@saildocs.com" the following line of
text:
send grib:10N,18N,080W,100W|1,1|12,24,48,72,96|
NOAA WEATHER DATA
There is one Weather buoy in Atlantic Side of the Tehuantepec and if you see
winds from the N quadrant at 15 or more, watch out because in 12 to 24 hours
it will carry over into the Tehuantepec at double or more. Send
"query@saildocs.com" the following line of text in the message body:
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMMT.html
WEATHERFAX
Typically these files are too big for sailmail, but you can try them over
winlink. If you see a high pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico or
gale warnings with winds from the N expect the Tehuantepec to have at least
double the forecasted winds in the middle.
Send
"query@saildocs.com" with either one of the weatherfax requests shown below:
0 and 24 hours of Tehuantepec and Gulf of Mexico (most current)
http://www.weather.noaa.gov/fax/PYEA10.TIF
48 and 72 hours of Tehuantepec area and Gulf of Mexico (most current)
http://www.weather.noaa.gov/fax/PWED10.TIF
