Beaufort Scale of Wind Force
Most boaters could benefit from a refresher course in the Beaufort Scale of Wind Force. The article's author generously includes subtle humor! This helpful scale was the brainchild of Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, who, in 1805, devised this ingenious way of determining how much sail your average British frigate should carry by observing the effect of wind on water.
Here are a few tips to help you remember the Beaufort Scale:
- Force 0: Calm.
- Winds less than 1 mph. Sea like a mirror. Force 0 is the condition you can expect to find at the start of any organized sailing race. You can also usually count on mirror-sea conditions anytime your land-based obligations completely prevent you from going fishing.
- Force 1: Light air.
- Winds 1-3 mph. Ripples on the water's surface. Force 1 conditions are great for fishing, which virtually guarantees that they will never actually occur while actually fishing.
- Force 2: Light breeze, 4-7 mph.
- Small wavelets developing. Few boaters have ever experienced these ideal conditions for more than a few fleeting moments. Soon afterwards, anything from Force 0 to Force 12 may occur.
- Force 3: Gentle breeze, 8-12 mph.
- Large wavelets with scattered whitecaps. Even though "large wavelets" is one of those phrases, like "jumbo shrimp," that really don't make sense, these are the conditions that weekend sailors find most appealing: strong enough winds to make their investments in their boats seem worthwhile, without actually breaking anything. Hardy fisherpersons are usually fine in Force 3, though uninitiated visitors may begin to tum green.
- Force 4: Moderate breeze, 13-18 mph.
- Waves 2-3 feet with whitecaps becoming numerous. These exhilarating conditions can be experienced on many holidays and Sunday afternoons when most boats can be found in the marina.
- Force 5: Fresh breeze, 19 - 24 mph.
- Waves 4-7 feet. Sea spray begins. Fishing in these conditions can
be fun if you enjoy being tossed around like a chimpanzee on a roller coaster. Well-traveled sailors also enjoy these conditions provided every fitting and fastening is in perfect frigate condition.
- Force 6: Strong breeze, 25-31 mph.
- Waves 7-14 feet. White caps everywhere. Spray increasing. By now the Coast Guard has issued a small craft warning, so, if your craft is small, better stay at the frigate dock.
- Force 7: Near gale, 32-38 mph.
- Seas 14-18 feet. Foam begins to blow in streaks. This is the condition that usually occurs shortly after setting off on your obligatory voyage with the inlaws in Force 0 conditions.
- Force 8: Gale, 39-46 mph.
- Blinding foam begins blowing in streaks. Consider the blinding foam a blessing. You really don't want to see what's about to happen to your frigate boat.
- Force 9: Strong gale, 47-54 mph.
- 20-foot waves. Batten down the hatches, clear the wineglasses from the table, don your life jacket and be happy you never left the frigate dock.
- Force 10: Storm. Wind 55-63 mph.
- Waves 20-30 feet. Good conditions for extreme surfing, not boating. You've got no frigate business being out there at all.
- Force 11: Violent Storm, 64-73 mph.
- Waves 30-45 feet. Conditions like these were recreated in the movie "The Perfect Storm," so, unless you're George Clooney, avoid these conditions at all costs. Wait a minute, didn't he drown in that movie?
- Force 12: Hurricane, 74-82 mph.
- Air filled with foam. Waves as high as 50 feet. Foam-filled air and 50-foot waves are conditions no manner would ever want to experience. Even if your boat is safely secured in its normal slip or mooring, be happy you were smart enough to purchase Boat Insurance.
This taken from Deviant Readings, BoatU.S. Magazine, November 2002. Stephen Reverand, is a managing editor and executive producer for the Discovery Channel.
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