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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI\u2019d like to report that Beaufort\u2019s\nscale settled the matter, but no. First off, while sailors of the British\nCommonwealth insist on using it\u2014with some haughtiness, I might say, although it\nhas to be admitted it carries a fine, salty ring\u2014it is less common in the US.\nSecondly, there is no international agreement on what the top end is; Taiwan\nand China take it up to 17. Thirdly, the scale refers to descriptions of corresponding\nsea states that are more relative than we might like. For example, our common\nsummer \u201csmall craft advisory\u201d will be issued at force 6-7, which translates to\nabout 22-33 knots. The Beaufort scale calls for seas of 9-19 feet to go with this\nwind. Anyone ever seen that in the slot? The reason is of course that there are\nat least two other variables that dictate wave height besides wind velocity, namely,\nfetch and duration. In our protected Bay, there is never enough fetch and\nrarely enough time to generate such seas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like using the Beaufort\nscale, because no one knows what it means. \u201cWe were seeing Force 5 out there\u201d is\nmore inscrutable than, \u201cit was blowing 18.\u201d But still, my favorites from hallowed\nnautical literary tradition are \u201cblowing like stink on a skunk,\u201d \u201cblowing great\nguns and small arms,\u201d and \u201cblowing old boots.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n How hard is it blowing? I once used the phrase \u201cit\u2019s blowing like snot\u201d in the presence of a Chesapeake sailor, who was horrified. He much preferred \u201cblowing like spit.\u201d Bay area sailors will have heard it said that it … Continue reading <\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"