requesting current wtx/sea conditions

[Jeremy]

I sometimes call up one of the VMR or Coast Guard stations to ask them for a report of what the ACTUAL weather, bar and sea conditions are at their location. Usually this would be because the weather is a bit iffy and I don't want to make a long tow and not be able to head outside.

Invariably, the response is to read out the latest BOM weather forecast, so I have to explain again that I am asking for they they can actually see - either on their guages (do they have any) or from their vantage point or from their rescue vessels. They are usually reluctant to give the info out, and it takes a bit of convincing to get it out of them.

Why is this? Wouldn't it be in the interests of safety for them to describe the actual conditions, so a boatie can make a more informed decision?

A recent example of this was when I was off Caloundra, and a skipper logging on asked CG Mooloolaba for the current conditions before heading for the Barwons. They refused. I called them back and offered to describe the conditions where I was, but the signal was poor and I was unable to help them. As it was, there was a 15 kt SW blowing and I reckon it might have been rough at the Barwons.

What do you reckon? Should the VMR and CG organisations be more forthcoming with actual weather, bar and sea conditions (provided they are in a position to help).

Interested in how the votes go and also any thoughts.

Jeremy

[BtotheM]

Yer they should it would help many people and ensure the now exactly what is going on before the put the boat on and head down

[2manylures]

Sounds like they're looking after their jobs with disregard to the boating communities saftey.

Typical govt depts run by beaurecrats reading manuals on what they are allowed or not to do.

Wonder which page they turn too when someone says goodmorning to them!

I always thought they stood for something a little different.

Bloody disgraceful!

[oldboot]

They have probly been told that they are " not competent" to comment on wheather conditions because they arent meterioligists .

When the wheather reports come over on VHF they are word for word from the met buro.

cheers

[wilcara]

I would assume oldboot to be correct there - it is a litigious society we live in now and it would be a very game coast guard radio operator that would suggest to you that the weather looked fine from where he is sitting despite a bom report to the contrary. Conversely he would be the first you would criticise if he said it looked rough despite the weather report being fine. These days a person in an official position would be a fool to offer a personal view that differed from an official report by professional meteorologists, especially over the air waves. You might get a more personal response if you telephoned.

[FNQCairns]

With the outcome these day in regulation and even law having nothing more solid or substantial behind it than an ideology backing an individual in power's personal opinion I suspect the poor bloke could say the bar is near "flat as a pancake" then if the punter in his 3.9m rolls it there would be scope to say "but the bloke in the tower said it was flat" have noticed today nobody ever believes himself at fault if the law says there is a chance he can get away with most of it by laying blame down the line.

It's a mess and a shame, we used to be able to ring up and get a report, suspect I still could if I was about to head back through, just not from home anymore as a matter of course??.

cheers fnq

[Jeremy]

I think asking for current conditions (weather or sea) is a bit different to asking them for their forecast. The BOM forecast for SEQ extends from Double Island Pt to Pt Danger which is around 300 km, so conditions at one end can be quite different to the other end.

I am interested to see the thoughts on this from some of the current or ex VMR or CG members of which I know there are several on ausfish.

Jeremy

[Horse]

I think the liability issue would stop most in their tracks
The chat Nugget has with the guys from BOM on his show give a lot more insight than the brief set blurb
We used to get a great forecast when we were around the Cap/Bunker area. I think it came from Rocky BOM. It was indepth and included reports from charter boats etc

[gunna]

I guess the difficulty is when they can't see the sea. Mooloolaba is an example. All they can tell you is what the wind is doing. I was surprised the other day. After a night of VERY big winds I was walking there the next morning and the sea was like a millpond. But the wind was still about 10k. I don't know what call the VMR could have made on that.

[flybloke]

This may help some; http://www.localweather.com.au/
Not all areas are covered yet. Its basicly private weather stations info. Does not give Sea conditions. Need something like that at each sea way.

[Jeremy]

I guess the difficulty is when they can't see the sea. Mooloolaba is an example.

That is true of the radio base station, but they have 2 or 3 rescue vessels which head out regularly on training, rescues and whatever else they do. They are in an excellent position to give a report on actual sea and wind conditions at sea. The same would be true of many of the others.

If liability is the issue, wouldn't the same apply to any of the live wind/weather stations or surf cams?

I am not a member of Mooloolaba but I am an associate member of another CG and have been for several years (and they have been very helpful when I have requested information over the phone). They all rely on donations from the public and associate memberships to support their costs each year. I reckon a bit more goodwill shown by the CG/VMR might be returned in kind. Conversely, if the organisation I was a member of refused to supply the information I requested I would probably not rejoin.

Jeremy

[Ryan.S]

Sounds like they're looking after their jobs with disregard to the boating communities saftey.

Typical govt depts run by beaurecrats reading manuals on what they are allowed or not to do.

Wonder which page they turn too when someone says goodmorning to them!

I always thought they stood for something a little different.

Bloody disgraceful!

It is a liability issue, as a radio operator for the VMR, we are told to give the official info as we have it and allow the caller to make their decision. This is the world we live in unfortunately, If a radio operator was to tell a boatie is a perfect day out there and he goes out and something goes wrong he/she could get the blame. Most people arent like that but some are. Its all about covering your but.

Besides this it is the skippers responsibility to make the decision. At VMR 466 we are more than happy to give the coastal waters forcast upon request as well as local conditions, IE. Wind speed and direction, temp, Barometer reading and tides. What else do you want. In my opinion if you cant decide whether or not to go out with that info, Mate you need to get a new hobby. Take up golf.

By the way Volunteer Marine Rescue is Not Govt owned and not one person is paid. They get 20k per annum from the Govt. It costs 10 times that amout per annum to keep two Rescue vessels on the water! So cut them some slack ay.

[Jeremy]

Besides this it is the skippers responsibility to make the decision. At VMR 466 we are more than happy to give the coastal waters forcast upon request as well as local conditions, IE. Wind speed and direction, temp, Barometer reading and tides. What else do you want. In my opinion if you cant decide whether or not to go out with that info, Mate you need to get a new hobby. Take up golf.

You have obviously never crossed a coastal bar Ryan. Asking for actual bar conditions is very relevant to safety, and the decision to tow your boat to a given location and/or cross the bar.

Jeremy

[Ryan.S]

My appologies, i forgot to mention we we also give out and broadcast the sea conditions and visability, with local conditions. I see why that post didnt help much Jeremy. The radio room at Hervey bay overlooks the harbour and straits as far as Big Woody Is, the picnic Is, and Fraser so we give out local conditions as we see it.

As for the bar crossing, Iv crossed plenty mate. Usued to live and work at GC, done the wide bay bar a couple times aswell as Maroochy several times, and still think you can make a pretty good prediction of conditions with the information given.

Just remember the Radio opperators get some calls from some pretty wild characters, asking for example should they go out on days that clearly are too rough. So they are a bit reluctant to say whether a bar is crossable. Everyone has a different opinion of how rough is to rough.

On the other hand say they did answer you and say "yeah mate you'll be right today" so you tow your boat all the way down and its bloody terrible. Then there would be threads posted up here like. "VMR Radio Ops just sit in there office and have no idea how to cross a bar" ETC