Changes to HM Coastguard weather forecasts on VHF

HM Coastguard is proud to announce that it has enhanced its broadcasts of weather forecasts and navigational warnings, developed in full consultation with the Royal Yachting Association and Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs representing recreational mariners, will begin on 1 February 2007, in the following form:

• HMCG will broadcast forecasts three hourly, that is eight times a day and will complete most transmissions around the coast within one hour. Four broadcasts will provide new forecasts and four will be repeats.
• Two of the new forecasts will include gale warnings, the shipping forecast and inshore waters forecast and outlook, as well as navigation warnings and the three day fisherman's forecast when applicable.
• The other two new forecasts will include inshore waters forecasts, a repeat of the previous 24 hour outlook and any gale warnings or strong wind warnings. Mariners will thus have new inshore waters forecasts every six hours.
• The repeats are for the benefit of mariners who missed the new forecast made three hours previously and will consist of the inshore waters forecasts and gale warnings and any new strong wind warnings.
• The full broadcasts will be based on 0710 and 1910 start times so as to catch navigators at the beginning of the sailing day or night passage. All broadcasts will be in local time to avoid confusion between UTC and BST.
• Warnings for all forecasts will be transmitted on VHF Ch 16, indicating the forecast on VHF Ch 23, 84 or 86 (perhaps 10), which will remain unchanged. Aerials will be combined for the warnings to avoid apparent repetition.
• Warnings will be brief - "All stations - this is Stornoway Coastguard - for a weather information broadcast listen channel 83" - but made slowly. The forecast broadcasts will be made clearly and at dictation speed.
  

See Frank Singleton's website for details.