Tom Cunliffe on heavy weather and the Beaufort Scale. ©Tom Cunliffe

Tom Cunliffe ruminates on extreme weather and how sailors go about measuring it.

[@bobv8219]

An enchanting individual Tom Is , let us breathe in his talent and forever dream of , skills this human emulates. Thank you proper kind soul.

[@iainhunneybell]

The most amazing thing is to think of those men going aloft to put in these ever greater reefs. I realise the boats were larger than your average cruiser, but climbing the rigging, going out on the yardarms to put in reefs as the wind freshened 😱

[@xux636]

Brilliant as ever. For a moment there I felt like Jack Aubrey looking to windward and then skywards, bauling out an order to double reef tops'ls only to see the crew already at their posts just waiting for his say so. Love it.

[@bobv8219]

Great film ( Master and Commander . For Sure , loving life over here , and You?

[@paulanderson1915]

Sir. Recently discovered your channel purely by accident, was searching for info on oil lamps. What a treasure! Enjoy the yarns very much. When I was a younger man, I made my living on the sea,Of course not a proper seafarer as your self but still, experienced many things that I carry fondly to this day, Thank you very much for producing these videos, will be watching in future. Cheers from the US. PS love the English!

[@davem5333]

A good anchorage may be expensive but safety and peace of mind is priceless.

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Well said Dave. Tom

[@terrulian]

Lovely, Tom. I feel I absolutely must make a comment here. When we were on our voyage, the Brits amongst the crowd we'd speak to on the net would always bang on about force this or that, and we yanks had to scramble for our little Beaufort chart to see what they were saying. I couldn't decide whether it was salty or annoying, as we ourselves spoke the language of knots. Yet, as you indicate, we knew when to reef and that's all that mattered. I still don't have that scale quite down! But I am fond of other descriptions of a blow, such as “blowing like stink on a skunk,” “blowing great guns and small arms,” and “blowing old boots.”

[@susannewilliams]

“Groan you may, but go you must.” - wonderful. Exactly that. I work forw’d on the ocean going viking knarr, Midgard Herron. Bow-work is bow-work, I love it. Hurtling down huge post-storm slabs in 25kts around Cape Hope. Yeehah! I thought of you much during that trip, Sir. There is some video of the trip here on youtube search youtube for vikinggirl midgard herron. ❤️

[@pentachronic]

You're a wonderfully funny and entertaining chap. You've got another subscriber so I can hear more of your fascinating stories. Now it's time for a cup of tea !!

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Thanks for subscribing. Keep taking the medicine!

[@LeonardSkinnerOfficial]

We've left Faoin Spéir in the water for the winter, in Lawrence cove on Bere Island (SW Ireland), right in the jaws of Imogen, always an anxious time when your away from the boat. I just have to remind myself that in her 42 years, she has shrugged off a lot more in her travels than I dare to imagine. Thanks again for another great video :-)

[@msf60khz]

Tom, I liked your comment on going to windward which is all so true.

[@suzyqplacet]

You DID look cold standing there! I agree about knots vs Beaufort description but, the one I love most is the description of a force 12 Hurricane; I don't know why but it makes me laugh : "Air filled with foam; sea completely white with driving spray; visibility greatly reduced"! Is that ALL? Hope that 'Constance' spends a safe night.

[@paulaldershot7991]

Hi Tom, I have never sailed but always wanted to but with putting my kids through uni could never afford it, I watch your fantastic video's all the time and the nearest I got to thinking this is it I'm going to die was in winter 1978 I was in the army and being sent to serve in Ireland, that was bad enough having to write a will at 19 years old, But the Royal Navy was taking us from Liverpool docks to Belfast but the captain said he could not go because it was storm force 12 in the Irish sea we soldiers didn't know what that was but could hardly stand up at the docks the wind and rain was evil, Anyway when a regiment is going on active service to take over from another regiment you can't be late, So our CO made a deal with the captain that he would sign for the ship and all soles to set sail on time, I have never seen so many people being sick and covered in shit after trying to sit on a toilet!! then the order came on the ships speaker close all hatches take your boots off and put your life jackets on, You can imagine first time at sea and being in force 12 in the Irish sea we all thought this is it we will die before we get to Ireland, your vids are the best thank you.

[@ancientmariner7473]

Over the last 20 years I've suffered and weathered BF7s, 8s, 9s, numerous 10 & 11s and a dozen or so BF12s!!! What a stormy marriage that was. And now peace, tranquil waters, mud and ditch crawling....ah bliss!

[@philskype101]

So good and so inspiring!

[@donnakawana]

I am so bloody grateful I've found ur channel.Thanks for inspiration an education practical sailing. I just luv ur wit...🤘❤😊⛵🌞🌴❗

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Thanks Donna. Love having you on board the channel. Tom

[@bilitisailor2564]

Very interesting presentation et very well narrated! Education moment!

[@donaldl.blandjr.6442]

Thanks again Tom !

[@sv.janisj.-rockingthewaves9210]

Great info Tom, I always learn something new, keep up the good work.. Steve live aboard S/V Cascade of Hamble Nic 38 Port Edgar, Scotland.

[@subocajw]

Well, there is another factor that comes into play when using the Beaufort scale. The Beaufort scale only tells you something about wind speed. In low temperature air is denser then in high temperatures. The differences are considerable. So the same windspeed will have more driving force in winter than in summer….

[@PaulBKal]

Fabulous office decor

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Thanks. It's a good way of using all those old charts cluttering up my shed. I also use them as wrapping paper when you buy a book off my site.

[@PrinceKlutz]

true that

[@blik2108]

I have trouble imagining what it must be like being caught in such a storm for many hours. I've had one really rough crossing over the Channel - only lasted 22 hours but seemed like it would never end. And it was only F6/7 with a pretty nasty sea state

[@perceivingacting]

"But we were 'appy in those days tho' we were poor!"

[@paulputnam2305]

💨💪🍺👍🌬

[@johnbanton5112]

I think I'm correct in saying that the beaufort scale actually goes up to force 17 !! After f12 the hurricane is then into categaries. So a catagery 5 hurricane is actually force 17 !! To use an old nautical expression ....... FOXTROT that. Worse I've ever seen was a force 11 in the middle of the pacific ,luckily I was in a 10000 ton ship, but we still had to heave to for 18 hours.

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Hi John. I had to look that up and you're right. It was extended in 1946 when forces 13 to 17 were added. These were intended to apply only to special cases, such as tropical cyclones. Apparently, the extended scale is only used nowadays in Taiwan and mainland China. Thanks for letting me know. Tom.

[@L5man]

Couldn't understand a word.

[@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns]

Hi. Was that because of the terminology or what? Tom

[@seashepherds4959]

@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns another "Waister" but they wash out or washed over in time, ya got plenty of crew below and aloft!

[@johnwalker6711]

Turn up your hearing aids mate

[@JohnSmith-cx7zt]

Hard to heard in a force 5 storm.