A day's course on the weather

   I went to Simon Keeling's 'Weather School' talk at the London Boat Show and really enjoyed it. So much so that I parted with £20.00 for his DVD about the weather. He runs various courses at his place in Staffordshire and is taking his show on the road to Southampton on 5th March. Yes I know it clashes with the Dinghy Show but he's a weather forecaster and probably a big boat sailor so this will not have been on his radar.
Thge folowing is a partial extract of his blurb on the Scuttlebutt forum and for the full explanation go to http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?s=195a251d7d1e1da6e5ac69cbe6931657&t=260562 

The aim of Sailing Weather Part 1 is to enable all sailors (from beginners to professionals) to make more use of weather forecasts, be able to predict conditions better for themselves, and to have a fuller understanding of weather charts. We cover subjects such as air masses, fronts, pressure systems, clouds, local winds and much more. For more information about what is covered see http://www.weatherweb.net/weatherschoolsailing.htm

The course will cost £125 per person and this cost includes lunch and refreshments on arrival and through the day.

It may sound expensive and it may also repay well if you make a few good decsions as a result of what you have learned. I believe I will.
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Do'm Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 04 Location: Hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do'm Report Post Quote Reply Topic: A day's course on the weather Posted: 20 Jan 11 at 3:06pm
	I went to Simon Keeling's 'Weather School' talk at the London Boat Show and really enjoyed it. So much so that I parted with £20.00 for his DVD about the weather. He runs various courses at his place in Staffordshire and is taking his show on the road to Southampton on 5th March. Yes I know it clashes with the Dinghy Show but he's a weather forecaster and probably a big boat sailor so this will not have been on his radar. Thge folowing is a partial extract of his blurb on the Scuttlebutt forum and for the full explanation go to http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?s=195a251d7d1e1da6e5ac69cbe6931657&t=260562 The aim of Sailing Weather Part 1 is to enable all sailors (from beginners to professionals) to make more use of weather forecasts, be able to predict conditions better for themselves, and to have a fuller understanding of weather charts. We cover subjects such as air masses, fronts, pressure systems, clouds, local winds and much more. For more information about what is covered see http://www.weatherweb.net/weatherschoolsailing.htm The course will cost £125 per person and this cost includes lunch and refreshments on arrival and through the day. It may sound expensive and it may also repay well if you make a few good decsions as a result of what you have learned. I believe I will. __________________
	Dom AL8069, Magical K1 03, Kairos

Do'm Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 04 Location: Hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do'm Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 11 at 1:55pm
	Interesting this, 57 views and not one reply. I am interested in this event and I think it is too expensive. Others I have spoken to also think that £125 in these difficult times is too much money. What are your views on this? How much would you be willing to pay to attend an event like this?
	Dom AL8069, Magical K1 03, Kairos

Contender443 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender443 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 11 at 2:50pm
	I suspect as you say this guy is a big boat sailor so unless you are into that then I guess most of us are not bothered. We all get so used to looking out at the course and judging the conditions for ourselves. You can find plenty of books to explain local weather effects. So I think the £125 is too expensive plus I don't have the time to spend on this. Now if I was planning t osail round Britain or do my Yachtmasters then this would be worth it.

Do'm Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 04 Location: Hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do'm Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jan 11 at 11:11am
	So what interest is there in a days course like this? This day's training will take you far beyond what you would cover in the Yacht Master sylabus and also be of real benefit when looking at forthcoming weather and its effects on various sailing venues. How much do people think is the right price to pay for a days training from a top professional? And please bear in mind the unless a particular club sponsors it, the costs per head start at £20 to include a portion of venue hire, four lots of tea/coffee and a buffet lunch.
	Dom AL8069, Magical K1 03, Kairos

drifter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 09 Jun 08 Location: Oxfordshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 177	Post Options Post Reply Quote drifter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jan 11 at 9:45pm
	I'm fascinated by the weather (for sailing and day job) and would consider going on a good course. Obviously, I'd want Laura Tobin presenting, but that's just fantasy. There are excellent weather websites which offer the opportunity to learn and ask real experts (well, many of them are). The forum on www.theweatheroutlook.co.uk is very useful-though won't help you get any sailing certificate! Stewart Al 8072 G2880 Edited by drifter - 24 Jan 11 at 9:46pm
	Stewart

Do'm Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 04 Location: Hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do'm Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 11 at 9:03am
	Stewart that is a really interesting site, thanks for that. The forum has some very indepth discussions from people who sound like they know what they are talking about. And when it comes to accurate forecasting, it is easier to get it wrong the right, so who do you believe. I can't find anywhere on the site that expalins what the site is all about and who it is really for. Perhaps I'll stumble on it. I'd like to find a good course on the weather and I am debating with myself as to whether Simon's 1 day programme at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club represents good value at £125. With 15 candidates attending, it sounds more like a day of lectures on the weather and without exercises to develop understanding, it could end up as too much information.
	Dom AL8069, Magical K1 03, Kairos

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 11 at 1:10pm
	£125 sounds very steep to me, but I don't have the deepest pockets! I would have thought that £600 for a days effort, including travel and subsistence was perfectly fair. Split 15 ways that's £40 a pop, which is far more reasonable. Having said that, I still wouldn't pay that for a weather course, because I think it would be of very limited use for typical dinghy racing on a lake. Edited by Peaky - 25 Jan 11 at 1:11pm

moonlight Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 31	Post Options Post Reply Quote moonlight Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 11 at 1:47pm
	And if you add in the £20 per head as mentioned above that puts it up to £60 per person. On Peaky's fiqure of £600 less travel and hotel overnight, that would mean the trainer would be getting about £400 for a days work which is well below the going rate. Looked at from the customers perspective, it is just above the rate the RYA charge for their Race Manegemnt Course so probably represents good value if the content is good.

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 11 at 2:29pm
	£400 a day well below the going rate?! I'm in the wrong job! Mind you, I suppose he has to add on lunch and venue hire. Edited by Peaky - 25 Jan 11 at 2:31pm

Do'm Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 04 Location: Hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do'm Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 11 at 3:51pm
	Yes I know it sounds alot and when you are not employed every day and you do many days of preparation to deliver one or two days work, it works out like any other job except you have no security and no pension. There are a lot of things to factor in and professional trainers are always bidding for work which also costs time and money and more than not it is unsuccesful, frustrating and thats the way the market works.
	Dom AL8069, Magical K1 03, Kairos