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Beaufort
No.
|
Seaman's
description
of wind
|
Wind
speed
(knots)
|
For
Casual use, based on observations made at Grafham Water
|
For use on land, based on observations made at land stations
|
|
0
|
Calm
|
< 1
|
Boat sits where it drifted when you pushed off
|
Cigarette smoke gets in eyes
|
|
1
|
Light air
|
1-3
|
Casual sailor hoists sails; wind instantly drops
|
Wet finger feels cold
|
|
2
|
Light breeze
|
4-6
|
Wind catches sails just as you've left the boat for a swim
|
Public houses close one window
|
|
3
|
Gentle breeze
|
7-10
|
Casual boats sail erratically. Difficult to eat picnic afloat
|
Public houses close two windows
|
|
4
|
Moderate
breeze
|
11-16
|
Single handed Fireflies capsize
|
Beer froth blows off
|
|
5
|
Fresh
breeze
|
17-21
|
Casual sailors frantically try to remember that bit on reefing that they didn't pay attention to
|
Customers in public-house gardens go inside bar
|
|
6
|
Strong
breeze
|
22-27
|
Casual sailors try to double reef and flip the boat
|
Elderly customers have difficulty in leaving public house
|
|
7
|
Moderate
gale
(high wind)
|
28-33
|
Casual sailors rescued by means of Hobie Cat
|
Public-house door cannot be opened against the wind
|
|
8
|
Fresh
gale
|
34-40
|
Aaaaaaaaaagh...
|
Public-house sign blows down
|
|
9
|
Strong
gale
|
41-47
|
Casual sailors in public house
|
Casual sailors struck by falling sign
|
|
10
|
Whole
gale
(heavy
gale)
|
48-55
|
N.B. - Although the Beaufort Scale goes up to Force 12 it is felt unlikely that anything over Force 9 would interest Casual sailors except on a television programme.
|
|
11
|
Storm
|
56-65
|
|
12
|
Hurricane
|
> 65
|
