Following 20 years as a USAF weatherman, I've been providing personalized weather support for yachts and ocean adventurers for 13 years (the last 11 under my company name).

The cost for routing depends on the support provided. I'm pretty flexible, and if conditions are benign, I'm happy to send only a cursory update. If conditions are benign, I'm happy to send only a cursory update. Quotes are available on request.

I've included some background information below. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have after reviewing the details.

For deliveries, I can provide guidance on the long-range outlook up to seven days before departure, but confidence is best within three days of departure. I normally stay in daily contact as we try to set the best departure, based on weather, logistics, and your schedule.  The first full forecast package is usually provided one to three days ahead--captain's choice.

To establish service, I would need to have the boat's details (such as communication numbers, speed, range, weather/sea conditions to always avoid).

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            Over the past few years, I've worked with the following yachts (not counting racers ranging from Mini's to maxi multihulls, and oceangoing rowboats):

M/Y: 101, Absinthe, Aghassi, Allegro, Amnesia, Anastasia, Andiamo, Anicca, Anna, Apogee, Aviva III, Azzurra, Blind Date, Brazil, Callisto, Cloud 9, Elandess, Eminence, Fortunate Sun, Fredrikstad, Gran Finale, Halcyon Days, High Chaparral, Huntress, Hurricane Run, Ilona, Ingot, Lady in Blue, Lady Lara, Lady Sandals, Leander, Masquerade of Sole, Mine Games, Namoh, Outback, Pegaso, Pegasus II, Sarafsa, Secret, Seduction, Siren, Solemar, Sunrise, Surprise, Sweet Pea, Talitha, Time for Us, Ulysses, Utopia, Vita.

S/Y: Adjutor, Anakena, Angel, Artemis, Aventura, Courage, Georgia, Grand Bleu, Helios, Islandia, Juliet, Kealoha, La Cattiva, Marguerite, Mach Buster, Mikado, Paraiso, Spirit of Mystery, Virago, Volare, Whitehawk.

Service is tailored to each client. Instead of using generic pressure maps of an entire ocean region, I use maps from Raymarine Raytech Navigator (or sometimes NOAA ARL READY) that display pressure and wind, and I mark weather features such as pressure centers and troughs/fronts. Additional graphics are added as needed, such as satellite-derived winds, or near-surface currents. I also mark the projected position for your boat, so you can see how that relates to the wind field. The graphics are manipulated to add text if needed and to convert all graphics to formats that reduce the file size to a minimum (using black and white if needed, but color is preferred). The graphics are placed in a Word document, with additional text added to explain the situation and provide the reasoning for the recommended course. I try to avoid extraneous comments about ocean-wide patterns, preferring instead to concentrate on the most useful information to convey the situation. And the graphics do a good job of substituting for a lot of verbiage.

The file size generally ranges from 150-225KB but could hit 250+KB if I include a large satellite photo or other large graphic. That is up to the client, based on communication capabilities and costs. I can of course provide text only, or limited graphics to reduce the file size, but my service is geared to clients who want a premium product developed specifically for them.

During deliveries, I ask for a daily report from my clients (position, course, wind, seas, and any other comments they wish to add), preferably near 1200UTC(Z).

I have an excellent part-time meteorologist available for special projects, but I provide the day-to-day forecasting. That means that OceanMet is not a standard 24-hour weather service, in that there is no cadre of forecasters pumping out products. But I work hard at staying available by forwarding my office phone to my mobile phone if I’m away from the office (which is in my home). From my 20-year military service as a US Air Force meteorologist, I learned the value of system redundancy, so I have a generator for backup electricity, and alternate sources for Internet connectivity. And I keep a laptop with me most of the time when I am away from home, so I can respond to emergency requests. If a client is facing nasty weather, I recheck the situation as new data arrive. So, being a one-man operation has some downside, but I make up for it by providing personalized service to a limited client base.

Some clients prefer a monthly retainer, while others pay per forecast (billed at the end of a delivery, or other appropriate point). Payment may be via AMEX, Visa, MasterCard or Discover, wire transfer, or USA bank check. Some clients bill their charters for weather services, which helps offset the cost.

My goal is to make your trip or charter safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable. You have enough to do without worrying about the weather.

Best regards,

Lee Bruce

OceanMet (a div. of Tactical Weather LLC)

global adventure meteorology®

USA (01) 651 462-7274

(mobile: (01) 603 707-0128)