Hey, Jake,

I took a look at your site's wind speed chart and on the day of the Big Blow it's showing only "21" or so. Can you translate that for me, please.

I claim no responsibility for the accuracy! I just link the NOAA site map. However, if you look at 6am Thursday morning, there's a large purple patch that's off the 27knot max scale. This forcast does seem to predict that it will blow out quickly - but I have no idea where that data is generated from or how accurate it is when it comes to 'external' influences.

Hey Dean - are you going to give RTI a shot again this year on the Rave?

Frank at the NOAA () Hurricane center is predicting the following winds from Isabel over the next 120 hours.


FORECASTER FRANKLIN

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 16/1500Z 27.4N 71.2W 90 KT
12HR VT 17/0000Z 28.4N 71.8W 85 KT
24HR VT 17/1200Z 29.9N 72.6W 85 KT
36HR VT 18/0000Z 31.7N 73.9W 90 KT
48HR VT 18/1200Z 33.8N 75.6W 95 KT
72HR VT 19/1200Z 39.0N 79.0W 45 KT...INLAND
96HR VT 20/1200Z 47.0N 78.5W 30 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
120HR VT 21/1200Z 54.0N 71.0W 30 KT...EXTRATROPICAL

My boat is ready for RTI but...

My siblings were kind enough to schedule the family reunion/Dad's 75th birthday for the weekend after the RTI. Unfortunatley, that didn't do me a lot of good because it means I would have to make two 1,000mi.+ roundtrips in two consecutive weekends. I've been waiting since last year for some better wind for the race but I will have to leave my boat in the garage for this year's event. I'm bummed, I'm wussing out, but I don't have that much energy and can't afford to leave the projects at work (I'm the last man standing doing CAD for Enron in Fla.) for the time it would take to do both the family thing and the RTI, too.

In the old days (three years ago) I would have quit the job if necessary, done the race and family party, and found another job. I miss the old days. I know things are bad when the only prospect I have is to continue working for Enron.

I'm not making it either due to the date conflict with our Area Alter Cup Qualifier. I'm really going to miss that race and I just KNOW there's going to be wind this year (especially since you're not coming either).

You can also use the windcalculator on the following link.

http://www.weeronline.nl/windrpopup.html