Hurricanes!

WHAT is a hurricane? For sure, it is something you definitely do not want to meet in a boat.

In its simplest description a hurricane is an extremely strong cyclonic wind, its intensity and power rises through five categories according to what is called the Saffir/Simpson scale.

This is like the Beaufort wind scale, with which all mariners are familiar. The big difference being a Category One hurricane starts at Force 12 on the Beaufort scale!

Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson devised the scale in 1970, with Category 1 intensity of wind starting at 120 kilometres per hour (74 miles per hour), a wind where it is practically impossible to stand up; through to Category 5 starting at 220kph (156mph)! See Saffir-Simpson Scale chart.

As soon as a storm attains an internal wind speed of 63kph it becomes a tropical storm and given a name, alphabetically, starting with the letter ‘A’ for the first of the season.

In the northern hemisphere a tropical storm attains the classification of ‘hurricane’ when it reaches 120kph, Force 12 Beaufort. The tropical storm/hurricane season officially starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th, although storms have started before and after these dates.

The highest proclivity of hurricanes in the northern Atlantic is in September and October.

Non-American yachtsmen will probably not be familiar with the Saffir/Simpson Scale. Therefore, to provide a reference scale, I have extended the Beaufort Scale at roughly the same gradient to cover the hurricane scale,, see page 50 breakout box.

If you have ever been at sea in winds