South Atlantic Rescue

[fishwife]

Family of 4 rescued in the South Atlantic

BBC News - Derbyshire family's yacht hits south Atlantic iceberg

P.

[MarkJ]

What the hell are people doing off the Falklands in the beginning of winter?

[TaoJones]

It may be less-than-tropical that far south, but southern hemisphere winter doesn't actually begin for another six weeks and a couple of days. The season in the southern hemisphere is almost at the exact mid-point of fall - just as the season in the northern hemisphere is almost at the exact mid-point of spring - and I doubt anyone as far north of the equator as the Malvinas (Falklands) are south of the equator (the capitol, Stanley, is 51* S. latitude - London is 51* N. latitude) is referring to the current season as "the beginning of summer."

TaoJones

[slomotion]

Yeah, but they weren't in the Falklands. They were northeast of South Georgia - the article doesn't say how far, but South Georgia Island is 54.5 degrees South. That's a bad place for a family to be in mid fall because, well, you might hit an iceberg.

[MarkJ]

Winter isn't till when????????

Weather for Stanley, Falkland Islands

- Add to iGoogle 4°C | °F
Current: Clear
Wind: W at 11 km/h
Humidity: 87%

Sat

9°C | 6°C
Sun

9°C | 7°C
Mon

9°C | 8°C
Tue

9°C | 7°C

LOL It don't feel like autumn

[Tweed]

Summer begins at the summer solstice (aroiund 21 Dec.), fall/autumn at the following equinox (around 21 March), winter at the winter solstice (around 21 June), and Spring at the next equinox (around 21 Sept.). Simple.

The weather this fall/autumn in this South Atlantic has been pretty decent actually, but mucking about near SG on the winter side of the equinoxes is not great fun due to the lack of daylight. Best way to spot ice is the the mark 1 eyeball!

Otherwise winter has generally less wind at the Falklands/SG lattitudes so you pays your money and takes your choice.

[TaoJones]

Is this a great Forum, or what? Mention the Falkland Islands, and we get a first-hand weather report from a member in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

For those who have no familiarity with temperature measured in degrees Celsius, the 9*C high for Stanley is the equivalent of just over 48*F. Not exactly balmy, by any means, but almost 40* warmer than 9*F.

TaoJones

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

Is this a great Forum, or what? Mention the Falkland Islands, and we get a first-hand weather report from a member in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

For those who have no familiarity with temperature measured in degrees Celsius, the 9*C high for Stanley is the equivalent of just over 48*F. Not exactly balmy, by any means, but almost 40* warmer than 9*F.

TaoJones

Joined in 06 with 2 posts.

One of the quiet ones.

Unlike myself.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

Is this a great Forum, or what? Mention the Falkland Islands, and we get a first-hand weather report from a member in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Hey Tweed!

Great to see that we have a member there

I was headed that way 10 years ago but we broke the boat between Brazil and Mar del Platta.

Hope you are warm for winter

Mark

[Eleven]

Just to put that Falklands forecast in perspective the current temperatures in the UK are 6C overnight, highs of 13C daytime, ten tenths cloud and a spattering of volcanic ash due shortly.
To an English family cruising these are nice spring and autumn temperatures though I suspect they are headed north!!!

[Hirophant]

Yes, 6-9°C seems fine to me, not perfect but not what I would call Winter. I suppose the real issue though is not temperature but what time of year you're likely to find icebergs that far North.

[Dale]

What is this iceberg you speak of? I thought all the ice on the Earth had melted already...

I'm going to go drive around the block some more in my SUV. =)



//I'm glad the family is okay. The news article was a bit vague on if the boat flounder, the family had to get into a life raft, etc. Maybe more info in the coming days.