Notes: Steps go in a Box (CSS)

I copied the instructions for each page and adjusted for w00. You will have to do the same for the other cases.

Quizzes are related to Step 4.

Step 3 and 10 are a single question that I already have in Connect and will add it to your section, but I will need Step 6 question for Module A, B and C. Module D is only one page.

Text between Steps are just examples.

Title: page 1 (steps 1 – 4)

UBC ATSC113 Sailing Weather - Module (case ID = w11-page 1)

page 1 of 3

Steps 1-4. Pre-readings and online activities done by each student individually.

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Step 1 - Scenario/Narrative

It’s the end of July and you’re in Oahu. You’ve just participated in the Pacific Cup Race from San Francisco to Hawaii with two friends. Now, you’re one of 8 other boats who have decided to sail back to San Francisco rather than fly. You should allow about 20 days for the trip, although the crossing can be completed in less. You have to consider the winds that will influence the direction (and thus duration) of your trip. The way things look, you’re planning on starting the trip on July 25^th. Describe your general route back to San Francisco (SF).

· North and then east/southeast into SF

• South and then northeast into SF

· East to the coast and then north to SF

• Northeast into SF

· South, then east, then north, then east into SF

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Step 2 – Access to Related Info

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Step 3 – Your Weather Queries

Often, the first step to making a good decision is knowing what questions to ask regarding the weather and the outing.

Your assignment: What questions do YOU want to ask, to help you make the best decision?

(Example of a weather question: What days will the visibility in the alpine be good?)

Enter your questions into the UBC Connect system, for the module: Sailing Sports w11 Step 3. (will need to change for each case)

These count towards your grade (for grade weights, see the Evaluation link from the course home page). The grade is based on the relevance of the questions you ask for the scenario of this learning module, not on the amount of questions you ask. Please be brief/succinct. We don't need the answers yet - only your questions.

Step 4 – Meteorological Concepts

New Page

Title: page 2 (steps 5 – 6)

UBC ATSC113 Sailing Weather - Module (case ID = w00-page 2)

page 2 of 3

Group Activities (not available until you have finished your readings & quizzes from Step 4)

These next activities are done by groups of four students. You have the opportunity to change groups if you wish. To do this, go to Snow-Weather-Snow-Groups on Connect. You will stay in the same group for all the snow modules. You will have the opportunity to change groups again at the start of the Sailing-Weather theme.

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Step 5 – Data Available at the Start of Trip

Click on each link below to get details of the specific weather situation for this particular scenario. Use this specific info, along with the general weather fundamentals you learned in Step 4, to help you make a safe decision in Step 6.

Don't know how to interpret these data? Review the meteorological concepts back in Step 4.

Step 5b. Discuss your interpretation of these data with your group-mates.

Your grade for this module depends partly on whether you make a good decision in Step 6, AND on how many of your group-mates make the same decision. So you can improve your grade by discussing with your group-mates the reasons for your decision. To enable this group chat and debate, we use an app called "Slack". Click here for instructions on how to join the Slack chat-room for your group.

Step 6 below is a non-working sample of the decision choices from which you select the best one. Use the Step 6 "quiz" on UBC Connect to select your choice. You can change your mind as often as you want (i.e., multiple attempts on this "quiz" are allowed) until the deadline listed on the course home page Schedule.

Tips:

· In Slack, chat with your groupmates to find a time when you can all be online at the same time to discuss the options. Be sure to do this before the deadline as given on the course home page.

· Do your "homework" by accessing all of the data in Step 5a before your online group meeting starts.

· During your group meeting, you will likely have 2 apps open simultaneously in separate windows on your computer:

1. Slack

2. This web page.

· That way, you can go back and look at the weather and snow data as you debate which recommendation to make.

· In real life, sometimes there is not a "perfect" decision, because of uncertainties in the weather. Your job is to find the most reasonable recommendation, given the uncertainty.

Good luck.

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Step 6 – Your Recommendations

Note: Your grade will depend on whether your individual recommendation is correct AND on how many of your team members agree with you. Feel free to go back to Step 5a to discuss more in the Slack chat-room before you make your final decision. No changes are allowed after you check your "decision is final" box below.

The deadline to finish section 6 is given on the course home web page, after which Steps 7 - 10 of this Module will be revealed.

Title: page 1 (steps 7 – 10)

UBC ATSC113 Sailing Weather - Module (case ID = w00-page 3)

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Readings and online activities done by each student individually.

Step 7 - Actual Outcome

The Pacific Cup is a ‘fun’ race to Hawaii that happens every July from San Francisco to Hawaii. Most people ship their boats home via container ship afterwards, however some decide to make the return voyage themselves at a much more leisurely pace. The main thing to plan for are the easterly trade winds and the North Pacific high pressure system. From Oahu, the best route is to sail north on a starboard tack close-hauled to the wind until you are out of the trade winds and relatively north of the high pressure system. Because winds travel clockwise around high pressure systems in the northern hemisphere, you can circle around the top of the high pressure and get the winds behind you to push you east or southeast into the coast. I say southeast because your northern leg may very well take you further north than you intend, depending upon the movement of the high pressure system and the development of other high pressure systems along your track. Here are a few reasons why the other routes would be less favourable for sailing home:

South and then northeast:

Going south will keep you in the strong trade winds, allowing no reprieve. Turning northeast would then take you either into the centre of the high pressure system or around the bottom of it, in which case you would be sailing into the wind the entire way home. This would make your progress very slow and uncomfortable.

East and then north:

This would have you sailing head on into the trade winds. You’ll be lucky to get anywhere. It would be almost impossible to reach the coast this way due to the strength of the trade winds and the currents of the Walker Cell pushing against you.

Northeast:

Although this is the most direct route, you would spend longer in the trade winds, which would slow you down. You would also be more likely to pass through the high pressure system, which will have you sitting in a patch of dead wind at the centre of the high for days.

South, east, north, then east:

For many of the reasons already mentioned above, this route doesn’t make sense. Heading south keeps you in the trades and the Walker Cell. Turning east would mean sailing head on into the trade winds and current, turning north would mean sailing right into the high pressure system.

Step 8 – Related Stories and Links

Here is a link to the Pacific Cup webpage. This is the initial race going from San Francisco to Hawaii. If you click on resources, you can find more material on weather and navigation specific to this event.

Many people decide to make the return voyage every year and have written articles or blog posts about their adventure. Here are two different stories of people who’ve made the trip back. The first case is of a boat sailing back to San Fransisco and the second is a boat sailing back to Vancouver. The first boat goes north to get out of the trade winds and then heads east to California, keeping the high pressure system to their south and using the winds from the high to their advantage. Their journey takes 19 days. The second boat finds themselves in the middle of the high pressure system for days and are at risk of running out of food by the time they reach Vancouver Island. Their entire trip lasted more than 30 days.

Every trip will be different. Weather can change quickly, engines can fail, new weather systems can form, but if you are aware of the potential dangers and understand the winds you’re sailing in, you’ll be better prepared.

Case 1: Hawaii to San Fracisco

Case 2: Hawaii to Vancouver

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Step 9 – Thoughts by Experts

Here is some advice from Stan Honey and Ken Campbell. Stan has participated in 22 transpacific races and set records for single-handed, double-handed and fully crewed monohulls to Hawaii.

“It is best to start monitoring the weather a few weeks in advance of a race or offshore passage. See what is available online and closely follow the sources of weather information that you will have available on the passage. These sources must be free (when racing) and retrievable using the technology you will have available onboard. Review prior races and/or passages and their weather patterns if they are available. During the passage, review the weather and your course selection four times per day when the forecasts become available. Brief the crew four times per day on the big picture, as well as the expected conditions and objectives for the next 6-12 hours. Keep a log of the sky appearance, seastate, barometric pressure, wind direction and speed. Include notes in the log of every crew briefing. Finally, always watch the sky and become a student of it.” (Click here to read their full article on Weather Forecasting and Waves).

Here is some advice on storm tactics from Paul Kamen, another Pacific Cup participant and single-handed competitor:

“It's very unlikely that you will encounter any real storms between Hawaii and California in August, especially after you have sailed north for a day or two. But you might run into some really nasty gradient or synoptic wind associated with fair weather. These can blow at 30-35 knots for days on end, and kick up some pretty big seas - just like along our coast in spring. You might even have to ride out a 40-knot night. Heaving to or lying a-hull are not good options: It seems fine 'till that one-in-a-thousand breaking crest comes along, and a little boat can be rolled to 90 degrees or beyond.”

And also from Paul: “Approach the coast high. I suggest working up to at least 41 north while still a few hundred miles out, so you have room to run off if the northerly gradient wind is blowing hard down the coast.” (Click here for full article).

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Step 10 – Do-over/Reset

If you could start over for this particular case study (knowing the actual outcome from Step 7), what would you do differently?

For example, would you make a different decision?

Would you want more or different data to help you make your decision (if so, which data), etc.

Enter your statements into the UBC Connect system, for the module: Sailing Sports w11 Step 10.

These count towards your grade (for grade weights, see the Evaluation link from the course home page). The grade is based on the relevance of your statements for the scenario of this learning module, and on the indication that you learned from your mistakes (if any), not on the amount of statements you make. Please be brief/succinct.