The Beaufort Scale
At sea, one of the main elements to take into account is the wind. Do you know the Beaufort scale? Discover the different degrees of wind classification according to this international guide.
In the sailing world wind speed is measured in knots using the Beaufort scale. A scale that interprets the intensity of the wind based on the sea state using a scale of 13 degrees. This scale serves as a guide but is neither accurate nor precise since it varies according to the characteristics of the waters where the wind is measured.
The Beaufort scale is a crucial tool for assessing wind conditions at sea. It was developed by Sir Francis Beaufort in the 19th century and has evolved over time to suit the needs of navigation and meteorology. The scale initially focused on how easy or difficult it would be for a ship to sail, and was later assigned specific speeds in meters per second.
The Beaufort scale consists of 12 levels, from 0 to 12, each with a name, observed effects, and speed ranges in knots and kilometers per hour.
0 - Calm: Smoke rises vertically. Less than 1 knot (0 to 1.9 km/h).
1 - Ventolin or very light breeze: The wind bends the smoke, does not move flags. 1 to 3 knots (1.9 to 7.3 km/h).
2 - Lojito or light breeze: You can feel the wind in your face. 4 to 6 knots (7.4 to 12 km/h).
3 - Light or light breeze: The wind stirs the leaves and spreads the flags. 7 to 10 knots (13 to 19 km/h).
4 - Bonancible or moderate breeze: The wind stirs up dust and papers. 11 to 16 knots (20 to 30 km/h).
5 - Fresquito or good breeze: The wind forms waves on the lakes. 17 to 21 knots (31 to 40 km/h).
6 - Fresh: The wind shakes the branches of the trees, the wires whistle, the wind roars. 22 to 27 knots (41 to 51 km/h).
7 - Frescachón: The wind is in the way of a pedestrian. 28 to 33 knots (52 to 62 km/h).
8 - Hard: Wind rips small branches. 34 to 40 knots (63 to 75 km/h).
9 - Very hard: Wind rips off chimneys and shingles. 41 to 47 knots (76 to 88 km/h).
10 - Storm or tempest: Great havoc. 48 to 55 knots (89 to 103 km/h).
11 - Violent storm: Widespread devastation. 56 to 63 knots (104 to 118 km/h).
12 - Hurricane: Catastrophic hurricane. 64 knots and more (119 km/h and more).
This scale is useful and crucial for water sports such as kitesurfing or surfing, as it provides information on weather conditions and the risks associated with different levels of wind. But it is also important to know it if you sail a sailboat and to keep it in mind whenever you go out to sea, whether in a kayak or a boat.
From level 5 and above, caution is advised, and it is essential to take these assessments into account before entering the sea.
And, above all, before setting sail, check your boat and nautical equipment well, as we explain here.
