Wind, waves and sea

Brighton marine weather and sea state

Wind, wave height, sea temperature and a 48-hour outlook for the water off Brighton Marina, in plain English and in mariner terms.

Book online 07896 471691

Fetching wind and sea state…

Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) and NOAA Aviation Weather. General information only, not for navigation or passage planning. If the trip is cancelled because of the weather we will offer another date, see the terms.

Sea state in plain English

How wave height feels aboard a charter boat.

Wave height	Description	What it means for a fishing trip
Under 0.5 m	Calm to smooth	Very comfortable, ideal for families and first-timers.
0.5 to 1.25 m	Slight	Gentle movement. Fine for most people, trips run normally.
1.25 to 2.5 m	Moderate	Lively with some spray. Offshore trips need care and the skipper decides.
2.5 m and over	Rough to very rough	Trips will not normally run. We would offer another date.

Wind and the Beaufort scale

Wind speed in knots against the Beaufort force.

Force	Name	Knots	On the water
1 to 2	Light air, light breeze	1 to 6	Calm to ripples. Perfect.
3	Gentle breeze	7 to 10	Small wavelets. Excellent for fishing.
4	Moderate breeze	11 to 16	Some white caps. Usually fine inshore.
5	Fresh breeze	17 to 21	Moderate waves. Marginal; skipper decides.
6 and over	Strong breeze or more	22+	Too rough for most trips.

Before you sail

Check, then call

The forecast is a good guide, but it is no substitute for the skipper's judgement. Ring the booking line at 6:00 pm the night before and again in the morning if you are unsure.

Read about seasickness tips, what to wear and the full weather policy.

Anglers fishing from the stern of Kestrel Warrior with the wake behind

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How is the fishing verdict worked out?

It is a simple guide: wind of 14 knots or less with waves of 1 metre or less is shown as good; up to 21 knots and 1.75 metres is marginal; above that is too rough for most trips. The skipper always makes the final decision on the day.

What is a knot?

A knot is one nautical mile per hour, about 1.15 mph. 14 knots is about 16 mph.

What is wave height?

It is the significant wave height: the average height of the highest third of waves, from trough to crest. Individual waves can be larger.

Where does the data come from?

Wind, wave, current and sea temperature forecasts come from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0). Where available, current wind, pressure and visibility come from the Shoreham airport METAR via NOAA Aviation Weather.

Can I rely on this to decide whether to travel?

Use it as a guide. Please ring the booking team at 6:00 pm the night before your trip to confirm it is going ahead.

Keep reading