Sandettie Buoy Data Notes

Notes on Sandettie Lightship Buoy data

Sandette Lightship Buoy is owned and operated by the UK Met Office. Its position is 51.103 N 1.800 E (51°6'9" N 1°48'0" E) - roughly due North from Calais and due East of Dover.

You can see the daily data feed on http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/observations/Sandettie_table.html.

The Sandettie Lightship information is considered essential data within the context of World Meteorological Organization Resolution 40. Met Office confirmed that it is freely available to publish under the terms of the Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information. Please see: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/legal/tandc#Use-of-Crown-Copyright.

This automated buoy provides an hourly feed of various weather and sea parameters. The data feed is provided in WMO GTS code forms e.g. "BBXX 62304 19144 99511 10018 46/98 /3102 10140 20061 40094 57002 22200 00150 10701 70005". This string of characters carries full metereological information collected by the station. For interpretation of GTS codes see http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/Manual/Volume-I-selection/ManualCodesSel.html.

Data quailty: it is easy to see that there are glitches in the way station sensors work or the way they report the measurements. We are planning to clean the records in the near future, but for now we rely on readers' intelligence in interpreting the feeds. We all know North Sea does not freeze in one hour and 100 mph winds in the middle of the summer are very unlikely!

Because Sandettie station is a buoy, the air temperature gauge is very near the sea surface. It means that the sea will greatly moderate the air temperature reading. This is the main reason for significant differences when comparing to e.g. Dover or Calais air temperatures. Sandettie readings will always be much closer to the sea temperature, especially on very cold or very warm days.

Sandettie Buoy Data Notes

21 Jan 2025
2025 Notice of CS&PF AGM
Notice of CS&PF AGMFor the year ended 31st December 2024To be held atThe Channel Suite, Leas Cliff HallThe Leas, FolkestoneCT20 2DZ1pm on the 15th March 2025 Full members of the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation are requested to note that any nominations for CS&PF officers and committee positions and/or notices of motions must be with the CS&PF secretary, in writing, at least 21 clear days before the AGM. This year that means the deadline is midnight on Friday 21st February 2025 CS&PF rules state:-The CS&PF Officers and Committee members, (excluding President and Vice President) to be elected by rotation with half (1/2) being elected every year over a 2 year period. CS&PF officer positions are to be elected from CS&PF members who are serving or have served on the CS&PF committee. Officer and committee positions due for election in 2025 President: Mike Ball (nominated by the CS&PF committee)Vice-President: Michael Oram (nominated by the CS&PF committee) The ChairmanThe SecretaryTwo Committee member positions All persons wishing to stand must be full CS&PF members (please include membership numbers). Nominations must be proposed and seconded by CS&PF Full Members (again, please include membership numbers). All nominations must be made within the rules available on the CS&PF web site www.cspf.co.uk (under the ‘about us’ heading). Notices of Motion Any motions put forward for inclusion in the AGM agenda must be submitted to the CS&PF secretary (email: secretary@cspf.co.uk or by post to 5, Charter House, Camden Crescent, Dover, CT16 1LE) with the names and signatures of the proposer and seconder. The proposer and seconder must be full CS&PF members (including membership numbers). Voting will be by paper ballot for any contested positions or motions. Read more