Learning About the Beerfort Scale
Somewhere in the dark recesses of the Latitude 38 digital catacombs we came across the Beerfort scale, with a couple of riffs on the traditional Beaufort Scale for wind. The original Beaufort scale was developed in the early 1800s by Royal Navy officer Francis Beaufort as a way of measuring the wind speed based on observed conditions at sea or on land.
Our original post included links to other sources, none of which are working today. So we pass along the Beerfort scale on a Friday in advance of the beer can racing season. It is not necessary to have this memorized to get your California Boater Card, though if you have that, you know about BUI and to be careful with the Beerfort Scale.
Two variations on the theme are offered below:
Force 0: Sails hanging limp. Tiller tends itself.
Force 1: Beginning pressure on sails. If sheet is eased out, the tiller still tends itself.
Force 2: Sails flapping in the breeze, and boat drifting to leeward. Sheets must be tightened and one hand put on the tiller. As the wind fills the sails, the boat heels. Case of beer must be placed on cockpit floor.
Force 3: The beer may be knocked over and must be supported or held in hand.
Force 4: Empty bottles rolling against each other on cockpit floor. Must be thrown over side. [Webmistress’s note: Please don’t do this!]
Force 5: All beer streaming behind boat must be hauled in.
Force 6: Nobody can hold onto more than one beer at a time.
Force 7: The case of beer slides back and forth on cockpit floor. One person must be appointed to sit on it.
Force 8: Bottles can still be opened by one person. Beginning of difficulties pouring into the mouth without spilling.
Force 9: Bottle must be held with two hands. Only experts can get the cap off by themselves.
Force 10: Two people required to open bottles. Empties must be thrown to leeward only. (See Webmistress’s note above.) Very difficult to find mouth. Some teeth may be knocked loose.
Force 11: The beer tends to foam out of bottle. Very difficult to drink. Lips split and teeth fall out.
Force 12: All open bottles foam. Impossible to drink. Temporary abstinence may be required.
A similar Beerfort scale:
| Beaufort number | Wind Speed [mph] | Description | For Coarse Sailors | For use on land |
| 0 | 0-1 | Calm | Boats move sideways with tide. | Cigarette smoke gets in eyes. |
| 1 | 1 – 3 | Light air | Coarse yachtsmen hoist sail, then wind instantly drops. | Wet finger feels cold. |
| 2 | 4 – 7 | Light breeze | Tea towels blow off rigging. | Pubs close one window. |
| 3 | 8 – 12 | Gentle breeze | Coarse boats careen. Difficult to make tea underway. | Pubs close two windows. |
| 4 | 13 – 18 | Moderate breeze | Coarse boats lose mainsheet through block and have to go aground to recover it. | Beer froth blows off. |
| 5 | 19 – 24 | Fresh breeze | Coarse sailors get book on sailing from cabin and turn up bit on reefing. | Customers in pub gardens go inside bar. |
| 6 | 25 – 31 | Strong breeze | Coarse sailors try to double-reef and go aground. | Elderly customers have difficulty leaving pub. |
| 7 | 32 – 38 | Moderate gale | Coarse sailors rescued by launch. | Pub door cannot be opened against wind. |
| 8 | 39 – 46 | Fresh gale | Aaaaaaah!!! | Pub sign blows down. |
| 9 | 47 – 54 | Strong gale | Coarse sailors in public house. | Coarse sailors struck by falling sign. |
| 10-12 | Only of interest on TV | |||
We were also referred to more on “Coarse Sailing” in Michael Green’s book, The Art of Coarse Sailing, written way back in the ’40s.
You can see the actual Beaufort Scale here.
And with beer can racing just over a month away in most places, you can catch up on the Beer Can Ten Commandments here. To find a beer can race series in your area, pick up our annual racing calendar or have a look here.