German Bight

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How long has this sea area been so described in the Met Office shipping forecast and is there any reason for that name being used ?

 

[Oswyntail]

IIRC, it was originally called by that name, but was renamed as "Heligoland" after WW2. It reverted to its proper name in around 1957. It is the generally accepted name for that part of the North Sea.

 

[yorksrob]

Been used for as long as I've been listening to Radio 4.

I think "bight" just refers to a bite shaped coastline (I think there may be others around the globe but can't remember where exactly).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think "bight" just refers to a bite shaped coastline (I think there may be others around the globe but can't remember where exactly).

There is a rather large-sized one called "The Great Australian Bight"

 

[yorksrob]

There is a rather large-sized one called "The Great Australian Bight"

Ah yes, that one is rather large !

 

[Zoidberg]

IIRC, it was originally called by that name, but was renamed as "Heligoland" after WW2. It reverted to its proper name in around 1957. It is the generally accepted name for that part of the North Sea.

As confirmed by Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Bight

...
Between 1949 and 1956 the BBC Sea Area Forecast (Shipping Forecast) used "Heligoland" as the designation for the area now referred to as German Bight.

 

[t o m]

German Bight always reminds me of the film Kes.
"Fisher?"
"German Bight!"

I was just looking at a map of Whitby. There are quite a few bights along the coast between there and Saltwick Bay; First Bight, Gravel Bight, Long Bight, Rail Hole Bight and Jump Down Bight. Some curious names.

 

[Liam]

In ropework, a bight is a loose part of a line, like a loop but not crossed over. Many knots, such as a bowline include bights. The geographical bight bears some resemblance in shape to the ropework bight.

 

[Amberley54]

IIRC, it was originally called by that name, but was renamed as "Heligoland" after WW2. It reverted to its proper name in around 1957. It is the generally accepted name for that part of the North Sea.

Can anyone state the connection between the shipping forecast and Charles Darwin?

A house point for the first correct answer

 

[Liam]

Can anyone state the connection between the shipping forecast and Charles Darwin?

A house point for the first correct answer

Captain FitzRoy skippered the HMS Beagle.

 

[Amberley54]

Captain FitzRoy skippered the HMS Beagle.

And what is the connection with the shipping forecast?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

FitzRoy is the marine area to the west of Biscay in the areas named in the Shipping Forecast

 

[transmanche]

And what is the connection with the shipping forecast?

FitzRoy is one of the sea areas.

It used to be called Finisterre, but was renamed about ten years ago to avoid confusion with the sea area of the same name used by France and Spain.

In a wider sense, it the aforementioned Captain FitzRoy effectively founded the department that eventually became the Met Office.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Captain FitzRoy skippered the HMS Beagle.

We often think of Darwin as the older man with a huge white beard, but in fact, when he was negotiating his voyage on HMS Beagle, he was so young that he was obliged to seek the permission of his father - permission which was refused on a long list of grounds.

It was only when the young Darwin gained the support of Josiah Wedgwood (yes, that Wedgwood) that his father relented and let him go to sea with Captain Fitzroy.

 

[Amberley54]

FitzRoy is one of the sea areas.

It used to be called Finisterre, but was renamed about ten years ago to avoid confusion with the sea area of the same name used by France and Spain.

In a wider sense, it the aforementioned Captain FitzRoy effectively founded the department that eventually became the Met Office.

Indeed. The sea area was re- named after FitzRoy, one time captain of HMS Beagle, and the father of modern scientific meterology.

 

[transmanche]

Indeed. The sea area was re- named after FitzRoy, one time captain of HMS Beagle, and the father of modern scientific meterology.

I'm now going to go and frame my house point!

 

[Amberley54]

I'm now going to go and frame my house point!

Congratulations!

 

[eastwestdivide]

Getting back to German Bight, the German for it is Deutsche Bucht, with the last word more usually translating back to English as "bay".
OED says originally it meant a bend, angle, or hollow in something, and the Old English version was byht, hinting at the common derivation of the two words.
If you're a fan of the shipping forecast, try and find the version read by Brian Perkins, written by Les Barker of Guide Cats for the Blind fame.

 

[DarloRich]

Such a fantastic British institution! The strange incantation of words and phrases:

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on Sunday 09 February 2014 at 0405 UTC

The General synopsis at midnight

Low Hebrides 952 expected just north of Viking 963 by midnight tonight. New lows expected Ireland 980 and Biscay 981 by same time

Area Forecast

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, South-east Iceland.

Only in Britain!

 

[yorksrob]

Nothing more soothing than drifting off to the strains of Sailing By.....

 

[DarloRich]

Nothing more soothing than drifting off to the strains of Sailing By.....

the whole thing is strangely hypnotic. Perhaps it is the cadence and phrasing

 

[Amberley54]

Such a fantastic British institution! The strange incantation of words and phrases:

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on Sunday 09 February 2014 at 0405 UTC

The General synopsis at midnight

Low Hebrides 952 expected just north of Viking 963 by midnight tonight. New lows expected Ireland 980 and Biscay 981 by same time

Area Forecast

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, Trafalgar, FitzRoy, Sole, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Shannon, Rockall, South-east Iceland.

Only in Britain!

And I understand the general synopsis has a maximum word count of 370!

I'll collect my anorak on the way out.

 

[DarloRich]

And I understand the general synopsis has a maximum word count of 370!

I'll collect my anorak on the way out.

i think so to - something to do with the transmission system to shipping i was told

 

[Oswyntail]

Listening to the shipping forecast is one of my earliest memories, certainly before I was four (too long ago). Ah for the days of Galloper!

 

[trainfanatic]

As a matter of interest to those who require additional information plus a bit of humour, there is a paperback book available( I got my copy from my local library) that covers all the Shipping Forecast areas which the Author has visited. Details as follows:

Title: Attention All Shipping - A journey round the shipping forecast

Published 2004

Author Charlie Connelly

ISBN 9780316724746

Grab a beer and enjoy a lighthearted romp around the coastline of Britain and its neighbours!

 

[Amberley54]

As a matter of interest to those who require additional information plus a bit of humour, there is a paperback book available( I got my copy from my local library) that covers all the Shipping Forecast areas which the Author has visited. Details as follows:

Title: Attention All Shipping - A journey round the shipping forecast

Published 2004

Author Charlie Connelly

ISBN 9780316724746

Grab a beer and enjoy a lighthearted romp around the coastline of Britain and its neighbours!

I can also thoroughly recommend it. Excellent read on a subject that is part of our national character.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

As a matter of interest to those who require additional information plus a bit of humour, there is a paperback book available( I got my copy from my local library) that covers all the Shipping Forecast areas which the Author has visited. Details as follows:

Title: Attention All Shipping - A journey round the shipping forecast

Published 2004

Author Charlie Connelly

ISBN 9780316724746

Grab a beer and enjoy a lighthearted romp around the coastline of Britain and its neighbours!

I've read this. Not at all bad.

***

Wasn't the bay below the bulge of West Africa referred to as the Bight of Benin at one time?

 

[reb0118]

Wasn't the bay below the bulge of West Africa referred to as the Bight of Benin at one time?

Beware, beware the Bight of Benin!
For one that comes out - there's forty go in!

An old warning to sailors, soldiers, and colonial officials about the perils of West Africa.

 

[Deerfold]

the whole thing is strangely hypnotic. Perhaps it is the cadence and phrasing

I generally find it soothing. Though there's an episode of Black Books which suggests some people may sometimes find it a bit more "exciting".

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . some people may sometimes find it a bit more "exciting".

Ah, it only get 'exciting' when it includes those more dynamic words, "backing" and "veering" :

as in "Portland Bill, 18 south westerly veering moderate to good".