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| Original Beaufort Scale |
| Sir Francis Beaufort, Rear-Admiral, His Majesty's Royal Service |
| Born to Ireland in 1774, died 1857 |
| (This scale became mandatory for log entries on ships of the Service in 1838) |
| # |
Rating |
Historical Description |
Speed of a Man-of-War |
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| 0 |
No Wind |
Loss of steerage |
Dead Clam |
| 1 |
Light Air |
Just sufficient to give steerage way |
< 1 knot |
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| 2 |
Light Breeze |
That in which a man-of-war with all sail set, and clean full would go in smooth water from. |
1 to 2 knots |
| 3 |
Gentle Breeze |
(as above) |
3 to 4 knots |
| 4 |
Moderate Breeze |
(as above) |
5 to 6 knots |
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| 5 |
Fresh Breeze |
That to which a well-conditioned man-of-war could just carry in chase, full and by. Royals, &c. |
7 to 8 knots |
| 6 |
Strong Breeze |
Single-reefed topsails and top-gal. sail |
9 to 10 knots |
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| 7 |
Moderate Gale |
Double reefed topsails, jib, &c. |
11 knots |
| 8 |
Fresh Gale |
Reble-reefed topsails &c. |
12 knots |
| 9 |
Strong Gale |
Close-reefed topsails and courses. |
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| 10 |
Whole Gale |
That with which she could scarcely bear close-reefed main-topsail and reefed fore-sail. |
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| 11 |
Storm |
That which would reduce her to storm staysails. |
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| 12 |
Hurricane |
That which no canvas could withstand |
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