I couldn't find info on wave observations on BOM for NSW; turns out it's on another govt site.
new.mhl.nsw.gov.au/data/realtime/wave/
Sydney: new.mhl.nsw.gov.au/data/realtime/wave/index.php
One thing that some more experienced sailors may take for granted is judging things like wind speed and wave height. I think this is important in order to make sense of wind and wave forecasts. I have that knowledge for surfing, gained by years of experience plus noting surf forecasts and observations and correlating that with experience at the time. So I can look at a forecast or an observers estimation on a known website and decide if it's too small or too big for me (obviously, direct observation of conditions at the beach is the deciding factor).
But I am only learning this for sailing. One thing slowing this process is not having wind data instruments onboard. The main reason I would want them is so that I accumulate this experiential knowledge so that I know what a certain wind speed feels like and how my boat will respond or what set up it will need. So at this point, because I am not ready to drop 1K on the instruments, I have to rely on wind speed observations from a location nearby (say via Seabreeze app).
Same goes for wave observations. Over time I suppose I'll learn what various sea states from different directions in different winds feel like. My observations on my recent trip and those at the buoys are very close, perhaps due to surfing experience although that may be irrelevant as wave height goes beyond 3m. Wave period is something I have little experience thinking about - as a surfer you don't think about this much.
Here you go Dr. There are a few other similar options out there as well.
www.amazon.com/WeatherFlow-Wind-Meter/dp/B00E9AF7ZU
I have wind instruments but don't even bother taking the covers off anymore. They are handy for deciding whether to gybe or not when entering my home port in a fresh NE breeze but so is a piece of wool on the shrouds. The wind speed is ok when its calibrated but when the breeze is offshore the wind is often very different at the masthead than what it is over the deck.
I was sailing offshore yesterday in a nice SE breeze. Even though there was a heavy swell, Bom had it at 2 to 3 metres, it was very comfortable because there was current pushing up at .5 of a knot. Today it is 1.8 knots South! With the same breeze it would have been horrible. Yesterday while you were sailing North you may have had the same current. Looking at your photo you are fairly well offshore and probably experiencing wind against tide. Sailing North it is better generally to hug the coast.
The main use of a wind speed instrument is bragging rights at the bar. "We had 40kt gusts on the wind speed" stuff.
Other wise it is the feel of the wind on your ears and neck that is my best feel for what the wind and boat are doing. Sounds a bit trite but it is the case that you can feel wind speed very well. Direction, as Ramona says a piece of wool on the shrouds and a wind indicator at the mast head.
Also as Ramona notes, current speed and direction affects the wind's impact on you a great deal. Have a look at this link and have a think about the affects of a sou-easter on the sea in an out of the East Australia Current. If we get a brisk sou-easter half way to Lord Howe the sea is going to be seriously untidy.
oceancurrent.imos.org.au/LordHoweS/latest.html
This current, and the prevailing nor-easter on the nose, is why a passage to Lord Howe is usually a challenge one way or another.
You don't need a wind speed indicator to know this one.
Between 1.5 and 5km from the coast, Ramona, all under 50m depth. I would have considered that hugging but maybe it isn't.
MorningBird, I'm going to have to take some time to look around that site; looks fascinating. Can't immediately see a key for arrow length to current strength but it must be there somewhere.
Must get my paddle wheel speed thingy fixed so I can calculate current. I'm on the hard at Sirsi this Sat til Tues, John, if you're up that way.
Most of the time locally in the summer months the current is running down outside 3 miles though there are occasions it is hard on to the coast. In side 3 miles you can sometimes find the current running North! Also there are times where the current eases off completely out past the shelf while it rages down inshore. It can also turn on in front of your eyes! I have had plenty of occasions steaming up to pull a fish trap float and see the water change colour like someone threw a switch and the series of floats pull under and disappear [ sometimes for weeks].
Shape of the waves with the wind is often the easiest way to check for tide. Change of water colour, current lines with flotsam and jetsom, bird life along the edge and of course surface fish. Change of temperature sometimes but not always. I always suggest monitoring the local professional fishermans VHF frequency and listen to the trawler operators gossip. Water temperature, weather and current always feature.
When anchoring, 3 ply toilet paper has about the perfect sink rate.
