In Heavy Weather Avoidance, Chen and Chesneau merge the seamanship of a master mariner and the forecast expertise of a senior meteorologist, providing readers with double-barrel exposure to what actually goes on in the atmosphere and on the sea's surface. Mariners and recreational sailors are more concerned about the implications of volatile weather rather than its fluid dynamics. From start to finish the authors have cut to the chase, creating a readable text brimming with useful graphics. It's focused on the root cause of how and why bad weather develops and where it's likely to go. There's enough theory provided for a reader to get a feel for how air mass energy transfer works, but just as the theoretical aspect takes on a mission of its own, there's a shift to more practical self-forecasting and storm avoidance wisdom. Captain Ma-Li Chen shares his well-tested routing strategy and describes how it factors in the use of the 500 Mb chart.
After Graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a B.S. Degree in Meteorology, in January, 1972, thirty four and a half years later, Lee Chesneau drew his last isobar lines on July 31, 2006, ending an amazing career of analyzing and forecasting weather for government and private industry. Now he has changed to a new career of passing on his knowledge and experience as an educator and trainer, part-time/full time, essentials of marine weather and advanced weather routing techniques to seafaring mariners.
Captain Ma-Li "Mike" Chen holds the title of "Master Mariner", the highest level of professional qualification amongst mariners.