Chris Parker – Marine Weather Specialist – offers SSB vessel-specific forecasts, daily email forecasts and weather routing for the Caribbean, Central America, the Atlantic and eastern areas of the United States.

Marine Weather Center’s Chris Parker provides high-value-added forecasts geared specifically for small (typically 30’-65’, but some larger & smaller) sail & power vessels, with the information needed to support good tactical decision-making. Forecasts provided on an economical Annual, Monthly, or per-forecast basis, and by various communications method(s)  including SSB Voice, email, phone, or fax. 

Chris also simulcasts SSB Nets on an Internet Webcast.

Useful tips on purchasing communication gear for your boat. Good links to other weather sites.

Best times to call: Daily 10am-2pm Eastern, Weds 10am-1pm, or by appointment

Cruising Legend:

There are very few sailors who haven’t heard of the Caribbean-based weather and routing guru Chris Parker, who generously gives his time and knowledge on a daily basis to the cruising community via his SSB Nets and website. Listening is free and he offers a subscription service for tailored forecasts and routing advice.

As a youngster, Chris enjoyed boating with his dad and bought his first boat at age 12. He forecasted the weather each day during 3rd grade through high school and then studied Meteorology for two years at Lyndon State College in Vermont. Chris and his partner were liveaboards for 12 years in the Caribbean/East US Coast – along with Wizard the cat – and cruised an average of 5,000 miles each year. It was during this time that he developed much of his weather knowledge and his cruising friends realized his special skill at marine weather forecasting, hailing him on SSB & VHF radios for forecasts.

In 2003, when David Jones passed away, Chris became Chief Forecaster for the Caribbean Weather Center. Having always wanted to run his own weather forecasting service he started Marine Weather Center in late 2010, providing weather forecasting and routing advice to mainly small, private yachts. The Center now has 4 other meteorologists on the team.

In addition to emailed regional forecasts, livestreamed webcasts, SSB net forecasts, and individual routing, Chris also uses Facebook Live during hurricane season. The combination of accuracy, breadth of local knowledge, patient and affable attitude and range of forecast products provided are what make Chris so valuable an asset for cruising sailors in the Caribbean and North Atlantic.

Chris is the author of Coastal and Offshore Weather: The Essential Handbook