With deepest apologies to the Great Admiral. In 1805, Sir Francis Beaufort developed a scale to tell wind speed based upon how the sails of a square rigger reacted. The scale has been modified during the years and wind speed is now based upon wave height and characteristics. We find some of our guest prefer the following interpretation, as it uses terminology more in keeping with their own experiences.
| Wind Speed |
SUGILITE Beerfort Description |
Sea State | Wave Height | ||||
| Beerfort | M/S | Knots | MPH | Description | Description | Meters | Feet |
| 0 | <0.5 | <1 | <1 | Calm air, Sails flat, no movement in sails. Might as well enjoy a cold one, because you ain't going anywhere. | Calm, glassy | 0.0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0.5 - 1.5 | 1-3 | 1-3 | Sails flat but with slight movement. Check Ice in cooler to make sure it is not melting too fast. Get another cold one as you drift along. | Ripples | 0.1 | 1/4 |
| 2 | 2.1 - 3.1 | 4-6 | 4-7 | Sails will fill. Boat begins to heel at times. As a precaution, move the beer case from the cabin top to the cockpit floor. | Small Wavelets, Glassy Tops | 0.2 | 1/2 |
| 3 | 3.6 - 5.1 | 7-10 | 8-12 | Definite heel, beer bottles will no longer sit on a table by themselves and must be held in hand. | Large Wavelets, some whitecaps | 0.6 | 2 |
| 4 | 5.7 - 8.2 | 11-16 | 13-18 | Empty bottles are now rolling and clinking on the cockpit floor and must be thrown overboard. | Small Waves | 1.2 | 4 |
| 5 | 8.7 - 10.8 | 17-21 | 19-24 | Any beer bottles hung overboard for cooling should now be retrieved. | Moderate | 1.8 | 6 |
| 6 | 11.3 - 13.9 | 22-27 | 25-31 | It is now only possible to be responsible for one bottle at a time. Amateur drinkers may spill beer from time to time. | Rough | 3.0 | 10 |
| 7 | 14.4 - 17 | 28-33 | 32-38 | Beer case starts moving and hopping. One person must be dedicated to sitting on the case. | Very rough | 4.3 | 14 |
| 8 | 17.5 - 20.6 | 34-40 | 39-46 | Bottles can still be opened by most persons. May experience difficulty to find the mouth. | Very rough | 5.5 | 18 |
| 9 | 21.1 - 24.2 | 41-47 | 47-54 | Only professionals can open bottles. All bottles must be kept with two hands. | Very rough | 7.0 | 23 |
| 10 | 24.7 - 28.3 | 48-55 | 55-63 | Two men needed to open bottles. All cases must be stowed in a lee locker. Possible tooth and lip damage. | High | 8.8 | 29 |
| 11 | 28.8 - 32.4 | 56-63 | 64-72 | If not held with utmost care, beer may leave open bottles as foam. Mouth bloody from broken teeth. | Very High | 11.3 | 37 |
| 12 | 32.9+ | 64+ | 73+ | All open bottles will self empty. No longer possible to drink and it is forbidden to open new bottles and waste additional beer. | Phenomenal | 13.7 | 45 |