World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Herb Hilgenberg will again be making the forecasts for the Marion to Bermuda yacht race.

Hilgenberg, no stranger to the Island, has been described by the US Naval Academy as "probably the best analyst of North Atlantic weather and sea state.'' A well-known figure in meteorology and in yachting, Hilgenberg's forecasts have been termed "invaluable'' because of the detail in which he analyses local conditions. Weather service forecasts average conditions over great ocean expanses, and often overlook severe local weather, which though limited in area can be devastating to a boat going through it.

According to an article written by Jim Flannery in a Detroit boating magazine, one of Hilgenberg's best sources is the fleet of 50 to 30 yachts he tracks at any given time. They send him reports of conditions daily.

One of the organisers of the Marion race, John Carey said Hilgenberg was chosen because of his "sterling reputation for giving accurate weather forecasts.'' When he began broadcasting 11 years ago, his weather station was based on his Corbin 39, Southbound II , which was moored in Hamilton Harbour.

He was "Bermudianised'' out of his engineering job in 1993, and unable to renew his work permit, moved back to Burlington, Ontario.

He had been unable to get funding to set up a permanent post as a deep-ocean weather forecaster in Bermuda because he lacked professional qualifications.

Back in Ontario, he set up his weather base again to continue a free service, on which hundreds of sailors rely every day.

"When I was in Bermuda I was only able to make contact with 30 to 50 yachts each day. However, the radio propagation is much better on Lake Ontario, and I can make contact with 70 to 100,'' said Hilgenberg.

Hilgenberg attributes part of the growth of his volunteer service to the budget cutbacks of the National Weathert Services in the states and other countries.

"Five or six years ago, you could get much more information and detailed charts, but now a lot of the facts have been discontinued. I try to provide information in a more specific format,'' he added.

"I sailed 3,000 miles with his forecasts. I never had a bit of trouble with the weather after I found out about him,'' said Atlanta magazine editor and cruiser, Billy Ray Sims.

"Through this `hobby', Herb's made a tremendous amount of friends, and he has been instrumental in saving people from some very hectic storms,'' said Carey.

Hilgenberg recently received a letter of commendation from the United States Coast Guard congratulating him on his professionalism. He was able to gather critical information through his radio communications to help RCC Miami dispatch an aircraft in a timely manner, and prevented an extended search in severe weather with seas greater than ten feet.

He also assisted in establishing an HF frequency for Coast Guard Group Charleston radio personnel to contact S/V Ariel to continue relaying critical information, according to the letter of commendation. Because of Hilgenberg's efforts, the distressed boat was safely assisted and towed into the Cape Fear River on the morning of May 29 after a gruelling 36 hour ordeal.

"That's quite a common thing,'' said Hilgenberg, "I'm in contact with 70 to 100 yachts every day, and if the boats run into distress, I get involved.

Sometimes the boats can reach me through radio transmissions before they reach the coast guard.

"When you have specific information, you can help someone -- that's what my hobby is all about.'' Hilgenberg will make a weather presentation today, the afternoon before the race begins in Marion, Rhode Island, and then he will send broadcast transmissions to the boats until they reach Bermuda.

His service will not finish until the yachts are safely back in Marion. The difference is that on the way back the boats are able to communicate with him.

On the way down, because of the race, the crew can only listen to his weather updates on their single side band receivers, unless they are in distress.