MetBob. Bob McDavitt is the weather guru that uses /\/\etBoB to provide weather information for cruising sailors, primarily for those in the South Pacific.

Bob McDavitt

Bob McDavitt is from Aotearoa/New Zealand.  He was born in  Marton, and schooled in Wellington. He graduated with degrees in Maths and Computer Science from Victoria University in Wellington in 1973 and 1974. He has been a meteorologist since 1975, forecasting for marine, aviation and the general media around New Zealand and in Fiji.

 In 1998 he was awarded the "Henry Hill Award" for his enthusiastic approach to sharing ideas about the weather.  He is a veteran from two campaigns for the America's Cup (in Perth and San Diego), and has helped Swashbucklers break records crossing the Tasman Sea and circumnavigating NZ, and Earth Race and Jessica Watson in circumnavigating the world.

For twenty years he was the MetService Weather Ambassador, and focused on promoting friendly relations with weather users.  This involved communicating awareness about any incoming nasty weather, keeping an eye on the impact of the weather on the coming season and any special events, and arranging MetService promotions, displays, and exhibitions.

Nowadays he is in semi-retirement and continues to talk with weather users and help sailors cruising around the South Pacific.

Weather "Guru"

• A Sanskrit term that translates into English words such as 'teacher' and 'master'.
• An implanter of ideas, knowledge, and wisdom based on skill, study and experience with the real world.

"Weather is a mixture of pattern and chaos"

This sums up Bob's unique appreciation of weather forecasting on planet Earth.