A Decorative Map of the BBC Shipping Forecast
The BBC Shipping Forecast. To millions of Britons, whether they go down to the sea in ships or remain safely on dry land, the sonorous litany of the Sea Areas and Coastal Stations of the Shipping Forecast is much a part of our national heritage as the Royal Family, strawberries at Wimbledon or Test Match Special. Tamper with it at you peril!
North Utsire and South Utsire were added by the Met Office to the Sea Areas listed as long ago as 1984, but ask nine out of ten BBC Radio 4 listeners and they will tell that they are new-fangled and somewhat impertinent interlopers into a crowd of well-loved friends!
The latest name change, from Finisterre to Fitzroy, was made in 2002 in honour of Captain Fitzroy, Darwin's companion on the Beagle, who was the first director of the Met Office. The honour was well earned, but it will be some time before the true devotee feels comfortable with the name.
