5:34 AM Thu 17 Dec 2009 GMT
|
|
'Tidetech’s CSIRO Current GRIB - latest conditions at Green Cape - Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race'
Tidetech
|
Strong currents of up to 4.5kts could bring boat breaking conditions for Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race
Now is about the time when navigators can begin to get an indication of what conditions to expect for Hobart. Certainly with all the strange weather we seem to have been having this year - (who can forget those dust storms) there has been much dock talk about the possibility of severe or unusual conditions for this year's race.
Certainly so far this year the current is displaying some extreme behaviour- it was running at 6kts off Coffs Harbour for most of October and Tasmania has been experiencing unusually strong and warm south going currents down both coasts (a problem for lobsters apparently!).
At present a large and powerful eddy is situated close to Green Cape and is sending very strong current of up to 4.5 kts in a South Easterly direction. This could be a boat breaking place to be in strong or gale force SE winds and if the conditions persist, Sydney to Hobart skippers will need to take care.
|
Computer generated optimal course ’Knows no Fear’ - Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race -
Tidetech
|
With many navigators now using routing software loaded with wind and current data the temptation is to blindly follow the fastest route given by the computer; but as Yendys' navigator Will Oxley says 'Just remember, routing knows NO FEAR and will make NO allowance for the very ugly sea state that results when a 4 knot southerly current comes into contact with a strong southerly wind!
The navigator needs to provide the 'boat conservation' factor into the routing solutions.'
The CSIRO's website has been a trusted source of information for currents, but one of the limitations of viewing images on a website is that whilst the quality of the data is not in doubt, an image can only portray a general idea of what is happening and the strength and direction of the current has to be estimated by eye.
Ocean data specialists Tidetech have solved that problem for sailors by producing GRIB files from CSIRO's data which can then be loaded and viewed into a chart plotter. Strength and direction is shown under a cursor and the data can be used in routing calculations.
Tidetech use commercial grade Sea Surface Temperature to add high resolution detail about the exact position of the current and to help determine which way things are trending.
Tidetech are offering a special package for this year's race which includes:
. Custom data for the S2H race area
. Full analysis of the expected current
. A pre-start briefing on the 24th Dec with Tidetech Oceanographer Dr Roger Proctor and navigation software expert Penny Haire
. Two months' Subscription to all Tidetech's web products
Tidetech is now fully integrated with Expedition tactical and navigation software.
www.iexpedition.org
It is also compatible with Maxsea, Deckman, Adrena, SOB and Expedition LT
Go to
www.tidetech.org
for more information
by Penny Haire
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
|
