8:42 PM Tue 22 Dec 2009 GMT
|
|
'Bass Strait - the model. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart'
Wayne Johnstone
|
Tidetech have just released their Bass Strait tidal package - perfect for anyone undertaking any of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Christmas time offshore races. To celebrate this great milestone, one lucky racer from this year's fleet will receive a free 12-month subscription to Tidetech. If you cannot wait, then you can buy the new tide model, right now at (
www.tidetech.org/melbourne-tassie-events-m2h-w-m2h-e-m2l
)
If you can wait, then one lucky racer from the Tassie Trio will be the most knowledgeable of the lot. Perfect - and right in time for the 1885nm 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu, as well!
It will be helpful for both of the Heemskirk Consolidated fleets racing to Hobart, as it looks at the approaches to Flinders Island for the Eastcoasters and King Island to Cape Grim for the Westcoasters. Both of which are notorious for huge currents. Those partaking in the Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston will also benefit, as you can zoom in to a range of just 2nm, which is great for coastal work.
|
|
Around Flinders Island - Like wow, BIG Arrows... - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - Wayne Johnstone
|
It's even produced in one-hour increments. The Tidetech information will also be used in the ORCV's Skippers' Briefing on the morning of the December 27.
Now if you were into tie-dye or had a few tabs back then, the colours will look really cool man, but the main thing to stress here are the degree of accuracy of the model and the clarity of the graphics, as you zoom in. Something you will definitely want made easier as you bounce around the ocean leering over the nav desk.
Tidetech, the Ocean data specialists, have produced this first-ever, publicly available tidal model for Bass Strait and Tasmanian waters. The internationally recognised oceanographer and Tidetech Director, Dr Roger Proctor, was previously the tidal consultant to the UK Olympic Sailing team, where he developed advanced tidal models for Quingdao, Busan, Barcelona, Sydney and Atlanta. As a senior scientist with the world leading Proudman Oceanographic laboratory, he helped develop the UK storm surge forecasting system and just this year, Roger developed the first tidal model for the Whitsunday Islands.
It is perfect for making sense of these world-renowned stretches of water, where the might of the Southern Ocean meets a seabed that shelves up from 5000 to 50m, in just 100 nautical miles. Add a West bound tide of 6knots and you can end up with the kinds of conditions most of us are all too familiar with. Back in the really old days, they didn't have the luxury of this tide of information, so it is little wonder that shipwrecks mark the area like pins on serial killer's map.
|
|
That marvellous gap between King Island and dear old Cape Grim. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - Wayne Johnstone
|
This is the first time that Navigators will be able to place accurate and virtually real-time tidal information into their calculations and ultimately, boat placement.
Tidetech are offering a special package for this year's races which includes:
. Ocean Current data from CSIRO.
. Sea Surface Temperature data from CSIRO.
. Tidetech Bass Strait Tidal Stream Model - 2nm resolution, 60 minute time intervals
It's also pretty easy to get this information in a format that you can use later this week. Tidetech is now interfaced with Expedition, so users can download global ocean currents, high-resolution tidal streams and sea temperature products from Tidetech directly into the software. The data is also in GRIB format which is compatible with the following navigation software and you can also download the free viewer at
www.tidetech.org/free-viewer
for as an easy method of accessing the files:
. Expedition
. Maxsea
. Adrena
. Deckman (current only).
An Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version is also available for the boats that do not run an onboard PC, which really does mean everyone can have this brand new and first ever tidal stream model at their fingertips for the races South.
The ORCV Committee is delighted that Tidetech have joined the happy band of sponsors, 'This is really great and we couldn't be happier to have this new source of information assisting us to be faster and maintain our safety at sea record' commented ORCV Commodore, George Shaw.
by John Curnow
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
|
