Sail-World.com : Audi MedCup: Lighter winds expected and course location change
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Audi MedCup: Lighter winds expected and course location change |
Lighter winds are expected as the Marseille Trophy race fleets for the GP42 Series and the TP52 Series move to a different race area today, the Rade Nord arena.
A return to gentler breezes today means back to finesse sailing rather than high octane downwind runs and boat and sail handling tests. For the first time here in Marseille the race area is being moved on to the Rade Nord, or the north area, which means a whole new set of conditions and influences to be learned.
It's already very warm this morning with clear skies and so there will be every chance that the thermal sea breeze will build, but there is also a remainder of the NW'ly mistral direction this morning.
 | PredictWind’s prognosis is that the winds will swing through 180 degrees overnight and will from the south during Saturday. - PredictWind.com |
Emirates Team New Zealand lead the overall standings in the TP52 Series at this Marseille Trophy regatta with a twelve points lead as Quantum Racing start to build a momentum, scoring 3,1,1 from their last three starts.
And in the GP42 Series it is Roma Mk 2, the Italian Farr design, which leads by six points after six races.
There is a possibility that the race committee will go for three races today for both TP 52 Series and GP42 Series fleets, but two today and two tomorrow, Sunday, are more likely.
 | PredictWind’s prognosis is that after peaking overnight the winds are expected to initially be light building during the morning to peak again in the early afternoon. - PredictWind.com |
Nat Ives (GBR) Cristabella's navigator summarises his outlook for today:
' We have the remainder of the NW’ly, Mistral gradient and then we obviously have got a nice, hot day, sea breeze, so there are two possibilities. These two winds will fight with a shut down then the sea breeze will come in. Quite likely, then, medium light 8-10-12 knots, or to a more westerly sea breeze combination of the two.'
' Since we are on the more northerly race course, for the first time, that might be more likely to see a more general build from the west, maybe even 16 knots.'
' We will be closer to the mainland proper so we are in the ‘drainage’ Mistral breeze which has more of an effect. We have the smaller islands which were upwind of us, now on the left and potentially a different effect, and slightly flatter water. It has been pretty choppy these past few days.'
' I think when we get out there it will be clear, once they have set the race course and we will see which of these two options is happening. And when it is in it will tend to stay. If it is from the SSW, I don’t think it will build as much as if it comes in from the west when we might see 14 towards the end of the day.'
by Audi MedCup Media
8:34 AM Sat 13 Jun 2009 GMT
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