PredictWind's latest wind forecast is predicting southerly winds for the start of today's race.
One of PredictWind's models is forecasting southerly winds of up to 26 knots shifting to the southwest around 0600hrs for a short time before shifting back to the south around start time where 17-19 knot winds can be expected. PredictWind's other model shows southerly winds of 20 knots decreasing to around 16 knots at start time.
For the remainder of Saturday 15 knots southerly winds can be expected that are likely to decrease to 10Knts in the early hours of Sunday Morning before shifting to the southeast around 0700hrs. Further offshore northwest winds of 15 knots are expected. By Sunday evening the northwester should be following the coastline south as it increase to around 20knots.
If the maxis are able to reach bass strait by the early hours of Monday morning it is likely that they will be stuck in variable winds of under 5 knots until midday on Monday when a westerly is likely to pick up as it funnels through the strait.
This westerly should increase to around 15-20 knots by Monday night. As the westerly passes through the strait it is expected to bend around the Victoria coastline, which will either become a southwesterly wind that the majority of the fleet is likely to experience. Or build into a stronger westerly wind of up to 30knts.
Tuesday shows a difference between the models of either 15 knots southwesterly wind bending around the southern most tip of Tasmania that is likely to decrease to 5 knots by Wednesday morning.
Or southwesterly winds of 25-30 knots decreasing to 15 knots by Wednesday.
PredictWind will continue to update the forecasts on Sail-World as the race progresses. You can experience a PredictWind forecast for your self by signing up to the free trial by clicking on the 'Get Forecasts' button at www.predictwind.com.
by Nathan May
8:26 PM Fri 25 Dec 2009 GMT
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