Light Winds At Finish of DaimlerChrysler Challenge

by DCNAC media on 4 Jul 2003 Despite yesterday’s optimism this morning’s reports from Heligoland and Cuxhaven show light winds and dramatic reductions in boat speed.

Winds further up the course are holding but near the shore in the German Bight the NNW airflow slows to only Force 1-2 – by no means enough to drive the fleet anywhere near the 10-knots-plus some yachts had recently been making.

The weather system in control is a balance between High pressure in the Atlantic and a shallow Low over Denmark. NNW winds across the race area extend into the Atlantic where there is more of a westerly component – good news for those approaching Fair Isle.

Later this week the Denmark Low will move east and its influence lessen, leading to lighter winds
whilst a shallow Low in the Atlantic will produce south-westerlies over part of the race area.

In light and changing weather conditions the influence of tidal streams is critical. Navigation and pilotage (navigation near the shore) needs the utmost attention: electronic aids like GPS are fine for telling boats
where they are, but what really counts is the ability to predict conditions in order to position the boat to achieve the earliest possible
arrival time.

Mostly this work is done by a navigator on board probably consulting all the weather data the internet has to offer. The DaimlerChrysler fleet navigators in the German Bight this morning will
have had little sleep last night.

Based on previous performance the Race Computer this morning predicted Snow Lion’s arrival at 1343 local time, followed by Hansa at 1453. But,
like those of the navigators on board, the computer’s predictions can be substantially changed by a variable wind. At the Yacht Club Cuxhaven there seems a lot to be said for the all-day breakfast.


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