North Sails Weather in the Whitsundays

by Media Services on 9 Aug 2006 North Sails is offering complimentary weather forecasts by Ken Batt for all yachts for Airlie Beach Race Week and Hahn Premium Race Week 2006 at Hamilton Island.

North Sails will provide detailed weather information to all competitors for the week of Whitsunday racing, from August 11-26, 2006, Queensland.

North is joining with veteran yachtsman and leading meteorologist, Ken Batt to provide a professional yacht racing weather service at these regattas. A printed copy of the weather forecast for each yacht can be collected every morning of each regatta.

For Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week, the North Sails weather will be provided in conjunction with Audi, through the Audi Race Week village.

At Airlie Beach, copies will be available from Ken Batt at the North Sails desk near the regatta office at Abel Point Marina.

Ken Batt is an experienced sailor from dinghies, on to one-design and offshore yachts. He has been a meteorologist for the past 25 years and currently works with the Bureau of Meteorology in Canberra.

‘North Sails constantly strives to supply sailors with additional tools to help them perform on the water’ said Michael Coxon, Director of North Sails. ‘For example, North provides winning sails to a wide range of boats and classes, plus sail trimming and tuning advice for our clients both on the water, and off through our educational material. Providing professional weather information for these important regattas characterises this level of commitment’.

North Sails Weather Service will include an overall synopsis for the racing area, temperature and sea conditions, a detailed wind forecast with possible alternative scenarios, and outlook covering the days racing ahead.

‘I am looking forward to working with North Sails team for the Whitsunday racing’ said Batt.

‘With senior North personnel including Alby Pratt, Julian Plante, Ross Lloyd, Vaughan Prentice, and Peter Antill on the race track each day, my role will be assisted by their observations in our evening debrief. These regattas are well run and highly competitive, so we look forward to assisting all competitors’ performance with forecasts and possible trends to consider in their race management’.

North Sails will also offer sail repair service for these regattas through service agent Airlie Sails, with pickups each afternoon in front of the regatta office.

Contact Airlie Sails - Peter Mitchell on (07) 4946 1125 or 0409 642 018 for regatta sail repair service between August 11 and August 26, 2006.