PredictWind - high resolution weather modelling

by MaxComm Communication on 1 Nov 2008
Four months after its launch, the weather forecast system PredictWind has been widely accepted and used by the international sailing community.

During the Northern Hemisphere Summer the technology has been used in a variety of regattas including the following: Australian Olympic Team in Qingdao, the TP52 racing circuit around Europe, iShares Cup, Maxi Worlds, and navigators preparing for the next Volvo Ocean Race and it will be used for the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

PredictWind is now widely used by amateur and professional sailors all over the world. The feedback from users is very encouraging: 'I have now used PredictWind in all the venues of the TP 52 Medcup with Quantum Racing', says navigator Ian Moore. 'PredictWind has become an integral part of our daily preparation, and weekly planning. I highly recommend it.'

Peter Isler states: 'This summer I’ve been trying out PredictWind.com’s models in races across Europe and the US and although initially skeptical, I have been very impressed, and now count a trip to the predictwind.com web site as a regular part of my pre-race prep… no matter whether I’m buoy racing in San Francisco Bay or sailing in an offshore race across the Baltic Sea »

PredictWind is a forecast system that provides a worldwide detailed weather forecast down to an incredible 1km resolution. Its founder, Jon Bilger, is a keen yachtsman who participated as a navigator in the America’s Cup in 1995, and proceeded to become head of Alinghi’s weather team.

He explains: 'At Alinghi, we had access to some of the best weather modelling technology available. As a sailor, I thought that it would be great if the same technology would be available to the public for marine forecasting. PredictWind is a dream come true for me, and I am fortunate to be involved with a team of professionals who are leaders in their field.'

The weather model is developed by a team of research scientists, and this technology is exclusive to PredictWind. It has some unique features including a stretched grid, the framework for the 60/8/1km resolution modelling. This enables the model to run without any boundaries, and is thus less constrained than other models that usually require significant damping.

This model is proven technology. It has been successfully used by the America's Cup Defender, Team Alinghi As Brad Butterworth confirms: 'Alinghi has used the same weather modelling technology as PredictWind offers, and it played an important role in winning the 2003/2007 America's Cup in both Auckland and Valencia. We have used it in regattas all around the world and have found the technology 'second to none'. I would highly recommend the PredictWind service to anyone wanting an accurate and reliable wind forecast.'

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]

Sail-World will be using Predict Wind data leading up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart race and as the race unfolds.

Jon Pilger the Eo of Predict Wind is offering a Free Trial till January 2009. He says 'We are so confident that you will be impressed with the forecasts, that you will tell your friends and will continue the paid service. However there is no obligation to continue the service in January 2009.'