Rolex Sydney Hobart- Currents and sea temps provide tactical edge

by Susan Boyd on 24 Dec 2008 A revolutionary new website which charts ocean currents and sea temperatures in conjunction with navigational charts has been released in time for the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The site, www.tidetech.org is the only service in the world to provide ocean current information as well as present sea temperatures in an easy-to-use grib file format.

Tidetech Director Penny Haire said that navigators who consider currents and ocean temperature as well as wind speeds will have a competitive edge of hours over their competitors who rely on wind speeds alone.

'In the past, navigators have found it very difficult to get hold of accurate ocean current and tidal information in grib format and seeing exactly what the current and sea temperatures are doing for a race like the Sydney Hobart is vital,' said Ms Haire.

'The sea temperature information is particularly exciting. Looking at charts from earlier this week we can see a big jet of warm water off Sydney which will provide a tactical strong lead for yachts who know where it is.'

The pictures below demonstrate the progression of this warm water compared over two days. Today’s information is only available to subscribers. Free demonstration files are available for download at www.tidetech.org.

The grib charts are available by subscription especially for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The latest sea surface current data is available for $220 and a package of the latest sea surface current data and the sea surface temperature information is available for $385.

Subscribers will receive charts right up until 0700 on Boxing Day. To subscribe, please contact penny.haire@tidetech.org.

'Last week Tidetech had a major technological breakthrough when we converted CSIRO Australian ocean current data into a grib format.

'This week, just in time for the Rolex-Sydney Hobart, we have been able to apply similar technology to provide sea temperature information from the Nova AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) satellite.

'It’s very exciting. As long as the weather is clear, we can get provide detailed information at 1km resolution. When this is overlaid with the sea surface current grib, it gives you a better idea of what's actually happening,' said Penny.

Tidetech was founded by Penny Haire who is the Chief Examiner for the RYA/Yachting Australia National Yacht Training programme and Dr Roger Proctor who is an internationally recognised coastal oceanographer responsible for the integration and coordination of the Australian marine observing system, based at the University of Tasmania. He has also been a tidal consultant to the UK Olympic Sailing Team since 1988.