Sailors! Don't miss the PredictWind & Expedition Seminar tonight

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World on 17 Jun 2009
Predictwind.com and Expedition will be hosting a seminar at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club this evening 18th June at 1900hrs. This is a great chance to hear from the developers of these two applications, Jon Bilger (PredictWind) and Nick White (Expedition), and see how they can be used.

While the Seminar is aimed primarily at those competing in the upcoming Noumea Race, the evening will be beneficial to anyone who wants to learn more about how to read and interpret PredictWind's information and how to use this in any racing scenario from Optimists to Supermaxis.

At Sail-World, we have given both applications a real hammering to predict outcomes and options in the Volvo Ocean Race, Expedition has been very accurate, however needs practice to get the best results and options which can then be used for tactical decisions.

PredictWind has a wider range of uses, and at Sail-World we have used it to both write stories based around wind predictions and racing. All that is required is a laptop and an internet connection. You can monitor wind predictions several days out from a key regatta, then on race day just download the latest prognosis and you have an hour by hour understanding of whether the wind is going to increase or decrease in strength and how it is going to shift during the day - so you can then decide which side of the course will be favoured.

We have checked PredictWind's predicted wind strengths against the recorded actuals for a given location and have found them to be remarkably accurate - invariably predicting major changes in strength and direction to within 30minutes or less.

For the racing sailor it means you can leave the beach or marina confident of whjat to expect from the wind, that day. For the cruiser PredictWind is invaluable to warn of strong winds, or a sudden change in wind direction - taking the anxiety out of choosing an anchorage or knowing whether it is safe to make a safe extended passage.

Expedition is used in course planning for cruising or racing, usually in offshore racing. It interfaces with PredictWind and other wind prediction data, plus the yachts onboard systems to optimise a course up to five days ahead.

www.iexpedition.org!Expedition is a tactical and navigation software application which has been developed by veteran Volvo Ocean Race navigator and Whitbread winner, physicist Nick White, initially for his use in the 2001-2 Volvo Ocean Race with Team News Corp and the Stars & Stripes Americas Cup team.

Since then, www.iexpedition.org!Expedition has been continually refined by a core group of world-renowned navigators and two-time America’s Cup winning navigator Peter Isler has consulted closely in the development of the system. Expedition supports more instrument systems, is easier to use and has the most powerful and useful functions for the racing navigator.

Expedition is now has PredictWind integrated into the application as an option for PredictWind subscribers.

www.predictwind.com!PredictWind is an application developed by Jon Bilger a top NZ youth and Olympic sailor who turned his hand to wind and weather prediction, and helped Alinghi to their outstanding victories in the last two America's Cups.

Now that same technology is available to the weekend sailing and club racers, the cruising fraternity or professional sailors around the world. Select any region in the world of interest to you and www.predictwind.com!PredictWind will monitor the area for you and provide updated predictions on demand.

PredictWind is a subscription system, with a number of options. While some may feel the wind is free, the ability to get a seven day detailed wind forecast for an area of interest creates great peace of mind, allowing forward planning and decision making to be made with some certainty. The time and money saved through being able to work with a high degree of confidence, is more than offset by the relatively small cost of the subscription.

But don't take our word for it, get www.predictwind.com!PredictWind now and have a 30 day trial for free, go to the seminar tonight at Royal Akarana YC in Orakei, and see for yourself.

Bar Opens 6pm, Seminar starts 7pm