Tidetech Sydney to Hobart currents now downloadable through Expedition

by Penny Haire on 17 Dec 2009 Ocean data specialists Tidetech are producing custom current and sea temperature files for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart race which can be downloaded through Expedition. The files are highly compressed, which will reduce download time (and sat phone bills).

It's not just about the download speed though, it's about making the job easier. Expedition lets you do just about anything to do with race nav and tactics without the navigator needing to disappear down below for hours.

One of its many strengths is that it allows the navigator to download multiple sources of information and display them overlaid together in a chart plotting window. It has a special facility to import Sydney to Hobart position reports - so with an internet connection you can have the latest weather forecast, current and everyone's skid positions all showing together and synched in time.

Carl Craford, navigator and strategist on 2008 winner Quest said. 'The nav game has changed hugely over 23 Hobart's I have done. It's the same old game of chess - but now you're not flying blind any more. Having the latest weather and current info is obviously vital, but Expedition just does a brilliant job of making sense who is gaining or losing, and why. '

Tidetech are offering a special package for this year's race which includes:

• Custom data for the S2H race area

• Full analysis of the expected current

• A pre-start briefing on the 24th Dec with Tidetech Oceanographer Dr Roger Proctor and navigation software expert Penny Haire

• Two months' Subscription to all Tidetech's web products

Tidetech's data for Australia is sourced from the highly regarded CSIRO

Expedition users can also now download global ocean currents, high resolution tidal streams and sea temperature products from Tidetech

For more information contact Tidetech at info@tidetech.org or go to http://www.tidetech.org/rolex-sydney-hobart-race

Expedition 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, 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.

The end result is a system that wins more races and is far more advanced and usable in all aspects than any other tactical software available - whether you are racing around the world or your local harbour.

www.iexpedition.org