Audi Hamiton Island Race Week day 6 - Light wind forecast

by Lisa Ratcliff/Ian Grant on 23 Aug 2012 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week forecaster Kenn Batt said 'It's going to be a very trying day'!!!. Note the triple exclamation mark.

For day 6 -

A high pressure system currently centred in the Tasman Sea will maintain a ridge of high pressure over Queensland likely to result in light south east trending east winds.

With a below average forecast confidence Batt says, ‘The three biggest questions today will be 1. Will there be enough wind to race? 2. If enough wind, will the direction trend east during your race period? And 3. If so when will this occur?’

Based on the overnight wind speed recordings at The Hamilton Island Airport confirm the Whitsunday Islands are in the grip of an unseasonal period of light winds.

There is no sign of the moderate trade winds returning before Saturday, and the unpredictable twist in the breeze today promises to sort the best from the rest.

Audi IRC Australian Championship divisions A, B and C will race up to three windward/leewards today on the eastern course area while the SB20s will continue their pre-world championship warm up.

Performance Racing and cruising divisions 1 will sail a 21.6nm course from Dent Passage to Pine Island, White Rock, Denman and back to the finish off Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Performance Racing and cruising divisions 2 and the Melges 32s will complete a slightly shorter version of this race, at 17.5nm.

Cruising division 3 and non-spinnaker will contest a new course, as will the super multihulls, Team Vodafone Sailing and Team Australia.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2012 website