Navigating Weather: A Expert's Compendium of Weather Routing Techniques
In the competitive world of yacht racing, understanding and mastering weather routing is essential for success. Professional navigator Simon 'Si Fi' Fisher shares his top tips for race-winning strategies.
Fisher advises sailors to closely examine the predictions of various weather models and consider how they agree or disagree. Wide-ranging research is important, but avoiding paralysis by analysis is also crucial.
Good risk management is key in routing, balancing the risk placed on the weather forecast or a routing option versus the rest of the fleet. Tightly packed routes in ensemble forecasts indicate likely options, while chaos in the forecasts suggests changes and the need to keep options open.
Starting about 5-6 days before the race, Fisher begins analysing the forecast and weather models. In the last 24 hours, higher resolution local models should be consulted for more detail and fine-tuning of the strategy. It's often prudent to give up a few miles to ensure the fleet can't get past, especially in races.
Fisher primarily uses Expedition and Adrena software for planning routing. The best global weather models for yacht racing commonly include the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), GFS (Global Forecast System), UKMO (UK Met Office), and specialized marine models like PredictWind's PWG and PWE.
Sailors effectively interpret and analyse these predictions by comparing multiple models, understanding weather patterns and systems, and engaging in tactical route planning. Some software allows selecting currents and tides at different depths, which helps small craft optimize routing in complex waterways.
Experienced navigators integrate model data with satellite imagery to visually confirm cloud formations and weather fronts, improving the real-time assessment of wind shifts and pressure systems. Balancing model forecasts with course distance and boat speed is key, as deciding whether to sail longer distances to stronger winds or avoid “weather holes” by analysing model predictions carefully can make all the difference.
Discussing routing with a wider group of people, such as through The Ocean Race program, can provide valuable insights and ideas. Ensemble modelling is a useful tool for ocean races, providing multiple forecasts based on slightly tweaked initial conditions. The UK and French models are also worth considering, especially when offshore.
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In the realm of yacht racing, Simón 'Si Fi' Fisher emphasizes the significance of data-and-cloud-computing technology, stating that sailors should closely examine multiple weather models and engagement with software like Expedition and Adrena, which include ECMWF, GFS, UKMO, PredictWind's PWG and PWE, for efficient routing planning. On the other hand, while considering sports strategies, effective analysis of predictions and tactical route planning should be executed, complemented by the integration of model data with satellite imagery visualization of cloud formations and weather fronts.
