One of the new pieces of electronics on the boat this year is "Expedition" - a software package that provides tactical racing information as well as performance weather routing based off the boats polars (target speeds at different wind angles and strength based on the design of the boat and sailplan) combined weather files called "gribs" that are downloaded from NOAA. Our plan will be to get the best weather info we can get prior to heading out on the boat, then augment it with downloads using the SSB radio and sailmail.
The attached screenshot shows the recommended route that for our delivery down the coast. We were impressed how closely the model/forecast matched what we saw, and followed the route pretty close heading out quite a bit offshore for the first day and a 1/2.
Right now we're spending time checking out what the weather system is doing, working up to our strategy where to head for the race for the best wind for Orizaba. "Helga" is our nickname for the software as in, "Helga thinks we should head South..."
No comments:
Post a Comment