RORC Caribbean 600 Preparation and introduction to Adrena Software
What we will cover The role of the navigator Pre-race preparation Course Planning and ADRENA Roadbooks Pre-race Weather Weather Routing with ADRENA Create a Race Plan During the Race
The Role of the Navigator
Things to remember Notice of race Sailing instructions Rules Class regulations Safety regulations Performance Data Sail Crossovers Hazards & VTS Shipping (Lights) Course to sail Strategy Competitor tracking Sailing instruments Navigation software Weather Tides and currents VHF and satellite coms Protests
Pre-Race Preparation
Onshore Admin Notice of Race Rules governing racing (inc. weather availability during racing, COLREGS and VTS, (Rule 10 IRPCS)) Race Course (Marks of the course) Programme (Race date, skippers briefing, prize giving) Registration and measurements Sailing Instructions Start sequence (10, 4, 1, Gun) VHF Channels ( Ocean One, VHF 06) Identity Gate (Lifejackets and all crew on deck) Finish Area Call Ocean One Penalties Wearing of Lifejackets (RORC Rules)
Important Regulations: Comms 1.11 COMMUNICATION 1.11.1 WEATHER AND TIDAL INFORMATION Rule 41(c) is replaced by: A boat shall not receive help from any outside source, except (c) help in the form of information which is freely available to all boats, which shall include navigational, weather, tide or current information from any source which is available to all boats whether or not by payment of a fee or subscription, but shall not include any information gathered or the subject of interpretation by, or any advice received from, any source not on board the boat and which is specific to the boat and her situation. By way of example and interpretation, downloading charts, weather and/or tidal GRIB files from subscription services, or having such information passed to the boat in its pure form, is permitted but receiving messages or information which is the result of interpretation as it applies to the boat is not permitted.
Important Regulations: IRPCS
Safety: Navigation Lights
Course Planning Adrena Roadbooks
The Course Mark York Island Green Island Barbuda Inflatable Mark Fl Y 5s Nevis Saba St Barths and all off-lying islands Saint Martin Tintemarre St Barths and all off-lying islands Guadeloupe Illes Des Saintes La Desirade Barbuda Inflatable Mark Fl Y 5s Redonda Fort Charlotte FINISH Instructions Round to port Round to port Round to port Round to starboard Round to starboard Round to port Round to starboard Round to starboard Round to starboard Leave to port Round to port Round to port Round to port Round to port
The Course Mean Wind Direction
Navigation Restrictions: Sunken Rock before Standfast Pt
Navigation Restrictions: Spaniard Rk, Tintemarre
Navigation Restrictions: SW Monserrat Exclusion Zone
Navigation Restrictions: Rock, SE Grand Ilet
Navigation Restrictions: Iles de la Petit Terre Exclusion Zone
Navigation Restrictions: St Barths Outlying Islands
Pre-Race Weather
Weather Information Historical (Climatology) Not so critical for C600 Useful for telling us historically the weather patterns on the course Real Time almost Useful for validating weather forecasts and GRIB files Forecasts (Synoptic Charts and GRIBS) Used wisely, the most powerful weather forecasting tool Satellite Great for validating GRIB weather files and seeing frontal systems
Real Time Weather Airports 9 Airports around the course METAR data available from all Wind Speed & Dir Baro Pressure & Temp Buoys 2 weather buoys (purple) Same data as METAR
Synoptic Charts
GRIBS & Satellite Images
GRIB File Resolution 0.5 degree FREE GRIB (50km resolution) 0.25 degree FREE GRIB (27kn resolution) 0.1 degree Subscription GRIB (11km res.) 0.01 degree Subscription GRIB (1km res.)
Land Effects: Islands Typically 10 15kn more wind than forecast
Weather Routing With Adrena
GRIBS Scaling Rule of Thumb 20m Mast = 108% 25m Mast = 111% 30m Mast = 114% 35m Mast = 116%
GRIBS Sensitivity Good practise to play with these numbers. Gribs are not great at getting wind speed under 5kn correct Wind speed limits, mean sea state limits
Performance: Polars
Performance: Sail X-Over Chart
Weather Routing
Weather Routing
Creating a Race Plan
..\Sailing\Athos\2015\ROR600 Plan 2015.pdf
During the Race
During the Race Link with the Tactician and Skipper about key decisions Headlands, wind shifts, tide gates, VTS etc. Determine the optimal course to steer, with context e.g sea state, developing conditions etc. Refer to your Race Plan and if needed, modify it Re-run weather routing after each forecast, update with weather observations and satellite imagery if available Competitor Tracking Online and with bearings at dawn and dusk and AIS Performance Monitoring Check your polar data, modify your navigation polar if you loose a sail