Stories about Westerly Breeze
Below are the latest stories which have been categorised as being about Westerly Breeze.
Groupama 3: Exit imminent
Posted 27 days, 3 hours ago by Yachte.com.au
Snaking between cells of high pressure, Groupama 3 is seeking to avoid being caught up in the anticyclones, which are positioned way down south and Franck Cammas and his men on Groupama 3 know that they have to endure another 24 difficult hours before they can hook onto a steadier, powerful westerly breeze. more »
Groupama 3: Exit imminent
Posted 27 days, 3 hours ago by Yachte.com.au
Snaking between cells of high pressure, Groupama 3 is seeking to avoid being caught up in the anticyclones, which are positioned way down south and Franck Cammas and his men on Groupama 3 know that they have to endure another 24 difficult hours before they can hook onto a steadier, powerful westerly breeze. more »
33rd America's Cup - Day 1: No wind, no race
Posted 1 month ago by Valencia Sailing
The 33rd America's Cup didn't start with a bang. The light and unstable winds forced the race committee to cancel Monday's races, after the two yachts had spent more than 6 hours drifting around the coast of Valencia.
As Chris Bedford, BMW Oracle meteorologist, jokingly commented, the race committee did a great job in putting them in the middle of two different breezes, pretty much assuring that nothing would happen. The main pattern today off Valencia was of a southerly breeze well offshore that was ocasionally filtering in at the start area and a westerly breeze ahsore.
The westerly breeze had puffs of up to 14 knots and was stable for a fair amount of time at the weather mark. There was pressure trying to make it up the course but the convergence of the two breezes made it impossible to build a breeze strong enough up the 20-mile course to set a proper course. In addition, despite the immense size of the race area it would have probably been impossible to set a fair course. At 10am conditions were marginally close to allow a race but they never materialized. There was a nice southweserly breeze in the southern part of the race area but it never made it to the race committee boat.
Alinghi 5 and USA drifting around, waiting for the breeze. Valencia, 8 February 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Since no racing was held on Monday, the 1st race of the 33rd America's Cup is now scheduled for Wednesday. Unfortunately, the forecast for that day isn't very encouraging either. A low pressure area is developing over central Spain, to the northwest of Valencia and will move off the coast on Monday night. Behind that area, a very strong westerly flow will come on Monday night and last through Tuesday and probably early Wednesday. Valencia will not be much affected but Bedford expects more waves as a big swell will be coming from the norheast. So, on Wednesday we will be in a waning westerly that might turn into a seabreeze in the afternoon, according to Bedford.
The nature of this America's Cup, a Deed-of-Gift race, makes it much more difficult to set a fair course. According to Bedford, it is a big task to have a consistent wind direction over 20 miles, not only in Valencia, but in many places throughout the world, especially when we are so close to the coast. There is fairly high terrain to the south-southwest of Valencia and a valley that create two different breezes. If we were to have a 5-mile race today, there could have been different areas to hold a fair race but with 20 miles it becomes fairly complicated.
At least, for once, there was one thing the two teams agreed upon. It was Harold Bennett's, Principal Race Officer, decision to call off racing at 1:45pm, almost 3 hours before the limit time, since it was apparent there wasn't going to be any improvement in conditions.
Jack Katzfey, Alinghi meteorologist, comments on Monday frustrating conditions. Valencia, 8 February 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing more »
33rd America's Cup Update #1 from Paul Cayard
Posted 1 month, 3 days ago by ISTiOSELIDA
source: cayard sailing
I have just arrived in Valencia where I will be part of the television coverage team from EuroSport for the upcoming America's Cup.
It seems that the 33rd America's Cup is actually going to take place. After years of legal wrangling, the two giant multihulls are scheduled to face off at 10:00 Monday morning on the waters to the east of Valencia. As the course for race one is a 20 nautical mile beat to windward and return, a westerly breeze will put the starting line some 20+ miles offshore.
May be close to come from Ibiza to watch. Strong westerly winds are not uncommon in Valencia in the winter.
The Sailing instructions state that a maximum wind speed of 15 knots measured at 60 meters shall not be exceeded at start time. Not sure who is measuring at 60 meters other than the two competitors.
Could it be that this is the one issue they will collaborate on? Surely not.
I am here a few days early to try to get a better technical understanding of this match up so I can report to you and on EuroSport from a more educated position. I have been...
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Update #1 from Valencia
Posted 1 month, 4 days ago by Sail Karma
By Paul Cayard
Thursday, February 04, 2010
I have just arrived in Valencia where I will be part of the television coverage team from EuroSport for the upcoming America's Cup.
It seems that the 33rd America's Cup is actually going to take place. After years of legal wrangling, the two giant multihulls are scheduled to face off at 10:00 Monday morning on the waters to the east of Valencia. As the course for race one is a 20 nautical mile beat to windward and return, a westerly breeze will put the starting line some 20+ miles offshore. May be close to come from Ibiza to watch.
Strong westerly winds are not uncommon in Valencia in the winter. The Sailing instructions state that a maximum wind speed of 15 knots measured at 60 meters shall not be exceeded at start time. Not sure who is measuring at 60 meters other than the two competitors. Could it be that this is the one issue they will collaborate on? Surely not.
I am here a few days early to try to get a better technical understanding of this match up so I can report to you and on EuroSport from a more educated position. I have been rereading all the legal haggling from the last two years on the airplane. It is amazing what these two teams have been through. The biggest cloud hanging over the race with be the contention by BMW Oracle that Alinghi's sails are not built in Switzerland and therefore don't comply with the "constructed in county" clause of the Deed of Gift. The sails are North 3 DL and they are laminated in Minden Nevada. Some amount of work is done on them in Switzerland after the lamination process. The court has now set a hearing date for this case of February 25, 2010. Only a USA victory on the racecourse would eliminate that issue.
Some sites to visit:
www.americascup.com
www.alinghi.com
www.ggyc.com
www.valenciasailing.com
www.sailkarma.com
Also check out the U-Tube videos of the BMW Oracle Triamaran sailing on January 28, 2010. I am sure there are some Alinghi videos as well. Pretty impressive!http://www.sailkarma.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss more »
What is this?
Posted 2 months, 1 day ago by Valencia Sailing
Greetings from cold and windy Valencia. Yesterday's snowfall already seems to be a distant memory and the venue of the 33rd America's Cup woke under blue and clear skies and a great sunshine. Nevertheless, conditions are far from benign. A very strong westerly breeze is whipping the city, something that will, undoubtedly, make the life of Alinghi's BMW Oracle's shore crews difficult today. We will have photos as well as a very interesting interview shortly. In the meantime, can you guess what these people are carrying in the photo?
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ROLEX SYDNEY - HOBART RACE: ALFA ROMEO TAKES ROUND ONE
Posted 2 months, 14 days ago by ISTiOSELIDA
Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo took round one of the battle of the maxis at the head of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with smart downwind tactics in Sydney Harbour.
After a two nautical-mile spinnaker run from the start off Shark Island, before a 10-knot south-southwesterly breeze, Alfa Romeo rounded the first clearing mark at Sydney Heads 30 seconds ahead of her near-sister Reichel/Pugh 100 design Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley), with another 20 seconds to the British Farr 100-footer ICAP Leopard (Mike Slade).
These three strongly-sailed, professionally-managed maxis are favoured to lead the fleet into Hobart, 628n miles from the start.
Manoeuvring these giants for a downwind start among the smaller boats in the 100-boat fleet was challenging. With a minute to go, Alfa Romeo was caught ahead of the line and had to re-round to start on the gun.
Wild Oats XI, with speed and a smart spinnaker set, showed out as the early leader from a clear start near the middle of the long starting line spanning nearly the width of the harbour, followed closely by ICAP Leopard.
Alfa Romeo, starting nearer to...
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ALFA ROMEO TAKES ROUND ONE
Posted 2 months, 15 days ago by Regatta News
Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo took round one of the battle of the maxis at the head of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with smart downwind tactics in Sydney Harbour.
After a two nautical-mile spinnaker run from the start off Shark Island, before a 10-knot south-southwesterly breeze, Alfa Romeo rounded the first clearing mark at... more »
Sydney-Hobart 09 - Start
Posted 2 months, 15 days ago by Sailtube
Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo took round one of the battle of the maxis at the head of the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with smart downwind tactics in Sydney Harbour. After a two nautical-mile spinnaker run from the start off Shark Island, before a 10-knot south-southwesterly breeze, Alfa Romeo rounded the first clearing mark at Sydney Heads 30 seconds ahead of her near-sister Reichel/Pugh 100 design Wild Oats XI (Bob Oatley), with another 20 seconds to the British Farr 10 more »
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship Images from Crosbie Lorimer
Posted 3 months, 12 days ago by Sail World UK
Northwesterly breezes, ranging from 5-15 knots and carrying a dusty haze flicked right and left on Day 2 of the SSORC. more »
Sydney Short Ocean Champs: Stephen Ainsworth's Reichel Pugh 63 Loki takes 5th win
Posted 3 months, 12 days ago by BYM Sailing News
Crews contesting the 32nd Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship were faced with San Francisco-like sea fog for day one, yesterday, and today a dust haze more typical of Abu Dhabi settled over Sydney’s rocky coastline. The hot nor’westerly breeze ... more »
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship Images from Crosbie Lorimer
Posted 3 months, 12 days ago by Sail World Australia
Northwesterly breezes, ranging from 5-15 knots and carrying a dusty haze flicked right and left on Day 2 of the SSORC. more »
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship: Fresh nor4wester set to settle the best
Posted 3 months, 14 days ago by BYM Sailing News
Saturday’s forecast 15-25 knot nor’westerly breeze and high temps will well and truly iron out any wrinkles when the two fleets contesting this weekend’s Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club for the 32nd time, ... more »
SSORC: Fresh nor’wester will sort out the fleet
Posted 3 months, 14 days ago by Yachte.com.au
Saturday’s forecast 15-25 knot nor’westerly breeze and high temps will well and truly iron out any wrinkles when the two fleets contesting this weekend’s Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club for the 32nd time, take up position in Sydney Harbour. more »
Illusion sailors get fired up for Guy Fawkes Trophy
Posted 4 months, 1 day ago by Cowes Online
Bembridge SC on the Isle of Wight saw an excellent turnout last Saturday in sunny conditions and a pleasant southwesterly breeze; but rather fewer on Sunday in the stronger and damper northeasterly, writes Mike Samuelson. more »
Asian Match Racing Championship Day 1 - Robertson and Yamada lead unbeaten
Posted 4 months, 1 day ago by Valencia Sailing
[Source: Monsoon Cup] The 2009 Asian Match Racing Championship in Terengganu, Malaysia is underway. New Zealand's Phil Robertson and Japan's Kan Yamada sailed into the lead on day one after flawless performances on the race course.
The inital breeze was a soft south westerly breeze, but the sea breeze kicked in and built gradually to a steady six-eight knots from the north-north east, as the last flights of the day were being sailed.
Local knowledge appears to have helped the Terengganu Team, Taring Pelangi - (TESA). Skippered by Hazwan Hazim, they were amongst the earliest to recognise that, as the Terengganu current flows met south of Pulau Duyong Island, the right hand side of the course was favoured.
Should Terengganu's TESA team take this event, there could be two Malaysian teams in the 2009 Monsoon Cup, because not only does the winner of the Asian Match Racing Championship gain entry to the Monsoon Cup, the final round of the 2009 World Match Racing Series, but so too does the winner of the Malaysian Match Racing Championships to be sailed in two weeks.
Phil Robertson crosses ahead of Michael Dunstan in the big match of day 1 at the Asian Match Racing Championships 2009. Kuala Terengganu, 10 November 2009. Photo copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images
An important early flight was between Phil Robertson and his WAKA Racing Team and Australia's SLAM Racing Team, skippered by Michael Dunstan.
In the starting box it seemed that Dunstan, the three times Australian Match Racing Champion had the better of Robertson as he pushed him over the start line early, but as Dunstan commented dockside 'I made a real timing error and the current swept us over too. So Phil was off the hook and we had to follow him off the line. We closed within a boat length at the finish. No stress though, our aim is to get into the semis and try to apply some pressure there.'
John Taylor, the Perth based PRO observed 'The current is certainly very significant on this race course. The early breeze was from the south west and we held the crews back, taking an early lunch and then the wind settled from 020, it swung a little to the right and then back again, but with three top marks preset, we were able to get in good, fair racing. It's a tricky course but as always, the top sailors were doing well.'
Kan Yamada on day 1 of the Asian Match Racing Championships 2009. Kuala Terengganu, 10 November 2009. Photo copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images
Robertson, the 22 year old Auckland skipper was impressive today, taking four wins. After racing he commented 'We are in good form. We have had a good European season with some solid wins (against Gilmour, Williams, Col and others) and our ranking is now 25th in the World. We are pleased with today's result. Yamada is sailing well and Dunstan will be better next time we sail against him, so there is a long way to go.'
Kan Yamada's Team J.F.P is clearly battle hardened; they won the Japan Match Racing Champiosnhip to qualify for this event and are keen to do well. Yamada was crew here last year and is keen to step up a notch.
Overall results after the first six flights:
Team New Zealand WAKA Racing Phil Robertson 4-0
Team J.F.P - (JYMA) Kam Yamada 4-0
Taring Pelangi - (TESA) Hazwan Hazim b. Dermawan 2-1
SLAM Match Race Team - (Royal Sydney Yacht Club) Michael Dunstan 2-1
Team Hong Kong - (Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club) Martin Kaye 1-2
Team 'EM' - (Royal Varuna Yacht Club) Morten Jakobsen 0-3
MAF 1 Mohammad Razali Mansor 0-3 more »
Dubai Int'l Marine Club Match Racing: Eight Traditional 22 ft Dhow qualify in Mina Seyahi
Posted 4 months, 3 days ago by BYM Sailing News
Eight boats qualified convincingly today from two separate races, in a light westerly breeze to go through to the first round of the Dubai International Marine Club Match Racing Series in the Traditional 22 ft Dhow Sailing Class. Shamardel, ... more »
Groupama 3 sets off to break record
Posted 4 months, 5 days ago by Yachte.com.au
Groupama 3 set off from off the Créac’h lighthouse (Ushant Finistère) at 15h 50’ 22’’ in a good north-westerly breeze and big seas. Franck Cammas and his nine crew mates will have to be back from their circumnavigation of the globe spanning over 24,000 miles, prior to the morning of 26th December. more »
Groupama 3 sets off to break record
Posted 4 months, 5 days ago by Yachte.com.au
Groupama 3 set off from off the Créac’h lighthouse (Ushant Finistère) at 15h 50’ 22’’ in a good north-westerly breeze and big seas. Franck Cammas and his nine crew mates will have to be back from their circumnavigation of the globe spanning over 24,000 miles, prior to the morning of 26th December. more »
British Airways round Jersey Race: Allen Brown & partners Melges 24 The Dogs ... takes line honours
Posted 4 months, 26 days ago by BYM Sailing News
The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s annual round Jersey race, held last Saturday, enjoyed near perfect conditions throughout. A steady force 3 to 4 north-westerly breeze? coupled with bright autumnal sunshine, albeit with the threat of the odd shower, ... more »
