Round the Island Race Forecast 26/6/12 (9am update)

[weatherman]

Good morning,

Forecast charts for Saturday remain consistent this morning. A rather unstable southwesterly flow covers the IOW area. The trough to the east of the Island may produce some showers overnight, but I suspect these will have gone by the start of the race. It is a feature worth watching though as if it backs-up it may well bring some gusts on it's leading head for the early starters.

Generally though a fair day is likely with plenty of sunshine, dry conditions and good visibility.

Winds are forecast to be SW top-end F4 to low-end F5 as early starters nose out into The Solent. The tendency is for the speeds to decrease, although the first around the west of the island will probably be into a top-end F4/low-end F5. To the south expect top end F4, although the compression close to shore probably increasing to a F5. Then as the first crews round the east speedws will be dropping close to a F4 again. For those more 'leisurely' competitors speeds probably drop into the F4 category for much of the race and could even get close to a F3 in the eastern Solent later.

I'll update the video later via the website http://www.weatherweb.net/wxwebroundisl ... 51&vislon=

Hope that's of use?

Simon

[ubergeekian]

Winds are forecast to be SW top-end F4 to low-end F5 as early starters nose out into The Solent. The tendency is for the speeds to decrease, although the first around the west of the island will probably be into a top-end F4/low-end F5. To the south expect top end F4, although the compression close to shore probably increasing to a F5.

B-o-o-o-o-ring. It's only fun from a distance when you can read about numerous sinkings and dismastings, or entire fleets floating aimlessly in a flat calm. Perhaps the Hanne Knudsen can liven things up again.