Forecasters say go for record!
18/10/2009

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The weather gurus have spoken, and Friday’s HSBC Premier Coastal Classic race from Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands has a very good chance of being one for the record books.

The forecast from Predictwind.com could go one of two ways, both of them good.

The first option, in traditional HSBC Premier Coastal Classic style, favours a light to moderate South Westerly of 10 knots at the start, building as the boats move northward, pushing the boats faster and faster as they speed up the coast on the 119nm racetrack. By the time the bulk of the fleet turn off at Cape Brett for the final drag into the Bay of Islands, the breeze will move South-East and build, providing an idyllic night time run into the finish.

The second option is even better. South Easterly conditions are optimal for a record setting race, and South Easterly conditions are what this forecast model suggests, with the fleet beginning in 10 knots of breeze, sailing through the afternoon in the early teens, with perhaps a touch more East in it. By the time the majority of the fleet get to Cape Brett, a 20-knot South Easter will be on offer.

“The HSBC Premier Coastal Classic is shaping up to be a great race,” says David Griffiths, CEO HSBC New Zealand. “We are excited to see the presence of a major international racer as well as some of the country’s most successful sailors and yachts lining up this year. This is a prestigious event, and one that we are very pleased to be involved with.”

“The breeze is light enough for the light multihulls such as Frantic Drift and Taeping to have a very good race against the supermaxi Alfa Romeo,” says race spokesperson Jon Vincent. “All can achieve averages above that required to set a record. What this means is it will be a very closely contested and watched race.”

Details of Predictwind.com’s forecast, issued Monday afternoon 19 October:

Fri 23rd Oct

1000hrs Devonport
GFS 8Knts SW
CMC 10Knts SE

1500hrs Little Barrier Island
GFS 13Knts SW
CMC 12Knts SE

2100hrs Poor Knights Islands
GFS 11Knts SW
CMC 16Knts E

2300hrs Cape Brett
GFS 15Knts SW
CMC 20Knts SE

Sat 24th Oct

0000hrs Russell
GFS 19Knts SE
CMC 14Knts S