This year The Course History
|
T H E R A C E
This year The Course History |
|
The Routes The simplest route from the start in Plymouth to the finish in Newport is what is called in nautical terms the Rhumb line course. It lies between 40 degrees and 50 degrees north and on paper appears the shortest course, at just over 2900 miles. In fact the Great Circle route is shorter but requires continual alterations of course. That's fine for a powered vessel, but vagaries of wind and ocean current for sailing craft can make other routes more favourable. Since 1960, every Single handed Trans Atlantic Race has been won by a yacht sailing a course somewhere between the Great Circle Route and the Rhumb Line. Some boats have followed a more southerly, and more placid Azores route and there have been some quick passages due to more kindly winds encountered in that region. But changes in our climate mean that this route can no longer be guaranteed to provide favourable conditions. |
|
||
|
The most hazardous course to follow is the Northern Route. Although this is less liable to calms, it is most likely to be the area where strong winds and heavy whether are encountered - and icebergs and fog are more extensive. The Northern Route: Yachts may benefit from favourable winds by sailing north of the track of depressions in this area. Speed is aided by the Labrador Current that flows south between Greenland and North America. Distance 3130 Nautical Miles. Great Circle Route: A great Circle course is the classic navigator's track, following the shortest distance on the sphere between two points. This route also takes the sailor through hazards such as fog and icebergs. Distance 2810 Nautical Miles. Rhumb Line Route: A straight line on a Mercator chart which does not allow for the Earth's curvature but does not require continued alterations of course as on a Great Circle. Although a longer route may have slightly less severe weather than the Great Circle. Distance 2920 Nautical Miles. Azores Route: A more southerly option that can find calmer, more constant reaching winds but is a longer option. Distance 3530 Nautical Miles. Trade wind route: The ancient way to the new World, followed by Columbus and the early navigators who used the prevailing winds. Distance 4,200. What will the weather be like? The best answer to that question is that it will be variable. The only constant is that it will be cold. June is still iceberg season off the North-eastern United States and it is more likely to snow than to be sunny. In past races, competitors have encountered anything from howling gales to dead calms. As always, it is best to be prepared for all contingencies. Charles will have the full range of meteorological instruments as advance warning of weather conditions is essential to his safety and to his speed. His on board weather fax will give him a forecast of five days with reasonable accuracy. |
|||
