ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)
The Modern Navigator.
OK. Stu Addison has sent us a snapshot in setting up as a tactical navigator. "Alas the days when the crew would joke of the naviguesser being stuck below with their 'pipe and slippers' are long gone. Paper charts are kept as a historical log, rather than as a real-time tool of the trade. These days, every smartphone can have a highly accurate chartplotter. If you're really serious, you can put a Nav system on the boat that will cost a fraction of a new sail and depending on the monkey driving it, yield much better results", said Stu.
"The advent of the information age means there is a myriad of free information to process while on the racetrack. Now a few years ago that may have left the navigator down below making decisions, surfing a number of weather sites and combining intellect and instinct to position the boat for best advantage, well, that too as changed."
Neville Rose in the windward pushpit and the sun with his tablet....
"Using a $400 laptop, a pocket WiFi unit and tablet device (between $400-800, plus a $10 waterproof cover of course!), you can be setup on deck, with all the data you can eat. Add a software package like Expedition and you've got a setup almost identical to a TP52, VO70, or any top line professional team. I'll give you a quick intro to a few features of the software and how I like to use it..."
"The Navigator's role is no longer to get from A to B without hitting anything - its analytical and tactical. My focus on board, is positioning for an expected shift, analysing realtime performance, briefing the crew on the next turn/change, expected wind speed, angle and sail selection. To use this I have a series of tools:
- Forecast: Fistly, I like to understand the synoptic situation, then look at the local wind forecast (usually put together by an experienced weathergeek with access to much better data than me). If my interpretation of the synoptic situation doesn't add up with the BoM, I dig deeper or even give them a buzz. Lastly, I look at the GRIB (wind files) and other models. If you don't understand what's driving the weather, then you can get into all sorts of bother when the GRIB you are following just isn't right. It could be the weather is early/late or that a system has moved North or South, which changes everything.
- Routing: Step 1 of using the software. It takes a series of GRIBs and lays them over the racetrack, adds in your boats polars (or from something similar) and gives you a suggestion of the fastest way to get from A to B. Something I start doing about five or six days out so I can get a feel for how the models are developing and changing. The number of times the routing three days out is more accurate than the file on the day is staggering! Having a backlog of them to access is essential. Below is an example of this morning's routing using a Farr 40 polar for Course #7."
"You'll notice the new course isn't really giving the tactians much of a chance to get off the rhumbline. I like the look of Course #1 for a number of reasons, it's a true beat and the GRIBs are in total disagreement on which is the right way to go.
"At this point I'd be playing with a few changes in the base GRIB file, looking at what effect a little more left or right would make to the routing or even what a touch more or less breeze will do. I'd also be looking at other souces of model ouput. The Euro model is excellent too."
"3. Eyes out of the boat: The great thing about a deckscreen is being on deck, watching the cloud formations, boats around you, smokestacks, birds, the water - everything. This is the key role of navigator/ tactician. Lets face it. You can only sail in the wind you've got!"
Stu (bare legs) and the Arch Rival gang checking out wind, the opposition, marks of the course, etc, during Race Four of the MWS...
"4. Onboard Analysis: This is Step 2 of the Software. Here you can give the crew moment to moment performance data (based around targets and VMG): 'Slow and High', or worse still, 'Slow and Low', downwind angles/speeds are even more vital in my opinion, as they do not come as naturally as upwind performance. Below is an example of how I set up my screen while sailing up breeze."
"5. Up the track: Looking at how changing breeze may change the next leg, it maybe a VMG run is becoming a tight reach etc. Being prepared well ahead of the game makes for happy hobbits, oops, foredeckies. Make sure an early strategy is worked out with the Tactician too so they can go ahead and execute while you keep the numbers flowing. Here is a simple example of expedition's 'course' function in use:"
"I hope the snapshot here is informative. If you've got any questions, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. me or you can get my number from the ORCV. These are some useful links on Expedition Software: A great article from VO70 Navigator, Will Oxley, on the role of the modern navigator. These are a few of the Apps that I like: Inavx (chartlotting software) and Melbwinds (and Syd Winds and Hobart Winds). Navionics is ok as a piece of software too... Cheers, Stu."
Want to part of that fun thing called the Geelong event on September 10? Go HERE. That's press the 'here' to get in the Geelong, Geelong, Geeelong, Geelong, Geelong, Geelong, Geelong event. Did we mention Geelong? Press HERE to go to GEELONG on September 10.
As each race finishes, the MWS results will be HERE.
Follow it all here and via the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 160 Souls already have and thank you to all of them.
We will - you?
© John Curnow, ORCV Media
Please contact me for re-issue rights.
|
Celebrating its 41st consecutive running -
the Winter Series was first run in 1972
and is still the same format today!
Be a part of the Bay's hottest racing at the coldest
time of year or just pop out at the end, for
the Bay's favourite bash - the event officially known
just as Melbourne to Geelong,
but you may have other names for it...
|
 |
|
|
In September, the Melbourne to Geelong event
finishes the Winter Series off and there will be
presentations at RGYC for it.
Of course, by the time Stanley comes around,
you just know Silly Season proper is upon you...
|
|
 |
Many thanks to Hobbos and particularly
Tony Dawson for getting our favourite shooters -
Teri and Alex - out on the water aboard Privateer.
Many thanks also to Jon Bilger and his PredictWind
team who provide us with great information for both
Race Management and Marketing Communications, alike.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
![ORCV-logo_G_[OCEANRACING]_PNG](/images/stories/ORCVLOGO/SCREEN/PNG-GradientFlag/ORCV-logo_G_%5BOCEANRACING%5D_PNG.png){kind=logo}
