Knowing what the weather is going to do can be a huge advantage on the race course, and leads into the next part of your pre-race preparation — forming an appropriate strategy.
In the final part of her sea breeze series, weather girl Fiona Campbell looks at some of the more unusual types of thermal effect that you might encounter on the race circuit...
In the summer, thermally driven breezes play a significant part in coastal weather. In this series of articles on sea breezes, meteorology expert Fiona Campbell looks at the essential facts that every sailor needs to know about sea breezes, why and when they happen, and how they can affect your strategy on the race course.
In the second part of our Winning the Fastnet series, top navigator and meteorological consultant Mike Broughton walks and talks you through the 608-mile course of the Rolex Fastnet Race...
Mike Broughton first did the Fastnet Race as a 17-year-old. It was 1979, the year that severe storms battered the fleet and 15 lives were lost. Like most of the fleet, Mike didn’t reach the Fastnet Rock that year, but he was undeterred and has competed in virtually every Fastnet since then. Mike offers some advice not just on navigation but on the many different areas of preparation that a team should undertake before embarking on the Rolex Fastnet Race. Most of his advice applies to competing safely and successfully in any offshore race.