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Learn about the mechanics of global weather, the foundations of ocean meteorology, predictive modelling, and how sailors receive data via satellite and use high-performance navigation software in this course.
This course examines oceanic meteorology and climatology through the lens of sailing.
You will gain a basic understanding of meteorology, which is required for sailors to participate in regattas such as the Barcelona World Race, the only double-handed, round-the-world regatta with no stops.
You will learn about the strategies used in a round-the-world regatta and how they are implemented on the latest ocean racing yachts.
Syllabus :
1. Understanding maritime meteorology
- Understanding meteorology - Introduction
- Perception to data
- Towards numerical models
- The evolution of meteorological information in ocean regattas
- The four local weather engines
- The first engine: Orography
- Case Study
- The second engine: Convection
- The third engine: Convergence and Divergence
- The fourth engine: Fronts
- General atmospheric circulation
- Sailor experiences
- The mechanics of global weather
2. Meteorological predictions
- Meteorological predictions – Introduction
- What are prediction models and how are they made?
- Reliability and accuracy of models. Predictability
- Advection
- Troughs
- Ridges
- Flat low
- Low pressure systems
- Types of information available
- The GRIB format
3. The sailor as meteorologist
- The sailor as meteorologist - Introduction
- The meteorological routing
- Polar curves
- Route calculation
- Medium and long term
- Short term
- The workstation
- Onboard weather routing
- The mast
- Onboard electronics
- Satellite communications
- The autopilot
- The central computer
- The main issues with onboard electronics
4. Ocean regattas and meteorology
- Introduction
- The planning of a round the world regatta and climatology
- Meteorology and the organisation of a round the world regatta
- The meteorologist in a round the world regatta
- The Race Directors and weather information
- Onboard information during the Barcelona World Race
- Meteorology and safety
5. Climatology and meteorology in the Barcelona World Race: From the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean
- Introduction
- The Mediterranean: Meteorological aspects of interest
- Barcelona to the Gibraltar Strait
- From the Gibraltar Strait to Barcelona
- The Atlantic: From North to South. General strategy
- The North Atlantic: from Gibraltar to the Equator
- The South Atlantic: From the Equator to the Indian Ocean
6. Climatology and meteorology in the Barcelona World Race: From the Indian Ocean to Gibraltar
- General approach to the Southern Ocean - Introduction
- The Southern Indian Ocean
- The Southern Pacific Ocean
- The Atlantic: From South to North. General approach
- The South Atlantic: From Cape Horn to the Equator
- The North Atlantic: From the Equator to the Gibraltar Strait
