MacIntosh Newport Bermuda Route Planning

Luca and I had the polars for MacIntosh in Predictwind, and were able to generate a route based on real time GRIB files for wind and ocean currents.  The route had us slightly west of the rumline until we got near the start of the gulf stream, the ride the gulf stream coming out east of the rumline.  The prediction is that we would be finished around noon on Tuesday.

At the Captains Meeting on Thursday night, there was an excellent presentation on the gulf stream and how its currents would affect racers.

The above chart shows ocean currents.
You can see where the gulf stream starts, and how it meanders south near the rumline.

We plotted out four waypoints in the chart plotter:

• NB1 represents the start of the gulf stream at the rumline
• NB2 represents the end of the gulf stream at the rumline
• NB3 represents the middle of the two cold "rings"
• NB4 represent the favoured side of the hot "ring"

The plan was in place: 

1. sail slightly west of the rumline, coming down to the rumline at NB1.
2. bear away and ride the meander in the gulf stream a long as we could existing at NB2
3. bear away and head slight east of rumline
4. beam reach to the finish

This would keep us in favourable currents, like a 2-3 knots push.

Winds were forecasted for 12-16 knots for the first two days from the SW.

Winds would lighted for a while before filling in to 10-12 from the N or NE.