Eddies may put Sydney-Hobart in a spin
FollowCompetitors in this year’s Rolex Sydney-Hobart race fleet may need to negotiate their way around three significant ocean eddies as they sail south this year, according to oceanographers.
CSIRO’s Dr David Griffin has generated a view of the course based on observations from Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS).
The first, south-east of Jervis Bay, is the weakest of the three and may dissipate or move farther offshore between now and Boxing Day. Nevertheless, he says yachts will want to remain inshore of the eddy, other factors such as wind strength being equal.
“The second eddy is more important and extends over 180 nautical miles from 36S to about 39S,” Dr Griffin said.
“I believe it could give yachts a significant advantage of one to four hours over those that do not find this river of southward flowing tropical water.
“Finally, an isolated warm-core eddy is off Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula (42S), potentially giving a small boost to yachts keeping a bit further east.”
The ocean eddy off Tasmania’s east coast will be relevant to entrants in the Launceston to Hobart race, starting on December 27.
Dr Griffin provides ocean current analysis products for IMOS on a daily basis for IMOS.