RTI this Saturday

Interestingly the UKV model, which is the met office's, is now diverging quite a lot from the others. In that it initially gives a Southerly of about 13/14 knots at start time. Only veering SW and increasing to 18/20 about midday.
The other, more general, models, leave the wind in the SW all day, and start up at about 20 knots, increasing to 23/24 by midday. (Both cases that's average, not gusts, gusts about 10 knots on top)
 
This should bring a moderate, becoming quite strong and blustery SW/WSW with squally showers, likely on and off through the morning and early afternoon.

Wind: SW 13-18, gusting 22 kts, increasing SW 20-25 gusting 30 kts with squally showers, veering WSW 20-25 gusting 30 kts through the afternoon, then easing W/WSW 13-18 gusting 20 kts by early evening.

Temperature: 15-17⁰C on land, 14-16⁰C at sea, sea surface 14-15⁰C.

Sea conditions: 0.5-0.8m in the E Solent, 1.8-2.2m in the W Solent, 2-2.5m outside, 5-7s period.

From the race website.
 
Well at least it won’t be a tidal drifting race?

I’ve only done two, each time in sub Anderson22 VMG kind of boats.

And I did think towards the finish that by now we could have been anticipating a nice Pernod and frites if we’d sailed south! 🍵
 
And I did think towards the finish that by now we could have been anticipating a nice Pernod and frites if we’d sailed south! 🍵

Yeah. I've only done it 5 times, but the first time (and every time since) I was struck by the insanity of a 60 odd mile sail to end up in Cowes.

Mind you, being finished by the Royal Yacht Britannia used to be nice.
 
Yeah. I've only done it 5 times, but the first time (and every time since) I was struck by the insanity of a 60 odd mile sail to end up in Cowes.

Mind you, being finished by the Royal Yacht Britannia used to be nice.
I can get on board with that... It's the RORC races that start at Cowes, last 24-36 hours and end in Cowes....
 
This should bring a moderate, becoming quite strong and blustery SW/WSW with squally showers, likely on and off through the morning and early afternoon.

Wind: SW 13-18, gusting 22 kts, increasing SW 20-25 gusting 30 kts with squally showers, veering WSW 20-25 gusting 30 kts through the afternoon, then easing W/WSW 13-18 gusting 20 kts by early evening.

Temperature: 15-17⁰C on land, 14-16⁰C at sea, sea surface 14-15⁰C.

Sea conditions: 0.5-0.8m in the E Solent, 1.8-2.2m in the W Solent, 2-2.5m outside, 5-7s period.

From the race website.
My forecast models are completely united in predicting a chunk more than that.
 
Another update by the Met Office. This midday Sat synoptic now shows the front as defined cold (no longer occluded) front but all the "x" on it over Biscay means it's weak.

It's position is further west at midday, over Lyme Bay with the centre of the low further north.

Brisk SW veering W later in the afternoon when the front goes through after 2/3pm.

If it stays like this, or improves further from earlier forecasts, should be an exciting day.

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