Are you entering the 2021 Vineyard Race?
The complex strong tidal currents at the eastern end of Long Island Sound can be challenging for even the most experienced race navigators.
Key questions need to be considered. Will you depart Long Island Sound via The Race, Plum Gut, or The Sluiceway? What are your tactics for the return back into Long Island Sound on the way home? How you negotiate these complex and strong tidal currents could be the difference between a good race and a Great Race.
Fortunately, Tidetech has accurate high-resolution tidal current forecast models for the entire course available in GRIB format. This allows you to make the best navigation decisions giving you more time to simply sail fast and gain an advantage over your closest competitors.
A Navigator's Racetrack
The complexity of the currents in the Vineyard Race makes the Navigators decisions critical.
Will you be the navigator who leads with carefully considered informed decisions based on the best tidal current data, or are you going to let the bowman tell you where to sail!
Key locations
Regular competitors will already know how vitally important the following locations are to the result:
- The Race (passage between Little Gull Island and Fishers Island)
- Plum Gut (passage between Orient Point and Plum Island)
- Block Island
Watch this video to see how the currents flow as the tide changes:
Model Facts
- Resolution - 110m
- Time steps - 30min
- GRIB files available
- Tested in Expedition and Adrena, Time Zero etc.
Accuracy
We have compared the model to NOAA observations for Height at a selection of Ports, and currents where NOAA current meters are located.
Tidal Heights
Tidal Currents
The 'observations' come from the NOAA Ports website (https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/).
How to get GRIBS
-
- Purchase an advanced subscription
- Download GRIBs from our website or via Expedition software
- If you have more questions about our Tidal Current models or Tidetech generally please contact us at enquiries@tidetech.org
