North Sails Regatta Weather Outlook

Meteorologist Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham at his desk in Team NZ’s Viaduct base © Emirates Team New Zealand

North Sails have again kindly enlisted Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham – one of the most respected meteorologists in yachting – to provide us with a daily weather forecast for the 20th annual BOISW regatta.

‘Clouds’ has been involved with yacht racing for five decades and has forecast 10 America’s Cups, nine Olympics Games, more than 40 Sydney to Hobart races and countless world championships and major sailing events. There’s a great interview with Clouds on the Broad Reach Radio podcast which you can listen to here.

North Sails Weather Forecasts will be issued daily before racing begins – view them on the website and BOISW app.

TUE 23. 8.30am

SITUATION

Cold front approaching from the west – timed to cross the Northland this afternoon – to cross BOI area later this afternoon. High pressure will follow and will be located to the west of NZ over the Tasman Sea tomorrow and Thursday with easing S flow across Northland. The high pressure will weaken Friday and will be pushed to north as the next front crosses the Tasman and comes onto the South Island. The S flow eases Friday, then a shift to a pre-frontal NW wind direction on Saturday, then a bit more left to W on Sunday as the front comes close.

TODAY

NW pre-frontal flow this morning, then more cloud in the afternoon – a few showers from early to later afternoon when the wind may ease and start shifting left to W. As well as a shower, a thundery shower with locally heavier fall is possible mid afternoon. No major left shift to SSW-S until well into the night?

Max wind early afternoon when NW – wind speed of 15-20 kts with gusts to mid 20’s. Always more breeze offshore; will be strongest in across the Bay early afternoon

FORECAST

0800. obs. W-NW/5 in close and NW/10-13 out wide

1000. 310-330/13-16 gusts to 20

1200. 320-340/16-19 gusts to 25

1400. 320-340/15-18 gusts to 25 showers, possibly thundery

1600. 250-270/10-14

1800. 230-250/9-12

AHEAD

WED 24. S/8-12 increasing S/12-16 early-mid afternoon

THU 25. SW then S/12-15 shift left to SE/10-13 afternoon

FRI 26. SW then SSW/6-9 shift to E-NE/10-13 afternoon

SAT 27. W-SW/5-8 then NW-N-NE/12-17 afternoon

SUN 28. W/4-8 then W-NW/9-12