Valencia sailing conditions: April 2007

1. Valencia sailing conditions: April 2007

2. The facts • The big question Is Valencia a bad venue, or is April 2007 just an extremely bad month? • This is the data we use for wind analysis • Most accurate data available • MDS weather buoys 2005-2007 • Puertos weather station 2000-2004 • Puertos station calibrated to buoys • Data used from 15:00-17:00 • Wind limits 7-23 knots

3. 1.1) STATIONS LOCATION : PORT Puertos station

4. Valencia: percentage of sailing days

5. Auckland: percentage of sailing days • Analysis conducted by CSIRO • Criteria: • 12:00-15:00 • 7 – 23 knots • AXYS Buoy Jan. 2001 – Mar. 2003 • 35 – 50% sailing days in summer months in Auckland • Endeco Buoy Jan. 1997 – Mar. 2000 • 35 – 55% sailing days in summer months in Auckland

6. Valencia:consecutive non-sailing days

7. Race Race April 2007 Almost 11 consecutive days ! LVC Start

8. Summary • April 2007 was an extremely bad month with almost half the number of sailing days than usual • Analysis has been done with the best available data and would stand up to independent scrutiny • Suitability of Valencia as a sailing venue should not be judged on one extremely rare meteorological event

9. What makes wind in Valencia? • Gradient Vs Sea breeze • Need favorable gradient wind for sea breeze • Southerly gradient gives the strongest sea breeze • North-easterly gradient gives weakest sea breeze • Thermal effect, especially over the mountains • Warm over land, cool over sea

10. Atmospheric ‘block’ • Occurs mainly over Europe in the winter and spring • Stable pattern – hard to break • Position can change • It makes a significant difference to the weather • Very hard to predict when the ‘blocks’ form and when they will disappear!

11. 2007 2006 Surface pressure different from normal L L H L

12. Temperatures different from normal (15-21 April)

13. Valencia/Manises, Spain

14. Any Questions?