Volvo Ocean Race: Around the Horn by Lunchtime

6:38 AM Tue 17 Mar 2009 GMT

'Expected conditions at the rounding of Cape Horn by Ericsson at Noon GMT on 17 March 2009 - Volvo Ocean Race' Predictwind.com/iexpedition.org Click Here to view large photo

According to the latest projections and wind data, we are expecting to see the first of the Volvo Ocean Race yachts round Cape Horn at Noon GMT/UTC 17 March or 0100hrs on 18 March NZT.

The two leading yachts Ericsson 3 and 4 are expected to round in lighter winds of 15 - 20kts, while the two yachts astern Puma Racing and Green Dragon are experiencing very strong winds.

Positions as of 0600hrs GMT o9 1900hrs NZT with the yachts approaching Cape Horn in the Volvo Ocean Race - Predictwind.com-iexpedition.org Click Here to view large photo

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How to read these images

The boats have four digit codes as follows: ERT3 - Ericsson 3; ERT4 - Ericsson 4; GDRA - Green Dragon; ILMO - PUMA Racing; TELA - Telefonica Blue;

The wind is shown in barbed arrow format. The longer line is the wind direction, if it has one longer barb at right angles to the tail, then the wind strength is 10 kts, if there is a half size barb, further up the shaft then the strength is 15kts, two full size barbs indicate 20kts and so on.

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The images used in this story have been generated by Expeditionwhich is a tactical and navigation software application which has been developed by veteran Volvo Ocean Race navigator and Whitbread winner, physicist Nick White, initially for his use in the 2001-2 Volvo Ocean Race with Team News Corp and the Stars & Stripes Americas Cup team.

Since then, Expeditionhas been continually refined by a core group of world-renowned navigators and two-time America's Cup winning navigator Peter Isler has consulted closely in the development of the system. Expedition supports more instrument systems, is easier to use and has the most powerful and useful functions for the racing navigator.

Expedition is now has PredictWind integrated into the application as an option for PredictWind subscribers.

The wind data and prognosis used to produce these images also uses software developed by PredictWind, an application developed by Jon Bilger a top NZ youth and Olympic sailor who turned his hand to wind and weather prediction, and helped Alinghi to their outstanding victories in the last two America's Cups.

Now that same technology is available to the weekend sailing and club racers, the cruising fraternity or professional sailors around the world. Select any region in the world of interest to you and PredictWindwill monitor the area for you and provide updated predictions on demand.

PredictWind is a subscription system, with a number of options. While some may feel the wind is free, the ability to get a five day detailed wind forecast for an area of interest creates great peace of mind, allowing forward planning and decision making to be made with some certainty. The time and money saved through being able to work with a high degree of confidence, is more than offset by the relatively small cost of the subscription.

But don't take our word for it, get PredictWindnow and have a 30 day trial for free, and see for yourself.

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com