In Weather4D, as generally in other applications, sea state forecasts are described by ocean models. The most used is the model WW3 (Wave Watch III), published by FNMOC (Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center) of the US Navy, with a global model due to 7 days and resolution 1° (60NM), and a Europe model to 3 days and resolution 0.2° (12NM). Météo-France publish the models MFAUM (Wave Assimilated Model) coupled with the ARPEGE and AROME weather models with three resolutions : Global at 0.5° (30NM), Europe at 0.1° (6NM), France at 0.025° (1,5NM) with variable deadlines (¹). Read more …
MacENC is back
MacENCx64 is now the name of the MacENC application which has just been published by its new developer NavStation.
MacENC has been completely adapted and recompiled into 64 bits for recent MacOS systems and new processors, which explains the new name. I continue to ensure the French translation. But be careful : to date Navionics cartography is no longer available. So there is no charting yet for the coasts of Europe, except ENC S-57 and S-63 available from Chartworld (see the page Digital charting). Read more …
Routing : from reality to play (episode 3)
While, this morning of the 9th day, Hugo Boss at the top of the Vendée Globe 2020 finishes crossing the “Doldrums” at a slow trot (¹), followed by the fleet of competitors which spread out behind him to the north of the Cape Verde Islands, It is a completely different score that the leaders of the game are playing Virtual Regatta. Read more …
Routing : from game to reality (continue)
Friday 13 November will not be a lucky day for the Vendée Globe skippers 2020 (¹). They will have to negotiate the encounter with tropical storm "Theta" which crosses their course with average winds that can reach the 40 nodes and powerful bursts. Above all, the sea will be to be feared because, strongly crossed as they passed the centre of the low pressure system, Waves may exceed 6 meters and break in a chaotic way. Read more …
Routing : from game to reality
On the second day of racing of this Vendée Globe 2020, we can say that the weather conditions that the skippers will experience on the descent towards the Doldrums will be particularly tough. After a departure in a damned weather, A first weak cold front passed without incident, The Solitaires will cross a second, much more violent front during the night and morning from Tuesday to Wednesday, for the group that went to the West, and in the evening for the group passed between the DST (¹) and Gallicia.
But these upcoming conditions are very different for Virtual Regatta players and For sailors… Read more …
Navigation Mac embarks on the Vendée Globe 2020
Hey yes, everything happens ! In all my computer-nautical career I had never played any computer game whatsoever, not even the historical Windows card game that consumed thousands of hours of idle office time for businesses… but you should never say : Never !
So, therefore,, here I am registered for Virtual Regatta, one among the most 340.000 players registered at this time, ready to start the Vendée Globe tomorrow at 1:02 p.m.. Like any beginner, I watched a few videos to quickly understand this game, Who, on balance, seems relatively easy for a confirmed sailor. But, from there to play in the big league, there are still several oceans to cross ! Read more …
Weather4D embarks on the Vendée Globe 2020 [Break News]
No, it's not a joke ! Weather4D Embark with SailGrib in the Vendée Globe 2020 with Virtual Regatta. The two friends Henri and Olivier have together developed a routing module directly integrated into the game.
Philippe Guigné, the creator of the online game Virtual Regatta, explains in an interview with Voiles & Voiliers :
"… we want the virtual Vendée Globe to be aimed at the general public and it is therefore logical that we help neophytes by providing new tools. Thus, For this edition, we offer a routing assistance system, Directly integrated into the game, in partnership with SailGrib and Weather4D. These routings will first be simplified so that everyone can use them. In a second phase, We will set up more elaborate routings that will allow us to determine long-term strategies…”
A new evolution for the two leaders in navigation applications, Weather and routing on mobile devices, which should allow them to popularize their applications to a wide audience, and perhaps spark vocations among the large number of players who have never been on the water before.
Electronic maps and updates… be prudent !
Over the last few years, I have expressed myself several times on the quality and reliability levels of the electronic charts we use in yachting., more particularly with the navigation applications of our mobile devices (¹).
Since the oldest article in 2013, It appears seven years later that nothing has really changed. On the occasion of a search for a landing in Galicia, I discover that some publishers have still not updated changes that are almost five years old, like the port of A Coruña, which is so busy. I can always be told that the examples I will cite on the West Atlantic coast do not affect safety in any way., But it gives reason to wonder about the rest of the coastline. It should be remembered that SHOM took nearly a year to update on its raster charts the extension of the port of Minimes in La Rochelle, while the German cartographer NV Verlag had long since represented it perfectly on the NV Charts (²). Read more …
ECMWF weather data soon open to public [2rd part]
Source : The Parliament Mag par Umberto Modigliani, ECMWF Deputy Director of Forecasts, responsible, with the department director, continuous production of forecasts and relations with users.
Early October, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) will take a big step forward by making hundreds of its forecast maps available to everyone free of charge.
The changes are part of a broader European initiative to make public sector data free and open, encourage innovation and support a thriving data-driven digital economy.
Thus far, full access to these forecast maps was restricted to the national meteorological and hydrological services of the Member States and the ECMWF Cooperating States, to members of the World Meteorological Organization and commercial customers. Access was subject to a series of customized licenses and high royalties.
ECMWF weather data soon open to public [1st part]
Created in 1975 at the initiative of members of the European Union, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast is an independent intergovernmental organization whose headquarters, until this day, is located in Reading, England. ECMWF is funded by 22 Member States and 12 Associated states. It employs nearly 350 persons, and its supercomputer equipment is one of the largest in Europe. For the past fifteen years or so, ECMWF forecasts tend to be among the most accurate in the world, according to verification data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). ECMWF is currently headed by French meteorologist Florence Rabier, who worked at the local meteorological office of Météo-France.
But, since the advent of Brexit, The situation has changed. The United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, ECMWF must move to a European country, and this could lead to, For weather data users, consequences rather… Positive ! Read more …