Dylan Collingbourne
21 Nov 2025
"Top end racing! Keeping to the basics and an upright boat will be key if racing goes ahead when windows open."
Key Weather Details
Wind:
SAT - 25 knots gusting 32 from SSW
SUN - 18 knots gusting 30 from SW
Water State: It will towards the top end for the majority of the fleet with the wind strength and this will cause a choppy sea state towards the leeward end of the course. Once a fetch builds, so will the water state and this will largely begin just outside of the marina wall.
Temperatures become milder from the previous week hitting highs of 11 degrees in the afternoon and lows of 8 degrees in the mornings and evenings. Rain is due Saturday morning and beginning to clear up around 2pm bringing grey skies for the afternoon. Sunday has sunny intervals with a possible chance of rain between 6am-8:30am.
Other Notes: First Warning signal planned for 11:25 with a likelihood of 4 races back to back, but considering the high gusts in some of the models, the is likely to be condensed racing with either shorter races, fewer races or a postponement for further decisions. As the forecast is slightly better for Sunday, there could be a potnetialy for more races to be done on the Sunday.
For a detailed understanding of what each wind model means - have a look here. Arome is typically the most reliable but has a short time frame therefore keep on checking through the weekend. We are expecting high gusts through Saturday as majority of models suggest.
Day Breakdown
Saturday:
Low water at 12:26
Early afternoon | Late afternoon | |
18-20 knots gusting 32 SSW (200-210 degrees) 8 degrees Flat water in the marina and choppy in the harbour Rain with heavier rain due 9-11am | 28-30 knots gusting 40 (peak at 1-2pm) SSW (19-200 degrees) 11 degrees Large chop with high frequency (close together) Rain easing off | 24 knots gusting 27 SW (220-270 degrees) large righty 10 degrees Larger chop on right with wind against tide once righty develops Light cloud |
Sunday:
Low water at 12:55
Morning | Early afternoon | Late afternoon |
23 knots gusting 34 WNW (280 degrees) 10 degrees Chop at eastern side of harbour Sunny intervals with chance of rain | 24 knots gusting 28 WNW (280 degrees) 10 degrees Chop in eastern and flatter in west as we are at low water Sunny intervals | 14 knots gusting 24 SSE (160 degrees) 14 degrees Chop at the end of the day at northern end Rain weakens off |
Tactical Considerations
Monitor live wind data here so you are prepared with your boat set up before you head out onto the water!
It is definetly top end! Big hikes, lots of kicker and high and fast downwind. It is looking like a typical breeze on day in Weymouth, but some considerations are:
Upwind:
Make sure our rigs are raked back due to the high winds - shroud tension extra tight, maybe loosen jib halyard tension slightly, kicker on. Helms focus is to try and keep a flat boat especially off the start line to "pop" out ahead of the fleet.
As the wind shifts right and goes further West, watch for the tidal effect to and from the bridge on the causeway to the north entrance to the harbour as this is the main tidal channel.
Trim the jib the same and the main if overpowered.
Downwind:
High and fast - make sure you are hiking, if you are not hiking - you are not going high enough.
Keep boats flat downwind when going high and fast and through gybes.
Simplicity will work, reduce leverage and keep up the speed.
An upright boat downwind is better than one pushing too hard and eventually capsizing.
Make sure you have a read over the two Sailing instruction documents: