THU 03 7am
SITUATION
TC PENNY has redeveloped over the NW Coral Sea and is expected to meander over the northern Coral Sea through the weekend, probably making landfall in the Townsville area on MON 07.
High pressure will persist over the Tasman Sea. A weak trough will be along the QLD coast with more E winds.
FORECAST
No change to the situation ahead for the race.
Yesterday, the weak S-SE change made for a slow start and then afternoon showers and thunderstorms from Sydney to Newcastle softened the NE breeze.
This morning, the wind on the shoreline south of Seal Rocks is very soft from SW-SE direction. Offshore it remains strong NE and north of Seal Rocks, it is strong NE away from the coastal strip. The wind south fo Seal Rocks in close will not really build again until this afternoon.
NE winds this afternoon and tonight – strongest overnight offshore from Seal Rocks to Coffs.
Stronger NE winds on FRI 04 - again south of Coffs with less NE winds for the far north coast of NSW and SE QLD.
More NE breezes on SAT 05 and E-ENE on SUN 06, but N-NW at the coast in the mornings.
Afternoon showers and thunderstorms should remain south of the race area this afternoon inland this afternoon; any storms should be inland from coastal areas on mid north coast of NSW. Afternoon showers and storms should become less active tomorrow and Friday, however, a shower or 2 is possible on the SE QLD coast later in the weekend as wind become more E in direction.
FORECAST
THU 03
WIND
SW-SE/3-7 south of Seal Rocks all morning within 20 miles of the coast.
E-NE/10-15 out from the coast south of Seal Rocks and NE/20-25 offshore and north of Seal Rocks
NE/15-25 all areas this afternoon and tonight
SEAS
1m seas south of Seal Rocks and 1.5-2m waves north of Seal Rocks on 1-1.5m on 1m NE swell
WEATHER
dry and fairly sunny off the mid north coast.
FRI 04
WIND N-NNE/8-15 in very close to the coast and N-NE/15-20 off the coast in the morning; then NE-NNE/15-25 everywhere in the afternoon/evening south of Coffs; NE/15-20 north of Coffs.
SEAS 1m early morning in close, elsewhere 1.5-1.8m waves on a 1.5m ENE swell
WEATHER partly cloudy at times
SAT 05
WIND Very soft shoreline with NW/5-10 kts; elsewhere N-NE/10-15 north of Byron with NE/13-17 afternoon and evening and NE/15-20 offshore in the afternoon/evening.
SEAS 0.5m to 1.5m waves on 1.5-1.8m E swell
WEATHER partly cloudy – likely dry.
SUN 06
WIND NW/5-10 kts inshore at first; elsewhere NE-E/10-15 north of Byron with E/10-15 afternoon and evening and E/10-20 offshore in the afternoon/evening.
SEAS 0.5m to 1.5m waves on 1.5-2m E swell
WEATHER partly cloudy – possible shower or 2.
CURRENT
No change with current – running south at 1-2kts – mostly on and seawards of the shelf but in closer around mid north coast at Tacking Point to Smoky Cape and also on the far north coast of NSW north of Byron.
ROUTES
Latest elapsed times for the race have blown out due to the soft start and then the shower/thunderstorm activity off the central and Newcastle coast areas late yesterday.
ROUTES remain mostly coastal with finish times from SAT 05 afternoon to SUN 06 morning.
End
