Weather, what VELA Cup Tuscany has taught us.

The weather conditions we had in front of the waters of Marina Cala de’ Medici during the VELA Cup Toscana teach us how to interpret the weather not only in view of upcoming regattas (such as the VELA Cup Puglia in Brindisi next weekend) but also for upcoming summer vacation cruises. We explain what we learned with the support of the weather debriefing prepared by Riccardo Ravagnan and sent to all crews registered for the regatta by VELA Cup partner Meteomed.

Dear participants,
the regatta on Saturday, May 24, was not only a beautiful day at sea, but also a practical lesson in meteorology applied to sailing. The wind change, its intensity, distribution on the line and even the clouds… everything spoke volumes for those who knew how to listen.

Here is what happened, what we anticipated, and what we can take home as concrete experience.

The start: wind from the NE, but lighter below the coast

At 11:00 a.m., the wind was blowing from the northeast at 7 to 9 knots, well below the expected 10 to 13 knots offshore. Why this discrepancy? It is the classic effect of coastal orography. The hills and relief behind Marina Cala de’ Medici create a wind shadow that slows and deflects the synoptic flow in the first few kilometers from the coast. The forecast was correct in describing the wind in the middle of the field, but those who were close to shore found themselves with less pressure and more instability.

leggi anche

Last week to register for the Procida VELA Cup! See you on September 27

Practical lesson: Knowing the orography and being able to “read” it in the context of the expected wind is critical to choosing the right edge from the start.

The transition: the change from NE to NNO

Between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. we witnessed a definite wind shift, with the direction changing from NE to NNO/ONO and the intensity quickly rising above 15 knots.

What happened? This was not a classic thermal breeze, but the entry to the ground of a synoptic flow from the northwest, already present in the lower layers of the atmosphere. This flow was “activated” by the warming of the ground and the resulting vertical mixing, i.e., the turbulence that allowed the air at altitude to reach the surface.

The clouds have spoken clearly

The conditions observed at sea confirmed this perfectly:

• on the mainland in the early afternoon, warming cumulus formed, an indication that the ground was warming and thus ready to “push” air upward;
• From the open sea, on the other hand, high, threadlike clouds (cirrus) were arriving, heralding the presence of the NW flow aloft.

When these two pushes met, the wind at altitude dropped to the surface. The jump came not in “spots” as a local breeze, but as a compact and coherent line of wind that literally reshaped the race course within minutes.

Wind consolidation and the last part of the regatta

From 2:30 p.m. onward, the wind from NNO settled steadily across the field. The sea remained little rough, but with short, rippling waves from OSO. Boats began to sail heeled, at times gliding, and those who were able to anticipate the rotation found themselves in an advantageous position.

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Two weeks to the last VELA Cup of the year: see you in Sicily on October 4!

Weather-tactical lesson: those who observed the sky and the horizon could predict the jump before the instruments. This is the value of good situational awareness in racing.

What do we take home from this day?

• The importance of orography: knowing the coast is as important as knowing the sails.
• Not all wind changes are breeze: sometimes it is the synoptic flow that “comes down” through instability.
• Clouds tell it all: cumulus over land = convection in progress; cirrus from the sea = incoming flow.
• Reading the field is a tactical skill, not just a technical one: those who anticipate the jump gain decisive meters.

We are happy to have accompanied you again this time, not only with the forecast, but with practical tools to better read the sky, wind and sea. See you on the next leg–evenbetter prepared!

The Meteomed team – Weather for those who sail

SAIL Puglia

Friday, May 30 / Sunday, June 1 (regatta: Saturday, May 31)
Salento, Marina di Brindisi

VELA Cup Sardinia/1

Friday, June 27 / Sunday, June 29 (regatta: Saturday, June 28)
Porto Rafael / Palau, Marina di Porto Rafael

VELA Cup Sardinia/2

Wednesday, Aug. 20 / Friday, Aug. 22 (regatta: Thursday, Aug. 21)
Gulf of Cugnana / Porto Rotondo, Marina Cala dei Sardi

VELA Cup Procida

Friday, September 26 / Sunday, September 28 (regatta: Saturday, September 27)
Procida Island, Marina di Procida

VELA Cup Sicily

Friday, Oct. 3/Sunday, Oct. 5 (regatta: Saturday, Oct. 4)
Capo d’Orlando/Eolie, Capo d’Orlando Marina