Ocean research and high-level sports during the Ocean Race
This project is conducted in the period 2022 – 2024 under the the TKI Maritime program, with the following consortium partners:
- DutchSail B.V. (referred to as DutchSail. Representing Team JAJO)
- Stichting Deltares (referred to as Deltares)
- Allseas Engineering B.V. (referred to as Allseas)
- Poortman Sailing Services/Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team (referred to as ROST)
- Stichting New-York – Rotterdam (referred to as NYR rowing team)
- Provincie Zuid-Holland
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Measurements and relevant field experiences acquired under these field campaigns have enhanced our understanding of the hydrodynamics at unique locations of the world’s seas and oceans. However, obtaining highly accurate current data from a sailing boat, especially in high seas, is hard. Nonetheless, an assessment of model accuracy has been conducted based on a data-model-comparison and experiences from the crew.
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Figure 2: ROST battling a heavy sea state during the Fastnet Race. Plots showing a snapshot of a top view and a timeserie plot of the data-model-comparison, during Fastnet Race by ROST on 22nd of July 2023. ‘Set’ and ‘Drift’ represent the measurements.
Based on the assessment, it is concluded that the forecasted ocean current provided by Deltares generally align well with the observed ocean currents, a finding supported by the pilot carried out with Allseas and the Trans-Atlantic rowing challenge.
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Figure 3: Impression of field campaigns. On the left the Allseas Morecambe project. The Pioneering Spirit lifting the second offshore jacket with Iron Lady moored next to it. On the right, New-York Rotterdam Rowing team making themselves ready for their trans-Atlantic crossing on the Hudson River (New York),
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The TKI Ocean Race project, including several field campaigns, has highlighted the potential for enhanced oceanic understanding to significantly benefit the maritime industry. Improved understanding of ocean hydrodynamics not only cuts cost and time, but also enhances safety at sea and reduces CO2 emissions.
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Figure 5: Team JAJO encounter a confrontation with orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar
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