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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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During the 2022-23 edition of the Ocean Race, a scientific program is carried out to collect relevant data, evaluate the performance of flow predictions and analyse analyze measurements, to ultimately optimise optimize offshore navigation and reduce carbon emissions. This is done by means of the following field campaigns carried out by the consortium partners: 

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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 comparison and experiences from the crew.

 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.

Figure 3: Impression of field campaigns. On the left the Allseas 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 rowing team making themselves ready for their trans-Atlantic crossing on the the Hudson River (New York),

Based on the project experiences, the forecasts can be improved by:

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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.

Figure 5: Team JAJO encounter a confrontation with orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar.

FINAL REPORT

PUBLICATONS

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