Hi all,

Is there anyone out there who knows the area and its patterns relatively well? I am going up there for race week this year, and would like to get as much information as I can so that when I go up there and look at forecasts, I will know what is happening, why it is happening and what options to take on the race track. I am told that there can be some fairly strong tides which can win you races. I have also heard of bullets between the islands?

If possible, what kind of weather patterns can I expect during race week ( August 20-28 )? Are there seabreezes of some sort? Is there a consistent wind speed/wind direction? Does tide run faster around certain areas, or in certain directions? Are there typically any fronts that come through around then? Also, how reliable are the local forecasts (BOM, seabreeze.com.au etc.)?

I am strongly considering buying a standard predictwind subscription for a month as my current free account does not let me use GRIB files, or maps.

I would really appreciate any assitance as this sort of racing implies a lot more strategy and knowledge than your local 'around the cans' races.

Cheers, Michael.