We are developing detailed oceanographic models to support the international athletes competing in Season 2 of the SailGP global championship.

SailGP is an international sail racing competition, featuring eight teams going head-to-head on high performance F50 foiling catamarans in short, intense races through nine events across the globe.

Season 2 of the Championship is well underway; the world class athletes competed in Bermuda and Italy in April and May, and Event 3 will take place this weekend (17-18 July) in Plymouth, UK, with support from Associated British Ports.

ABPmer is the official Tidal Modelling supplier of SailGP. Starting with this weekend’s Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, we will provide race-day current data at 10-minute intervals for key Season 2 race events through to March 2022, including Denmark, New Zealand and the US, where tides are the primary driver of surface currents.

Our modelling specialists are creating high-resolution hydrodynamic (water motion) numerical models for the sailors to provide maps of current speed and direction across the race areas. The numerical models are being developed with a flexible mesh to allow the accurate representation of important bathymetric (water depth) features, while maintaining computational efficiency.

^{Example tidal current data around the Plymouth race area}

With the SailGP teams flying the cutting-edge F50 wingsailed catamarans to electrifying speeds approaching up to 100 km/h, tidal current information will be a key data-feed used to optimise performance on race days.

ABPmer is a recognised leader in offshore, coastal and estuarine numerical modelling. Our sophisticated numerical models regularly support estuarine, coastal and offshore projects, including feasibility and design studies, impact assessments and operational planning.

^{Main photo: Spain SailGP Team co-helmed by Florian Trittel and Phil Robertson in action on Race Day 2. Bermuda SailGP presented by Hamilton Princess, Event 1 Season 2 in Hamilton, Bermuda. 25 April 2021. Photo: Bob Martin for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP.}