The positioning of ocean eddies this year is quite similar to last year.
More specifically:
1. The main core of the East Australian Current will not affect the first stage of the race because it is presently about 150km east of Sydney. Closer to Sydney, there is possibly a weak adverse current. This was the situation last year – see the still below or re-live December 2024 by viewing this animation which shows how the eddy off Narooma was formed. The animation also includes measurements by current meters off Sydney and Narooma (that are not available in real time) to show the rapid variations of coastal currents that we cannot estimate from satellite data very well.
2. The first major ocean feature that yachts are likely to encounter is a warm-core eddy that is presently off Jervis Bay but slipping to the south. It is very likely to give a boost to yachts in deep enough water to be in the current, the edge of which can be seen in a recent SST image for southern NSW. Last year a similar eddy and associated current was off Narooma at race time.
3. There are no significant eddies east of Bass Strait.
4. A warm-core eddy east of northern Tasmania may give yachts that keep well offshore a bit of a boost. Last year, this eddy’s estimated position changed quite significantly between 20 and 27 Dec.
5. There is potential for adverse coastal currents off southern Tasmania.
Written by David Griffin