Weather predictions for the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race

Nacho Postigo, navigator for Pier Luigi Loro Piana's 130ft (40m) Superyacht My Song, explains the complex weather scenario for the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race. Nacho predicts a complex weather scenario. High pressure should combine with the wind shadows of the Canary Islands to produce a tactical conundrum for the start of the race.

"It's very interesting because we should have an area of very light winds for the start of the race," commented Nacho Postigo. "To add complexity to finding the best wind, the other Canary Islands that we must pass are very different to Lanzarote. Tenerife is 4,000 metres high creating a big wind shadow; even the smaller island of La Palma is 2,000 metres high. When the effect of the wind shadows is combined with the high pressure ridge, which is a moving target, it will be very tricky for the early part of the race."