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The science behind Britain's sailing gold medals

2 October 2000

Scientists at one of the UK's top marine laboratories, the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, helped the British Sailing Team to success at the Sydney Olympics by providing information on tides and currents. The Team won three gold and two silver medals - the most successful of the national sailing teams.

The secrets of Sydney Harbour's changing currents were revealed to the sailors in the run-up to the race via e-mail. Dr Roger Proctor, principal scientist in the team, said, "We used satellite pictures and computer models of the currents to produce detailed descriptions of the conditions in the harbour throughout the 10-day race period".

POL has developed modelling software which can be applied to any part of the world. From our understanding of the physical processes of the oceans we can create models which compute sea levels and currents.

Dr Proctor took part in a Pre-Olympic Regatta in Australia last year and conducted a scientific survey of Sydney Harbour. By creating a computer model using the depths and shape of the coastline he was able to simulate the movement of the water. Running on laptop computers, the results were continuously available to the sailing team who used them to predict the tidal currents right up to the start of the race.

This scientific information gave the team the kind of local knowledge essential to successful competitive racing. It enabled them to put their sailing skills to best use.

Further information

John Mackinnon
Information Officer
Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory
Tel: 0151 653 8633
Mob: 07809 055191

Roger Proctor or Colin Bell
Tel: 0151 653 1535 or 0151 653 1541

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. The Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory is the United Kingdom's leading research institute into shallow water physical oceanography. A staff of just over 100 works on a range of research including current profiles, tidal prediction and global sea level change.

2. The UK's Natural Environment Research Council funds and carries out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists.

Press release: 18/00

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