A bit of typical Kiwi ingenuity is behind the latest technological development to hit the sailing industry as Auckland-based company Predictwind launched its temporary weather indicator for the Napier OptiWorlds.
Measuring 3m instead of the usual six, it is the world's smallest temporary weather indicator buoy. At the top, four sensors detail wind speed and direction, relative humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure, as well as containing a compass, modem and GPS.
Where other moveable buoys cost thousands, the material cost for Predictwind's creation is only $3500. That makes it a bargain for the OptiWorlds, which lacks the big budget of other sailing events.
It has now been launched off the coast of Napier, where it will detail weather conditions at sea level by the minute for the next eight days before being relaunched for race day. This data will be presented on the Predictwind website, enabling sailors to follow weather patterns in the exact spot they will be racing in.
"This sends data back to our server and that displays it on our website so the sailors can see how it's looking before they go out," Predictwind owner Jon Bilger said. "At the end of the day they can look back at the data and hopefully make better decisions the next day."