The history of the the reception of weather data on ocean racing yachts began with the SSB (single-sideband) radio. Before that, the barometer was the only instrument of reference. Currently, the transmission of data via the internet forms the basis of all meteorological strategy.

On this page you will find:

1. A video with Santi Serrat where he explains the history of meteorology on board ocean racing yachts.

2. Further details on the content in the video, including a description of the landmark events in meteorology.

1. A history of meteorology: From perception to data

From the barometer to the internet

The reign of the barometer

Alfred "Centennial" Johnson (1876), Joshua Slocum (1898), Alain Gerbault (1923) and Vito Dumas (1942) were the pioneers of single-handed ocean sailing and set the global benchmark for long distance sailing.

The sailors of the time had no means of accessing external weather forecasts and made their own predictions based on the clouds, shifts in wind and the information given to them by a barometer.

Navigation was done by dead reckoning and astronomically with a sextant and pilots charts were used as a reference for ocean sailing strategy.

The SSB era

After the Second World War, communication by SSB (single-sideband) radio was used to receive broadcasted weather forecasts.

The predictions were transferred by hand onto sailing charts and the sailor interpreted the forecast based on his or her own knowledge and experience.

Instruments such as the anemometer, the wind vane and the barometer were perfected as a result of development in military technology.

Sir Francis Chichester, on his Gipsy Moth IV, was the first single-handed sailor to use an SSB radio on his round the world voyage.

For the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first single-handed, round the world race with no stops, the organisers offered an SSB to all of the skippers so that they could report back with positions and receive weather information.

The electronic revolution

For the 1981 Whitbread the more advanced yachts, such as Flyer, had electronic systems on board, which thanks to microchip technology, integrated all of the information given by the anemometer, the wind vane, the log, the heading and further ahead the VPP (Velocity Prediction Program).

These made very useful calculations for helming the boat and adjusting the sails, such as the VMG (Velocity Made Good) and the performance of the yacht.

The weatherfax allowed the reception of synoptic weather maps from specific stations that soon multiplied in number.

Satellite navigation freed sailors from the constraints of the sextant and position calculation, and allowed them to spend more time on weather forecasting.

The era of weather routing

In 1982, John Kilroy's Kialoa IV was the first yacht fitted with an onboard personal computer: the Apple II.

During the decade of the 1980s, top flight yacht racing computer software was developed. Regattas such as the America's Cup began to use these programmes on shore and towards the end of the decade, the appearance of portable computers allowed crews to incorporate these onto their yachts.

In 1990 MacSea, the marine navigation software, revolutionised ocean sailing. It was a programme that integrated the position of the boat on digital charts and offered comprehensive calculations based on all of the integrated systems.

In 1991, with the Inmarsat C, sailors were able to receive weather forecasts on board, in the format of digital files. It sparked a revolution in ocean communications and the era of weather routing was launched.

In 1996 the weatherfax made its last round the world regatta voyage on board a yacht.

The decade starting in 2000 was the era of specialist IT applications that integrated weather files with the VPP of the boat, offering the sailors a huge amount of data. A single programme was used to control all of the navigation variables. The arrival of Inmarsat B permitted the transmission of all types of multimedia content and full access to the internet.

From 2010 the onboard computers became specialised and marinised. Current advances in navigation technology systems are being made along the lines of calculation power, ergonomics and lightness.