Olympic Games 2012

The Olympic Sailing Competition 2012 took place in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, United Kingdom. Following the good experience during the Olympic Games 2008 in Qingdao, and the World Championship of 2010 in Scheveningen, The Netherlands, Svašek Hydraulics has again provided current forecasts for the Dutch sailing team for the Olympic Sailing competition 2012.

To provide accurate current predictions Svašek Hydraulics has used its in-house developed existing numerical flow model of the European Continental Shelf (FINEL). Local grid spacing is adjusted in the sailing area to obtain detailed current patterns in the area of interest.

To calibrate the model, current measurements have been done by Svašek Hydraulics. These measurements have been performed with an ADCP, fixed to a vessel. Both velocity and direction of flow over full water depth have been measured. The FINEL current model has been successfully validated with the obtained current data.

With the validated model Svašek Hydraulics has provided current forecasts at a ten minute interval during the Olympic Sailing Games of 2012. These forecasts assisted the Dutch team to win two gold, one silver and two bronze medals during the Olympic Games 2012.