Model validation for the Dutch Olympic sailing team during Olympic Games 2012

The Olympic Sailing Competition 2012 will take place in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, United Kingdom. Following the good experience during a.o. the Olympic Games 2008 in Qingdao, Svašek Hydraulics will again assist the Dutch sailing team during the Olympic Games 2012 by providing specific current forecasts of the sailing area.

In order to validate the by Svašek Hydraulics in-house developed numerical flow model (FINEL) of the European Continental Shelf, current data has been obtained by means of a current measuring campaign. Late September 2010, the Svašek team has set off to the UK to perform the current measurements.

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.