Sent from FCO at 1926 Friday 21/6
Event: 2024 Newport to Bermuda race

Outlook for: Friday June 21 to Tuesday June 25

Prepared: 1700 eastern time Friday June 21
Tropical discussion

There continues to be no areas of concern for development over the Tropical
Atlantic. The remnants of what was Tropical Storm Alberto have now
dissipated over Central Mexico. A disturbance off the southeast coast of
the United States continues to quickly track west to west northwest. There
is still a slight risk for this to become a named storm before moving
inland tomorrow posing no threat to the fleet. Another disturbance is
present in the Bay of Campeche, and is slowly moving west northwest to
northwest. This may develop further as it moves over the western Gulf of
Mexico this weekend, but no impacts to offshore areas between Bermuda and
Newport. There are no other disturbances or areas of concern for
development.

Friday: High pressure is centered a few hundred miles to the northwest of
Bermuda and covers areas from the Carolinas to north of Bermuda. A cold
front is present from southern New England through the Gulf of Maine to the
Canadian Maritimes and is slowly moving toward the south southeast. This
front is still forecast to mostly stay north of the area today as scattered
showers and thunderstorms develop along it and track west to east. Latest
satellite and radar imagery show scattered thunderstorms over central to
western Massachusetts, Connecticut and to over eastern New York. The small
cell near Newport is expected to fizzle out shortly as it moves east to
east southeast but brings lighter and less reliable winds in its wake.
Expect most if not all the storms to stay inland but would not rule out an
isolated shower moving off the coast this evening. The light sea breeze to
start off with mainly veers to the southwest into tonight but expect
lighter and shiftier or more unreliable with clouds and chance for a shower
nearby. The faster boats still look to have advantage today making good
progress and higher chance to stay in better winds while slower boats get
more caught up in lighter wind speeds especially in the evening.

Saturday: High pressure remains in place from the Mid Atlantic coast to
areas north of Bermuda. Still expect today’s front to slow and stall out
between forty to forty one north. Separate high pressure north of the front
will build out of Quebec into northern New England. Faster boats will
remain in good southwest wind further along to the south while slower boats
see lighter winds for a time closer to the front. But later on in the day
Saturday they should both be into decent southwest to south southwest
breeze.

Sunday: High pressure to the north of Bermuda will shift a little more to
the northeast and east of Bermuda. Low pressure will develop in the Great
Lakes region tracking east to northeast into New England. This will bring
stronger south southwest winds. Wind speeds will reach the mid teens to
lower twenties. Faster boats will see less wind as they get further south
to southeast while slower boats back to the northwest will experience the
most wind. Overall it looks like a very good south southwest wind pattern
for all boats. Seas will increase a bit but nothing too large.

Monday: High pressure will shift northeast of Bermuda out into the Atlantic
with a broad ridge axis stretching back toward Bermuda. A fairly strong
cold front will move across and then offshore of New England during the
day. Winds will be mainly south southwest backing to the south for the
boats getting further along to the lower part of the race course to the
Bermuda area. Wind speeds will continue mostly in the teens. So a tougher
more upwind pattern toward the end of the race. There may be a few showers
around Bermuda at night.

Tuesday: High pressure between Bermuda and the Azores will stretch west to
southwest toward the Bahamas. The cold front will push off the northeast
coast and slow down and may stall out and weaken near the Gulf Stream.
South to southwest winds will continue with speeds lighter near Bermuda and
stronger back to the north. It will be unsettled with scattered showers and
a few squalls around due to the front approaching to the northwest. This
pattern will hold into Tuesday night as well.

Kind regards,
Coop

Joe Cooper
(M) 401 965 6006
Fleet Communications Chair
Newport Bermuda Race 2024