Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races

The impact of environmental and meteorological conditions when dealing with sport performance has been demonstrated by several studies carried out in recent years. Among the meteorological variables with the greatest effect are temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind direction and speed. This...

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Main Authors: Pietro Masino, Roberto Bellasio, Roberto Bianconi, Angelo Besana, Alessandro Pezzoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Climate
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/5/80
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author Pietro Masino
Roberto Bellasio
Roberto Bianconi
Angelo Besana
Alessandro Pezzoli
author_facet Pietro Masino
Roberto Bellasio
Roberto Bianconi
Angelo Besana
Alessandro Pezzoli
author_sort Pietro Masino
collection DOAJ
description The impact of environmental and meteorological conditions when dealing with sport performance has been demonstrated by several studies carried out in recent years. Among the meteorological variables with the greatest effect are temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind direction and speed. This research focused on analyzing and forecasting the wind patterns occurring in Enoshima Bay (Japan). In particular, the objective of this study was to provide support and guidance to sailors in the preparation of the race strategy, thanks to an in-depth knowledge of these meteorological variables. To do this, an innovative method was used. First, through the combined use of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and CALMET models, a simulation was performed, in order to reconstruct an offshore database of a recent 10-year period (2009–2018) over the race area, inside the bay. Subsequently, the verification of hind-cast was performed: the wind data measured at sea were compared with the data extracted from the CALMET database to verify the validity of the model. The verification was performed through three statistical indexes: BIAS, MAE, and PCC. The analysis showed mixed results, depending on the examined pattern, but made it possible to identify the days that best simulated the reality. Then, the wind data from the selected days were summarized and collected in plots, tables, and maps to design a decision support service (DSS), in order to provide athletes with the necessary information in a simple and effective way. In conclusion, we state that the application of this method extends beyond the sports field. Indeed, the study of wind patterns may be necessary in the design of actions to contrast and adapt to climate change, particularly in coastal areas.
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spelling doaj.art-bfcd5a3b5d104ae7be58c3b77f8336152023-11-21T19:35:57ZengMDPI AGClimate2225-11542021-05-01958010.3390/cli9050080Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during RacesPietro Masino0Roberto Bellasio1Roberto Bianconi2Angelo Besana3Alessandro Pezzoli4Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino & University of Turin, 10125 Torino, ItalyEnviroware srl., Via Dante 142, 20863 Concorezzo (MB), ItalyEnviroware srl., Via Dante 142, 20863 Concorezzo (MB), ItalyInteruniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino & University of Turin, 10125 Torino, ItalyInteruniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino & University of Turin, 10125 Torino, ItalyThe impact of environmental and meteorological conditions when dealing with sport performance has been demonstrated by several studies carried out in recent years. Among the meteorological variables with the greatest effect are temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind direction and speed. This research focused on analyzing and forecasting the wind patterns occurring in Enoshima Bay (Japan). In particular, the objective of this study was to provide support and guidance to sailors in the preparation of the race strategy, thanks to an in-depth knowledge of these meteorological variables. To do this, an innovative method was used. First, through the combined use of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and CALMET models, a simulation was performed, in order to reconstruct an offshore database of a recent 10-year period (2009–2018) over the race area, inside the bay. Subsequently, the verification of hind-cast was performed: the wind data measured at sea were compared with the data extracted from the CALMET database to verify the validity of the model. The verification was performed through three statistical indexes: BIAS, MAE, and PCC. The analysis showed mixed results, depending on the examined pattern, but made it possible to identify the days that best simulated the reality. Then, the wind data from the selected days were summarized and collected in plots, tables, and maps to design a decision support service (DSS), in order to provide athletes with the necessary information in a simple and effective way. In conclusion, we state that the application of this method extends beyond the sports field. Indeed, the study of wind patterns may be necessary in the design of actions to contrast and adapt to climate change, particularly in coastal areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/5/80wind patternnumerical weather predictionsailing race strategymeteorological variablesstatistical analysisclimatological analysis
spellingShingle Pietro Masino
Roberto Bellasio
Roberto Bianconi
Angelo Besana
Alessandro Pezzoli
Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
Climate
wind pattern
numerical weather prediction
sailing race strategy
meteorological variables
statistical analysis
climatological analysis
title Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
title_full Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
title_fullStr Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
title_full_unstemmed Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
title_short Climatic Analysis of Wind Patterns to Enhance Sailors’ Performance during Races
title_sort climatic analysis of wind patterns to enhance sailors performance during races
topic wind pattern
numerical weather prediction
sailing race strategy
meteorological variables
statistical analysis
climatological analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/5/80
work_keys_str_mv AT pietromasino climaticanalysisofwindpatternstoenhancesailorsperformanceduringraces
AT robertobellasio climaticanalysisofwindpatternstoenhancesailorsperformanceduringraces
AT robertobianconi climaticanalysisofwindpatternstoenhancesailorsperformanceduringraces
AT angelobesana climaticanalysisofwindpatternstoenhancesailorsperformanceduringraces
AT alessandropezzoli climaticanalysisofwindpatternstoenhancesailorsperformanceduringraces