Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
2002/3
The sea surface topography image shows a strong anticlockwise eddy at 36° 30' S, 152° 30' E (it, and the eddy at 33° 30' S are together like a double-yolker egg).
The temperature image shows that warm East Australian Current water is being wrapped around this eddy, so it appears as a warm ring in the image.
The eddy is not yet hard up against the continental shelf edge. This may happen. The result will be strong currents (3 or so knots) just out from the shelf edge, decreasing in towards a temperature front part way in to the coast.
I wrote an article for "Australian Yachting" a year ago and it may serve as a guide. The editor kindly allowed us to reproduce it in:
http://www.marine.csiro.au/yachtinginfo/eacyacht.htm
George Cresswell
16/12/2002
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Temperature Image
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Sea Surface Topography Image
