In collaboration with the University of Western Australia and Aurora Offshore Engineering, the Rottnest Channel Swim Association has developed the Route Optimisation Tool which creates a personalised route for swimmers based on their predicted speed and the forecasted conditions on Event day.
The Route Optimisation Tool for the 2024 Event will be available from Wednesday, 21st February 2024.
UWA Ocean Currents Forecast
Training Webinars
2024 Route Optimisation Tool Webinar
5:30pm, Wednesday 21 February 2024
This webinar provided guidance on how to use the Route Optimisation Tool, specifically for the 2024 Event.
It was presented by the University of Western Australia, Aurora Offshore Engineering and the Rottnest Channel Swim Association.
View the 2024 Webinar Slides
Introduction Webinar
This webinar provided an introduction to the Optimisation tool including the inputs and background of the tool’s development
Presented by the University of Western Australia, Aurora Offshore Engineering and Rottnest Channel Swim Association.
How does it work?
The Route Optimisation Tool takes forecasted current conditions based on the Coastal Oceanography Group at UWA data (available directly here) and provides swimmers with a personalised, optimised route for their crossing that can be uploaded to their GPS or the Rotto Swim app the GPX file.
What will I need to provide?
After opening the Route Optimistation Tool, you will be asked to provide:
- Swimmer/Team Name
- Swimmer/Team Race Number
- Wave Start Time and Year (the 2024 forecast will be released the week of the event)
- Initial pace (min/km based on the first lap of your qualifying 10km or equivalent)
- Pace at 10km (min/km based on the last lap of your qualifying 10km or equivalent)
- Feed Intervals and Duration (put 0 for duos and teams)
The Route Optimisation Tool will then calculate your personalised optimised route based on forecasted current conditions. You will be shown this in map and list form as well as providing you with the ability to download the route as a PDF or GPX file.
Uploading your GPX file to the Rotto Swim app
- Open the Rotto Swim app and select the “Routes” icon.
- In the top left corner, select “Custom Route”.
- Select the GPX file in your files.
- Your file will then be uploaded and you will be able to select it in the Rotto Swim app.
Creators of the Route Optimisation Tool
Scott Draper
Scott is an Associate Professor in Civil (Ocean) Engineering at UWA. His research is focused on hydrodynamics, which includes predicting the forces on ocean structures due to waves and currents. He co-leads the Coastal and Offshore Engineering Laboratory at the University of Western Australia.
Terry Griffiths
Terry is a chartered subsea and mechanical engineer with over 25 years’ experience in Australia, Asia and the North Sea. He has also been involved in a number of research and development projects extending the boundaries of existing industry knowledge and has been undertaking a PhD at UWA focussing the behaviour of cables on rocky seabeds. He is Director and a Principal Engineer at Aurora Offshore Engineering. He is also a keen open water swimmer with 2 RCS solo, 1 team and 2 kayak crossings completed.
Ivica Janekovic
Ivica is a physical oceanographer with more than 20 years of experience in ocean observations and ocean modelling. He is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Oceans Graduate School at the University of Western Australia. He is an expert in developing ocean forecasting systems using coupled atmospheric-ocean-wave models, and conducts research to better quantify the predictability and uncertainty associated with these forecasting systems.
Disclaimer
This tool is intended for guidance only and skippers should assess the conditions on the day of the event and alter their course accordingly. The forecast currents rely on numerically forecasted currents generated by the Coastal Oceanography Group at UWA and available directly here.
Forecasting weather and currents is an imprecise science. Computer system errors or unforeseen factors may quickly evolve that can make the weather behave differently than the forecast, which would affect an optimised route. Forecasts should be assessed in combination with current weather conditions and cross checked with alternate sources of forecast information. The UWA coastal oceanography group and any associated parties assume no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or quality of the data, and do not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss, injury, damages or expenses resulting from the use or misinterpretation of information provided by the forecasts on this website.
