Press

NEWPORT, RI -- Susan Genett’s Real Weather, a company specializing in custom global weather forecasts, has been established here to provide forecasts for boat and balloon races and various commercial enterprises and ventures that can be affected by the weather.

Custom forecasts are provided before or during a race event, permitting participants or sponsors to avoid adverse conditions or take advantage of favorable ones if they know about them in advance. Customers vary, from single participant in a race to all of the contestants, with latter paid by the sponsor of the event.

"Custom weather forecasts offer a competitive edge," says Genett, a meteorologist who provided custom designed forecasts for the winners of five recent sailing races. "They permit a person to anticipate and take maximum advantage of weather conditions when they occur."

Recent yacht race winners who used Genett forecasts have included Barry Allardice and Ed Collins, in the Mumm 30 World Championships 1999, Collins in the Euro Med Leg 3, United Kingdom Nationals 1999, and the Verve Cup ‘99, and Jud Smith, in the Etchell’s North American Championships 1999.

"I figure the forecasts were the difference between winning and losing," says Collins, who captained three of the winning boats. "A custom forecast gives you wind direction and speed at specific times during the day for your race course and permits you to position your boat and crew to take full advantage of this information."

In addition to competitive events, Genett also provides custom forecasts for yacht deliveries, expeditions, movie productions or any other event where the weather can have a significant impact on success, safety or profitability of a venture or enterprise.

During her nine years as a weather forecaster, Genett has provided forecasts for air force fighter pilots, wildfire forest fire fighters, an arctic expedition, movie producers and pilots flying everything from blimps to global balloons.

Before establishing Real Weather, Genett was chief meteorologist for Bob Rice’s Weather Window, Wolfeboro, NH, a firm that specialized in providing forecasts for long distance boat and balloon races. Earlier she served as a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Fairbanks, Alaska, and with the U. S. Air Force, in Alaska and Virginia.

She holds a degree in meteorology from Lyndon State College, Vermont, attended the University of Alaska; and received specialized meteorological training in such courses as Doppler weather radar and automated weather transmission systems. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society.