sailboat route planner

Introduction

What is fastseas, how do you use it, get routing and departure planning results while offshore, via email (iridium go, sailmail, winlink, etc.), via satellite communicator (garmin inreach, zoleo, spot, bivy stick, etc.), command reference.

FastSeas is a weather routing and passage planning tool. It will calculate the fastest route to take you from point A to point B given the current NOAA GFS weather forecast , current oceanic currents , the performance of your vessel, and your comfort criteria .

Feel free to look around, but before you can actually run routing calculations, you'll need to log in . Logging in allows FastSeas to remember your polar and comfort criteria. You can log in using various social login options. I have taken this approach rather than having you register with a username and password because it's less work for me and safer for you - as I don't have to deal with passwords. There is nothing nefarious going on here. FastSeas is not going to be reading your posts or creating posts or any such thing.

Configure Your Vessel's Performance

You need to teach FastSeas about the performance of your vessel. You do that using the  Vessel Performance tab. You only have to setup these performance settings once. FastSeas will save these settings and use them next time you come back. There are instructions on the Vessel Performance tab, so I won't repeat them here. The amount of data you have to enter on the Vessel Performance tab can look intimidating, but it goes pretty quickly.

Set Start & Finish Locations

Before FastSeas can calculate a route, you need to tell it where you are starting from and what your destination is. You do that using the  Routing tab. On the Routing tab, you'll see a map with an "S" marker and a "F" marker. These represent your start and finish points. They can be positioned by dragging them on the map. Or if you prefer, you can enter the Lat & Long into the fields.

You can now run weather routing calculations by clicking the Calculate Route button on the  Routing tab. After the calculation is complete, the route will be displayed on the map. You can also look at the details of the route on the  Route Positions tab, and summary stats on the  Passage Stats tab.

You can specify your comfort criteria on the Routing tab. You can enter the maximum wind speed in knots that you are willing to tolerate beating (forward of the beam), reaching (aft of the beam), and maximum gust conditions.

Note that you can run multiple calculations, perhaps with different departure times, comfort criteria, or destinations, and have all of these routes displayed in the same map.

You can also get routing and departure planning solutions from FastSeas via email (e.g. Iridium GO! , Sailmail , Winlink , and other email services) and via Garmin inReach and other short message satellite communicators such as Zoleo, Spot, and Bivy Stick devices. This is particularly useful when offshore or in remote anchorages - when you don't have access to high-speed internet. Results are provided by an automated email responder, which automatically calculates the route or departure planning result in response to your emailed request, and sends the result back to you in a reply email within a few seconds. Using the email responder service requires a FastSeas subscription .

Routing Requests

To request a route using the email responder service, send an email like the one below:

Where 12.0N,68.3W are the coordinates of your departure point (in decimal degrees) and 10.9N,63.8W are the coordinates of your destination. The subject is not consequential - you can make it whatever you like. You can also specify coordinates in degrees and minutes if you prefer as shown below:

Where 12-0N is 12 degrees 0 minutes North, and 68-18W is 68 degrees 18 minutes West.

A few minutes after sending your email, the automated email responder will send you a reply containing a GPX file which contains your routing solution. The GPX file contains waypoint data for your optimum route. Each waypoint contains predicted weather data for that waypoint in the waypoint description field. GPX files can be imported into a variety of chart plotters and navigation software (e.g. Navionics "Boating" app, OpenCPN, iNavX, Coastal Explorer, etc.). The GPX file is typically very small (less than 5 KB) and therefore very suitable for low bandwidth HF or satellite access.

The automated email responder will only respond to requests from authorized email addresses. That includes the email address you registered with, or to any email address you setup in the Account tab - where you can authorize your Iridium GO, SailMail, Winlink, and other email addresses.

If you prefer to get a Google Earth KMZ file instead of the standard GPX response, add a KMZ switch to your request as shown below:

If you would like to receive a compressed GPX file (zipped), then use a GPXZIP switch instead.

If you would like to limit the number of days included in the route mailed back to you, then add a DAYS=3 switch, substituting the number of days you wish to receive:

You can also receive the routing data in a table (CSV file) using the CSV switch.

The default departure time for routing request submitted via the email responder in "now." You can adjust the departure time using the optional DEPARTURE_DELAY_HOURS parameter. For example, use DEPARTURE_DELAY_HOURS=2 to set the departure time to two hours from now; or use DEPARTURE_DELAY_HOURS=24 to set the departure time to this time tomorrow (24 hours from now).

You can optionally include parameters to adjust your comfort criteria. To set the maximum wind you are willing to tolerate forward of the beam, use MAX_WIND_BEATING=20 (e.g. 20 kn). Use MAX_WIND_REACHING=30 to set the maximum wind you are willing to tolerate aft of the beam. Use MAX_WIND_GUST=50 to set the maximum wind gust you are willing to tolerate.

If you would like to disable ocean current effects in the routing calculation, add a NO_CURRENT switch to your request.

You can also optionally include parameters to adjust your polar performance and motoring criteria. To set the polar performance adjustment, use PERFORMANCE_ADJUSTMENT=90 (e.g. 90%). Use START_MOTORING=3 (e.g. 3 kn) to set the boat speed at which you will start motoring. Use MOTORING_SPEED=7 (e.g. 7 kn) to set the speed at which you motor.

Departure Planning Requests

You can also get departure planning results from FastSeas via email. To get departure planning results, send an email like the following:

The reply email will contain an attached table with your departure planning data.

The FastSeas email responder also supports Garmin inReach and other short message satellite communicators such as Zoleo, Spot, and Bivy Stick. Messages on these devices are generally limited to 160 characters of plain text - and so this imposes some limitations on what FastSeas can send.

Garmin inReach Routing Requests

InReach devices usually automatically provide your current location in messages sent from the device, so there is no need to provide your current/start position latitude and longitude when submitting routing and departure planning requests from your inReach device. If you wish to specify a departure position different from the position automatically reported by you inReach device, then you certainly may include both departure and destination positions in your request.

When sending a request from an inReach device, you must include the EMAIL parameter, specifying the email address you registered with (see the Account tab) . This is required because messages from inReach devices do not provide a reply email address.

Example routing request:

Zoleo, Spot, or Bivy Stick Routing Requests

When sending a request from Zoleo, Spot, Bivy Stick, or other short message satellite communicator device, you must include the SHORT parameter, which tells FastSeas to respond using the short message format. You must also include both the start and destination latitude and longitude.

Some devices may require reply messages to be shorter than 160 characters. For example, Spot devices have a 140 character limit. You can configure different maximum reply message length using the MSGLEN parameter as shown in the example below:

Example Routing Request Response

Response messages are limited to 160 characters, so FastSeas will by default send a single compact reply message - consisting of the next 4 positions along the optimum route at 6 hour intervals. For example:

Where (looking at the first row of data):

If you need more waypoints, you can send a request with the optional WAYPOINTS and INTERVAL parameters, where WAYPOINTS determines how many waypoints will be sent (default is 4 waypoints), and INTERVAL determines how many hours between each waypoint (default is 6 hours). For example:

The example request above will send 24 waypoints with 4 hour interval between each waypoint. If you request more data than can fit in a single 160 character message, then FastSeas will reply with multiple messages. The example request above will result in a chain of 6 messages being sent in reply.

Departure planning responses to inReach and short message devices are similarly brief. The default response will include a single day (departing today) of departure planning stats sent in a single messages. Example request:

Example response:

You can request several days of departure planning results by specifying the optional PLANS parameter in your request. The example request below requests 5 days of departure planning stats, which will result in 5 separate response messages being sent to your inReach device:

Vessel Performance

A polar diagram is a common way of depicting vessel performance in various wind conditions. The diagram plots boat speed at various true wind angles and wind speeds. The true wind angle is indicated around the edge of the semicircle. Boat speed is then plotted at various true wind speeds - different color lines representing different true wind speeds. The boat speed is indicated as the distance from the center of the circle. Concentric circles indicate boat speed starting at zero in the center of the circle and extending out at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 knots boat speed.

Create a Simple Polar

You can create a simple polar diagram for your vessel by providing the waterline length (LWL) and closest point of sail (this is half of what you tack through) below. Click the "Create" button and FastSeas will generate a simple polar diagram from these two data points. You can can then refine the resulting polar diagram by selecting the Edit option below.

You can create a simple polar diagram for your vessel by providing the waterline length (LWL). Click the "Create" button and FastSeas will generate a simple polar diagram from the provided LWL. You can can then refine the resulting polar diagram by selecting the Edit option below.

Edit My Polar

Edit the polar diagram for your vessel by entering boat speed values in the table below. In this table there are four columns for different true wind angles. True wind angles measure the direction of the win relevant to the bow of the vessel. A true wind angle of 0° represents wind coming directly from the bow, and 180° represents wind coming directly from the stern. Sailing vessels should enter the closest point of sail in the first column header. The table has six rows for different true wind speeds (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 knots). In each cell in the table, enter your boat's speed in knots for the given true wind angle and true wind speed. The polar diagram will be automatically updated as you enter this data. Your polar will be automatically saved in your account for reuse on your next visit.

Import/Export Polar

Use this option to import a polar created elsewhere; or to create a more complex polar than is possible using the Edit option above; or to export and save your polar for safe-keeping or for re-use in some other routing application.

Paste your qtVlm , OpenCpn , or iPolar formatted polar data in the window below and click the Import button.

Route Positions

Passage stats, departure planning.

Departure planning will calculate estimated route statistics based on the departure date/time, start location, and finish location that you configure on the Routing tab. It will calculate these stats on one day departure intervals starting with the departure date you specify on the Routing tab. These stats are rough estimates and intended for comparison of potential departure dates.

Administration

User accounts.

Ok, time for some common sense...

• FastSeas will not avoid reefs or other navigational hazards. Use real charts and your eyeballs for that.
• FastSeas will not keep you safe from localized weather phenomena (squalls, waterspouts, etc.).
• FastSeas will not keep you safe from cyclones/hurricanes.
• FastSeas will not keep you safe from piracy risks.
• Every Captain is responsible for the safety of their own vessel and crew. FastSeas is no substitute.
• All data presented by FastSeas is generated by computer models subject to error and deviation from reality. Use at your own risk.

You have imported custom polar data. If you edit it here, your imported polar data will be modified and likely significantly simplified in order to fit the data entry screen.

Are you sure you want to proceed?

When switching between "Sail" and "Power", FastSeas will generate a new "Simple" polar and your existing polar will be replaced/lost.

Calculating - Please Wait...

Terms and conditions.

FastSeas offers a REST API to facilitate integration with third-party services and products. The FastSeas API supports weather routing, departure planning, and vessel polar generation requests. The API is implemented in a highly available and scalable architecture and is ready for your web-scale use cases. Please direct inquiries to Jeremy .

• Weather Routing using GFS wind forecast and ocean current Limit 5 requests per month
• Departure Planning Limit 5 requests per month

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FastSeas is a sailing passage planning tool. It will calculate the fastest route to take you from point A to point B given the current NOAA GFS weather forecast , current oceanic currents , the performance of your vessel, and your comfort criteria .

FastSeas is created by Jeremy Waters. Jeremy is a lifelong sailor with extensive cruising experience spanning the Western Mediterranean (Costa del Sol, Balearics, Algeria), Eastern Caribbean (Virgin Islands through Trinidad, Venezuela, and Bonaire), throughout The Bahamas, US The US Gulf and East coasts (Florida through Chesapeake), and a transatlantic.

If you have feedback, suggestions or questions, please email them to me.

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What weather forecast does FastSeas use?

Does fastseas consider the affects of current in calculating the best route, when are the gfs forecasts updated.

NOAA publishes GFS model data four times a day. The approximate times that FastSeas acquires these new data are shown below:

• 05:00 - 05:15 UTC for the 00z forecast
• 11:00 - 11:15 UTC for the 06z forecast
• 17:00 - 17:15 UTC for the 12z forecast
• 23:00 - 23:15 UTC for the 18z forecast

When is OSCAR data updated?

How does fastseas calculate passages that exceed the forecast duration, welcome to fastseas weather routing.

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Route Planner

Plan your sailing route.

Planning your sailing route is an important part of preparing for a sailing trip. There are various reasons why it is recommended to plan your route in advance. To begin with, choosing your sailing itinerary ensures your safety while out at sea. By researching and planning your route in advance, you may discover hazards such as rocks or shallow waters and avoid them, thereby keeping yourself and your passengers safe. Furthermore, choosing your route before your sailing trip permits you to visit all places you want and to make the most of your time aboard . This is particularly important if you are on a tight schedule or on a short trip.

Sailing Route Planner Tutorial

With our interactive boat route planner, you can plan your sailing trip down to the smallest detail. Our route planner tool allows you to choose your starting point and draw your desired sailing route. Once you're finished, the distance will be automatically calculated, and you can choose to have the sailing route sent to your email. Additionally, the boat route planner displays the coordinates of your starting and finishing points, so you can always know your exact location using your onboard instruments. Our boat route planner is the perfect tool to ensure the safety of your sailing trip. 

Click on the video on the right and see an example of how to plan your own sailing route.

Don't lose your route , receive it on your e-mail.

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Whether you call them charts or a sailing sea map we don’t mind! Either way, our designers have built savvy Charts™ to show you essential marine information that’s easy to understand, without the clutter. View our chart coverage . 

Sailing Route Planner

Passage planning is time-consuming but with savvy navvy you can plot a route to sail in seconds on any device, a great cross-check for traditional navigation. Tap the screen to drop a pin at your start and finish locations and the app will calculate the best route to sail, taking into account essential marine information and your boat settings.

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No one likes to be late but when it comes to sailing it can be tricky to be accurate when it comes to your arrival. With savvy navvy we do all the work for you. Plot a route to get an automatically predicted ETA based on wind, weather, tide and chart data. Click to share the route with your friends and family so they know you’re safe.

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Sometimes in home waters that you know well you just want to go sailing without plotting a route, we get it. That’s why savvy navvy has a “GPS view” which enables you to check your COG and SOG and easily calculate distances to key landmarks around you with ease.

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Instead of using a dedicated marine weather app, you can now check the predicted wind direction and strength in the savvy navvy app. By using the slider you can easily view the changing wind pattern throughout the day. Read more savvy weather models

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You may be used to using a dedicated marine weather app but with savvy navvy you can check the weather forecast for your location by dropping a pin on the chart to instantly view the weather forecast, wind speed and direction for that area. Use the toggle to see the changing effects of the weather over the next few days.

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Adjust your engine and cruising speed settings to enable savvy navvy to calculate your estimated fuel consumption. Never worry about running out of fuel again.

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See at a glance the best time to depart based on your route, wind & tidal conditions, see the demo .

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Get an automatic CTS and preview your route when planning a sailing trip with savvy routing™. Our routing algorithm uses wind, weather and tide data to give you a proper passage plan with Course to Steer information.

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Used to using Google Maps to inspect key locations for your sailing trip? Now you can do it in the savvy navvy app! Just switch from Map to Satellite mode to take a closer look! We also have a night mode too.

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Planning to sail out of range of signal? Download savvy charts™ and weather when sailing offshore so you can keep using all the app features whilst you’re away.

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You can use your savvy passage plan by exporting the route to a GPX file that can then be uploaded to your boat chartplotter.

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• How to plan your sailing route properly

How do you plan a sailing route to get the most out of your voyage? Let’s take a look at all the factors to consider when choosing a route. Follow our guidelines and you’ll be rewarded with a perfect boating holiday that the whole crew will remember for years to come.

Before you begin planning the route

The choice of  destination is crucial to a successful voyage. That’s how you determine all the options available to you when planning the route. A sailors ’s initial step should therefore be to research  the destinations with regard to the experience of the crew, the weather  and the voyage dates .

If you don't do this, you could easily end up heading to Italy in August , when the whole country is on vacation and spending the trip packed like sardines. Likewise,   in the Aegean the Meltemi winds  blow during July and August , which could turn your sailing vacation into a bit of a nightmare.

YACHTING.COM TIP: If you're not a seasoned sea dog yet, try sailing in an area where conditions are beginner-friendly. We recommend the first route in our article — Where to sail in Croatia: find the best sailing route for you  or the southern  or  northern Ionian Sea  in  Greece .

Follow these 10 yachting commandments before booking your boat

Before booking your boat ,   it’s good to  ask yourself some questions  and choose the destination and  route   accordingly.   This ensures you take away with you only wonderful shared memories and plans of where to go next.

1. What are the expectations of each crew member? 

If you want an active, adrenaline-fuelled sailing holiday, you’ll be fired up by a different destination to someone planning a relaxing cruise with a group of friends.

Is it a diverse crew?  It's conceivable that you'll have adventurers on board who want to sail from morning to night with the motto "the bigger the wind and waves, the better," as well as those who wish to bathe in deserted bays, snorkel, hunt for shells, and spend evenings at anchor far from civilization. Maybe you’ll even have friends who just want to spend all day moored in harbours, going to restaurants, bars and discos.

In these cases it's obviously very difficult to reconcile everyone’s expectations. The ideal solution is to meet up before you book the boat and try to reach a compromise which will appeal to everyone, no matter how impossible it seems.

2. What yachting infrastructure and sailing conditions do I need? 

An experienced sailor will prefer a place with more challenging conditions and a strong wind, but they won't mind bad weather or insufficient infrastructure. Beginners appreciate an abundance of safe harbours, high-quality services, and predictable weather.

That’s why you should also research the yachting infrastructure when making your choice. If you’re used to Croatia ’s extensive network of moorings and harbours, then you might be caught off guard in Greece . Look up potential anchorages en route and plan your voyage around them (such as choosing an island with a mooring sheltered from various sides ).

3. What do you want to experience during the voyage? 

Do you want to fully immerse yourself in sailing or do you want to combine it with other activities? Diving enthusiasts will be enamoured with a location teeming with life beneath the waves, others will be charmed by places jam-packed with historical monuments or captivating natural scenery. Choose your ideal location according to the interests and needs of the crew , so there’s something for everyone.

4. How many nautical miles do we want to cover?

You can sail 80 or 400 NM in a week. The first promises comfortable, relaxing sailing of two hours a day. For the rest of the day you can have your fill of swimming, snorkelling, romance and rest.

The longer distance would require 10 hours of sailing a day , long crossings motoring or under the sails. You’ll likely experience some great yachting, see plenty of places and have many experiences, unfortunately including seasickness and struggling to sleep at night on choppy seas. In a fore cabin, it can be as difficult as trying to fall asleep in a washing machine .

During the planning, you might bump heads with yachting beginners. When they look at the map, they imagine that in one week they’ll cover all the Croatian islands from north to south and back again. It’s good to remind them that novice sailors must listen to their captain, who has a clear idea of what can be achieved in a week. A little explanation can help. Average sailing speed is 5 to 7 kn (depending on the size of the sails), which is 9 to 13 km/h. It’s 340 NM from Dubrovnik to Biograd and back, which is approximately 70 hours of motor sailing time (6 days of almost 12 hours’ sailing every day). Probably nobody’s idea of fun.

Check out popular sailing destinations:

Yachting and accessible hiking routes

Discover Corfu: sailing adventure in the Ionian

5 best sailing routes in the Bahamas

Yachting guide to the Bahamas

Sailing the Maldives: paradise

Croatia in autumn? A definite yes!

Top marinas in Montenegro

Yachting without crowds

Top marinas in Croatia

YACHTING.COM  TIP:  D uring the preparation and planning you can use the hugely popular Navionics boat navigation app. For other handy yachting apps are that are well worth downloading, take a look at our  10 best smartphone apps for sailors .

5. Will you be sailing with kids? 

Families with children  value stable weather and calm, warm sea and deserted, sandy bays accessible only by sea. Choose the route so that you can have adequate stops along the way. Daily sailing trips should be kept short, so the kids don’t get bored . Sailing in calm weather is ideal so mums don’t have to worry about the kids’ safety.

Children appreciate activities off the boat as well. Choose a location where kids will be able to explore islands, deserted fortresses and lighthouses, cool down with an ice cream or have fun with their water toys. If the kids are older, it’s important to find interesting places for snorkelling and exploring . See also our kid-friendly sailing itinerary .

YACHTING.COM TIP: If you are sailing with children, do not forget the main principles of safe sailing. Choose appropriate safety features, adjust the route and choose the boat with the whole family in mind. You can find out how in our article:  Sailing with kids: how to keep all of you safe and happy .

6. When are you sailing? What will the weather conditions be like?

Choose your destination according to the dates you're going to ensure your safety at sea . If you choose well, it can take your sailing holiday to a whole new level and save yourself a lot of worry. Consider the expected weather and wind conditions carefully when making your choice.

• Is it high season in your chosen destination? Be prepared for crowded marinas and higher prices. However, in the autumn you can sail for cheaper and will be able to see more. Take a look at our article on 5 reasons to set sail in autumn . And if you want to find out which autumn sailing destinations to choose for pleasant weather and favourable winds, check out — Autumn sailing: top destinations, rental boats and tips .
• Are there commonly unfavourable winds on your chosen dates in your preferred destination? If so, it would be better to select another date, especially if you’re relatively inexperienced.
• Are you travelling with children ? Do you love to swim? Be sure to research air and water temperature as well.
• Do you like exploring inland and want to experience  some real sailing ? Set off in spring. Outside of peak season, you’ll enjoy great sailing and lower prices.

7. What size boat do I want and what is its draught? 

Choose the places you want to visit with the size and draught of the boat in mind . If you love small fishing harbours, then you won’t get into this kind of harbour with a catamaran or 57-foot boat. Even a racing boat with a 2.7-metre draught might not be the right choice. This mainly concerns old harbours in Greece, Spain, France, Turkey and Italy .

What else is worth thinking about when planning your sailing route?

8. sailing off the beaten track.

In every sailing region, there are standard routes  that most boats follow, taking in the most interesting and beautiful places. When you do these routes you’ll be enthralled, but in high season there’ll be boats everywhere, loads of people, full harbours and moorings and busy restaurants.

If you head off the beaten sailing path , you’ll have a chance of uncovering small bays with neither people nor boats even in high season. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever be completely alone, but it will still be a big difference compared to the main yachting ‘draws’.

9. Location accessibility 

A deserted paradise on earth where you can moor the yacht of your dreams will remain just a dream if you can’t fly there or get there by car.

10. Validity of captain’s licence

It’s the exclusive right of every country to decide whether it wants to accept a licence. Charter companies often decide on the basis of experience and habit. You should therefore also check whether your licence is valid in your chosen country or contact us.  If you don't have a licence already, check out our comparison of international certifications . You can even take the prestigious RYA sailing course with us .

Don’t be afraid to change route and improvise

Don’t set the route in stone, so you can leave room to improvise and be flexible depending on the weather. It’s also good to factor in some extra time and a "lazy day".

Route planning does not end with setting sail . At sea, you always have to adapt to the weather and wind direction. If your planned route does not work with the weather forecast, just change it .  

It doesn’t make sense to fight against strong winds for hours, when half the crew are seasick and when you could use the tailwind to sail comfortably to another beautiful spot. In short, wind direction is the most important deciding factor in regard to the route.

For example, you’re planning to sail south from Šibenik to Hvar and Vis. However, a strong Jugo is forecast for the first half of the week followed by a weaker Bora . If you keep to the original plan, you’ll be struggling against strong winds and waves in the first half of the week and again in the second half. The crew — unless they’re a bunch of yachting "freaks" — will definitely not thank you. However, if you change plans and sail in the direction of Kornati and Dugi Otok, then you’ll sail on a tailwind the first half of the week and your change of tack will be swift and comfortable. In the second half of the week when the wind reverses direction, you’ll be sailing back again comfortably downwind. The crew will be happy, especially when they hear stories from other crews who didn’t change course.

Are you in the planning stages and need advice? We’re happy to help you choose a destination and route , so that it fulfills all of your requirements and expectations. We will even help you pick the most suitable boat . With many years of yachting experience, we know the best spots with all their beauty and challenges.

Which boat are you taking to your dream destination?

We've got the route, let's pick a boat get in contact..

Denisa Nguyenová

SimSail is a free software for navigation, weather analysis, sailing route planning and performance analysis.

The strength of SimSail is to access a very large number of parameters. If current data exists, the wind received by the boat for the calculation of the routing will be the wind-surface resulting from the combination of the current and the wind, which corresponds to the reality.

The routing can be multi gribs of wind and current, multi road segments and multi-boats including compensated times from ratings.

SimSail can be connected to a navigation data system in order to analyse the performance of the boat and compare the actual navigation data with the routing.

SimSail is a simulation tool because it artificially reproduces the operation of a sailboat in its environment, using a computer program for purposes of study, demonstration or explanation.

Mercator projection and with full scrolling in longitude (infinite map)

Coordinates in WGS84 format

Everything is in orthodromy

Nautical raster charts SnMap (sold by ScanNav) and BSB

Nautical vector charts S - 57 and CM93

Terrestrial maps Google, IGN (France), OpenStreetMap and Microsoft Bing

World coastlines with coastal cities and capitals

Bathymetry (European Marine Observation and Data)

Connection to instruments (serial or wifi) with display of the boat and all the navigation data

Laylines upwind and downwind

Configurable repeaters with graphs

AIS (Automatic Identification System) with list of targets

Complete tool of measure of distance

Tides at many locations in the world with tide graph

Sun and moon rise and set

World magnetic declination

Grib file of wind (edition 1 and 2) with display of wind, gusts, isobars, precipitation, humidity, total cloud cover, temperature and convection

Grib files of currents and waves (edition 1 and 2)

All gribs of wind and current can be modified in intensity and lag

Perpetual current atlas for the area from Belgium to Spain

SHOM tidal streams included

Direct request of gribs from Great Circle (subscription required at Great Circle)

Email requests for Saildocs and Great Circle

Weather graph and Tide graph

Water and air particle trajectory

Weather pointer

Automatic routing or control of all parameters

Routing sailing, dual with sailing and motoring with fuel consumption and, motoring only

Cargo ship routing with polar

Routing by Isochrones, at the best course or on the route

Routing on multiple legs of route

Routing from the boat and/or to the active waypoint

Routing with multi gribs of wind and current

Imposed waypoint (pivot point on isochrone)

Integration of the current into all routing calculations (wind and boat)

Avoidance of coasts and barriers defined by the user

Avoidance of thunderstorms, weak or strong wind and high waves

Multiple routings by scan of variables (polar, wind – strength & lag, current – strength & lag, time of departure and several boats)

Numerous tools of visualization of the routing (display of all conditions met on a route step by step and global statistics)

More than 500 polars provided with possibility to modify them (1)

Functionalities

Automatic backup of the working environment

Backup and trace analysis (NMEA data)

Trace converter in CSV format

Performance tests at sea for periods of time

Simulator to configure repeaters

Languages: French, English, Dutch, Spanish

Routes, marks, barriers and traffic separation devices in GPX format

Compatible with high definition screens (High DPI)

Borderless window, with integrated icon bar, to maximize workspace

[1] some come from www.sailgrib.com

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Sailboat Cruising and Lifestyle Magazine.

World Cruising Routes and Voyage Planner

Planning an ocean voyage on a sailboat requires careful preparation and research. You need to consider factors such as the route, the weather, the equipment, the crew, the budget, and the safety measures. Here are two resources you can’t go without.

World Cruising Routes

World Cruising Routes is the go-to guidebook for long-distance navigators, cruisers, and sailors. It contains over 1,000 routes to destinations all over the globe rich with essential weather information, waypoints, and advice for safe passage making.

“Some routes start as a dream and end as a nightmare.” The first sentence in World Cruising Routes sets the stage for the rest of the book – how to plan your routes for successful passages. The contents include:

• Winds and currents of each major ocean and sea.
• Routes in the Atlantic Ocean are divided into North Atlantic, transequatorial routes, and South Atlantic.
• Routes in the Pacific Ocean are divided into North Pacific, far east, transequatorial, and South Pacific.
• Routes of the Indian Ocean are divided into North Atlantic, transequatorial, and South Indian Ocean.
• Routes in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

World Voyage Planner

This book is a comprehensive strategy and informational guide for planning a voyage. It takes the sailor from any port to wherever they’d like to go.

The contents of World Voyage Planner includes:

• World Weather Patterns Month by Month, Ocean by Ocean
• Planning an Ocean Voyage to the Caribbean from different continents
• Routes to the Mediterranean Sea from All Major Ports in the World
• Planning Voyages to North America and Northern Europe
• How to Sail to South America and Antarctica
• Voyage planning to South Africa
• Circumnavigations of various Oceans and Sea
• Pacific Routes to Fiji, Mexico, Asia, Australia, and Other Destinations
• Route planning in the Indian Ocean
• And an Entire Section on Global Circumnavigation

The book is designed to guide the sailor in planning large voyages. It’s meant to be a companion to the World Cruising Routes .

Preview the contents of Word Voyage Planner and purchasing options on Amazon.

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Let us help you plan the perfect sailing trip

Provide your travel details, receive free offer and enjoy your holiday!

A sailing vacation can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of your life. However, those considering heading out to sea, especially for the first time, should not take it lightly as it can be pretty challenging.   

Before you venture into this unforgettable adventure, there are eight critical elements to consider in order to create and enjoy the ideal sailing trip.    

1. Before you set sail 

Organising a sailing holiday can be quite a bit more challenging than your ordinary summer holiday. There are many elements to consider, so any essential sailing tips and advice should be welcomed with open arms. However, if done correctly, a sailing holiday will become your best holiday decision yet! 

In this modern era, information about almost everything is just a click of a mouse away. So why not use a boat route planner to prepare for everything you will need for a sailing adventure.

With all the technological advantages at your disposal, preparing for a sailing adventure nowadays can be easy and quick. 

Some user-friendly apps can be handy and make your everyday life on board much more effortless. You just need to know where to look on the internet!

Useful Apps 

Google maps & google earth.

Google will be your first and primary assistant when organising your perfect sailing trip.

Using their easy-to-navigate map system is one of the best ways to get basic information about your current location.  

Given that it is free and accessible with almost any smartphone, it is the most helpful tool to have. 

Tip: Make sure to download the maps of the area you will be visiting beforehand to navigate even when there is no internet access.

MarineTraffic

Marine Traffic is extremely useful to use when navigating places with lots of naval traffic. The app uses the signal from your phone to find AIS (Automatic Identification System) information in your area. This system is used to supplement radar information to ensure collision avoidance.

This provides you with much-needed information about surrounding ships, especially if there is heavy fog or other adverse weather conditions. It can also be beneficial in high traffic areas like the Corinth Canal in Greece .

The app has a free version, where the essential information is available, and several paid options with more features. 

PredictWind 

To make sure there are no nasty surprises while at sea, a dedicated weather app is essential. 

PredictWind has a user-friendly interface where you can input your chosen route and find out what predicted weather conditions await you on your way.

The app pulls information from various sources, which can be changed in the settings, depending on your preference towards the US or the European weather models. 

2. Starting point

Firstly, you need to decide what part of this beautiful planet you wish to explore. Knowing where to sail and at which time of year to do it is crucial to your overall experience. Some places are best avoided at certain times of the year due to either bad weather conditions, local restrictions or high season crowds. Also, be sure to check for national and religious holidays in the period of your choice, as they often restrict the working hours of local businesses. 

The best way to determine which destination to pick for your sailing vacation is by answering these questions for yourself:

• Where do I want to go?

If you have decided to go on a sailing holiday but are not quite sure which country to visit, there are plenty of options to choose from. Make sure to explore your options and choose a destination that will suit you perfectly.

Our guide on the most popular sailing destinations in the Mediterranean should help you make the final decision.  

• When do I want to go on my sailing trip?

Although summer seems like the most obvious choice, sailing can be enjoyed for most of the year, depending on your preferences and location. 

If you are looking to have your sailing trip in Europe, the sailing season starts around mid-spring and can last until the end of October. 

Some locations like the Canary Islands , which enjoy a subtropical climate, are suited for sailing even in the middle of winter.

• What is my budget?

Sailing vacations can get expensive quite quickly. Therefore, it is essential to stay ahead of your finances and calculate all of your known expenses to avoid surprises. 

Some destinations in Croatia and Turkey are better suited for smaller budgets while sailing trendy destinations like Santorini in Greece or Costa Smeralda on Sardinia can get quite expensive.

However, the most important thing to consider is the type of boat you will be chartering as the prices can vary massively.

3. Sailing experience

Unless you hire a professional crew, sailing is a very active and hands-on holiday experience. Plan your sailing route following the people that will be with you. It is not the same if you are sailing with a group of friends or taking your family and small children. There should be at least one person with some previous sailing experience. When at sea, mistakes can quickly happen and can be costly. Consider who will be coming on board with you and consider hiring a local skipper. Doing so will help navigate local areas and find the best-hidden spots to anchor, making the journey much more enjoyable.  

If you wish to be fully prepared for your sailing trip, these are the basic steps you should consider:

• Familiarise yourself with the basic nautical terminology
• Learn about the different parts of a boat
• Practice some fundamental sailing knots    

4. Logistical requirements

Familiarise yourself with the infrastructure of the areas you will be visiting. Knowledge of local marinas, ports and anchorages will save you from unnecessary stress. Some countries offer better sailing infrastructure than others which can mean all the difference when sailing, especially for those less experienced. Also, be sure to have your license sorted out, as you could be facing fines if stopped by the local authorities without having proper documentation. 

• Most of the more significant marinas in the Mediterranean have their own websites where you can find the most recent information and check vacancies.
• For information on smaller harbours and ports, check the website of the town or region you are visiting. The local tourist information centre should have all the information you’ll need.

5. Holiday intensity

When planning your sailing route, consider the distance you are willing to travel during the trip. Make use of one of many sailing distance calculators and boat route planners available online, primarily the one integrated within Google maps. There is a big difference between sailing 100 nautical miles or sailing 300 nautical miles in a week. It is also dependent on the type of vessel you will be chartering. Some boats are better suited for longer distances than others. Motorboats are also less dependent on weather conditions and winds than sailboats and catamarans . Finally, keep in mind that stopping at each marina or port requires time and preparation. 

Additionally, the size and experience of your crew will be detrimental to the nature of your sailing trip. The more experienced people there are on deck, the chance of any nasty surprises decreases.  

Always be mindful of the weakest swimmers on board and make sure they either wear their life jackets or have quick access to them.   

6. Be flexible

Keep in mind the unpredictability of weather and be prepared to adapt accordingly. Unlike holidaying at a resort or hotel, sailing holidays are heavily dependent on weather conditions. As a result, sail routes and itineraries can become obsolete if you are forced to remain anchored for a day or two due to bad weather. 

Familiarise yourself with the area you’re visiting, and be prepared to improvise and adjust if needed. Make sure to check the weather conditions at least three times a day.

In case of an approaching storm when at sea, remain calm and organise your duties efficiently.

Hiring a local skipper can help you massively if caught in bad weather and provide you with alternative destinations and activities if the circumstances change. 

Nothing is set in stone when you venture out to sea, so thinking on your feet and being flexible is of utmost importance.

7. Be adventurous 

Sailing along popular routes and visiting popular tourist destinations often means dealing with high sea traffic and big crowds of tourists. This can lead to congestion in marinas, especially in smaller towns scattered around the Adriatic and the Mediterranean. However, if you decide to be a bit more adventurous and head off the beaten sailing path, you’ll have a chance of uncovering small coves and bays with a bit more privacy and space.

Sailing is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in your surroundings and embrace the customs and traditions of the country you are visiting. 

Sometimes it is better to avoid the top tourist destinations and try exploring places off the beaten path. All Mediterranean countries are full of charming coastal villages and secluded harbours , just waiting to be explored.  

Destinations like Croatia and Greece have an abundance of small islands where one can get lost and easily find a secluded cove just for themselves.

If you have a skipper with you, they will be more than happy to take you to some of their favourite spots in the area. 

8. Plan your days

Even though sailing can be overwhelming, especially for beginners, it can also be the most fulfilling holiday you will ever take. It is essential to plan your days: for example, who will be in charge of what duties, where you will spend the night and what activities will be on the agenda that day. There is something truly magical about spending a week on the sea. Your morning coffee or tea will taste better. Meals made onboard will feel like a unique culinary experience, while swimming and snorkelling away from the crowded beaches will make you wish you could spend every summer holiday on a boat.

Checklist before you set sail:

• Make sure you have just enough provisions - enough food and water for a couple of days at least
• Check that all of the onboard equipment works - including the radio, stove, toilet, etc.   
• Pack proper clothing and nothing more - space is limited, so make sure to pack only the necessary things (and don’t forget something in case of bad weather)
• Stock up on medical supplies - make sure to have a robust first aid kit which will come in handy in case of an accident far away from any hospital
• Bring some entertainment - books, board games, and playing cards are ideal for relaxing after a long day at sea  

Map Your Route Yacht distance calculator

Map your route.

You can plan your sailing journey down to the last detail with our interactive distance calculator. Select points on the map below to plot your route. Enter the speed, fuel consumption, and fuel cost to determine the total cost of the trip.

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Planning a route

How do you work out where to sail your PlainSailing.com charter yacht or catamaran? Here's our top ideas!

Having read all the great reviews, and found their site super-easy to navigate, you’ve just booked an amazing sailing charter holiday with PlainSailing.com – but now what? How do you work out where to take it?

It’s your holiday, so it’s entirely up to you exactly where to go (even if you are on a skippered charter – the skipper will sail you wherever you want to go, so it is your call).

There are a few different ways you can use to plan the best itinerary for your holiday:

 1. Follow someone else’s plan 

This method is great because the route is tried and tested, and because you don’t have to do any of the heavy thinking, but if you don’t research the sailing area, it might mean that you miss out on something you find personally fascinating (but which might not appeal to whoever wrote the original itinerary).  

 2. Use Our Sailing Distance Calculator 

You can find your charter start point and click around to find distances between islands, ports, or even countries. As a vague rule, about 20 nautical miles a day of sailing will allow for a leisurely ‘holiday’ pace, with about 4-6 hours at sea. Much shorter and the time at sea might be too short, and much longer and the days turn in to a bit of a slog (and less of a holiday) - all the PlainSailing.com destination guides aim to cover 110 to 120 nautical miles over 6 days of sailing.

The Sailing Distance Calculator is an overlay to Google maps, is completely FREE to use (and no need to register), and can be used to measure anything in nautical miles – from anywhere to anywhere, and around anything. For instance, sailing around Sicily would be a circumnavigation of about 450 nautical miles!  

 3. Use Imray charts on your tablet 

You can also use it to set waypoints for a detailed itinerary, and even take it aboard with you on your tablet or smartphone. Easy.  

 4. Decide when you get there 

This method means that you can’t get too excited about going to any particular place in advance, but it also means you shouldn’t be too disappointed if you don’t manage to get there either.  

 5. Go with the wind 

And maybe even changing the plan as you go through the day (“This bay is amazing, let’s stay here and swim for another couple of hours”).

The plan is that there is no plan (but obviously still paying attention to weather forecasts and making sure that you’re always safe).

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Route-planning Software Review

Visual passage planner software based on historic weather patterns..

By the time U.S. Naval Observatory Superintendent Matthew Fontaine Maury completed his systematic study of the worlds ocean currents and winds in the mid-1800s, the Age of Sail was nearly over. Soon enough, Fultons little experiment with steam cut the value of Maurys data in half.

Maury used thousands of ships logs to produce the first pilot chart of the North Atlantic in 1847. His book, The Physical Geography of the Sea, published in 1855, is regarded by many as the bible of oceanography.

Maurys work may be collecting dust, but wind data is again a valuable commodity. As the Age of Windpower gains force, the Earths surface and atmosphere bristle with wind sensors. Orbiting satellites use scatterometry to measure near-surface winds over the ocean. Wind (and current) data from satellites, weather buoys, and autonomous craft spills into vast databases accessible via the Internet, ready to be mined.

The biggest beneficiaries of this wind-sensor explosion are wind-energy firms, but offshore sailors reap the benefits as well. Sea-buoy data give us real-time snapshots of wind and sea state. And we have at our disposal a variety of weather-routing programs to crunch this data.

Far overshadowed by this vast data stream, Maurys work stubbornly lives on. The U.S. Atlas of Pilot Charts (Publications 105-109) is the direct descendant of Maurys first Atlantic charts, and PS recently had the chance to look at a passage-planning software, Visual Passage Planner, that is based on the pilot charts.

Developed by Pennsylvania-based Digital Wave, the software is simple to use. You just select the month you will be sailing, zoom in to the area of your passage, and start dropping waypoints. Select from the top menu what data layers you would like to see. Choices include wind, current, sea state, water temperature, and air temperature. The wind layer instantly yields a grid of wind roses, indicating the average wind strength and direction, as well as the number of days of calm, for the charts time period.

For this evaluation, we decided to use the Visual Passage Planner to re-create a historic passage by Joseph Conrad in 1888. By Conrads account, retold in the semi-autobiographical novella The Shadow Line, the passage was hellish. On this, his first command, he was stuck with an unfamiliar ship, the iron barque Otago , in an unfamiliar port (Bangkok), with a crew stricken by tropical disease. The previous captain had died on board, and the first mate was convinced the ship was haunted by his ghost. The trying passage to Singapore, just 820 miles away, took an excruciatingly slow 21 days.

So what took the Otago so long?

Using Visual Passage Planner, we dialed in February for the Gulf of Thailand (Conrads Gulf of Siam) and had a look at what Conrad faced. A couple of wind roses in the center of the Gulf were intimidating ­-11 days of calm, nine days of calm, 10 days of calm. Along the east side of the Gulf, however, one could see fewer calms, and the variable directions suggested land and sea breezes.

Under sail, provided you were confident enough to follow a coast-wise route, you could play the land breezes at night, and if you were lucky, the sea breeze during the day.

How much time would you save taking this route? We used Visual Passage Planner to evaluate several different routes. We also tried the programs Auto Route Optimization feature, which picks what route it thinks you would like, based on your preferences. (A no ghosts preference is not an option.)

Projected passage times will, of course, depend on what you are sailing, and you establish this by entering some basic information about your boat in your vessel profile. The vessel profile setup asks for your waterline length and allows you four choices of sailboat displacement types: light displacement, heavy displacement, multihull, and race.

With this information, the software generates boat speed/wind velocity curves for four points of sail: beat, close reach, broad reach, and run. You can manually adjust these curves to suit the boats performance and select the percentage of predicted speed to be used in simulation. For instance, if theres some heavy chop slowing you down, you might hit only 60 percent of the predicted maximum on a beat. Once youve set your vessel profile and picked your route, you can generate a variety of table-like reports. The vessel performance report provides details like distance sailed, speed made good, average wind force, and the mean wind directions for each leg.

This passage planner shouldnt be compared to true weather-routing software like the weather-routing module from MaxSea, which uses a boats polar data to evaluate real-time routing. The U.S. Pilot Chart data used by Visual Passage Planner is based on historic averages, not real-time wind speeds. Coastal routes, in particular, can vary greatly from the historical average.

Coming up with a vessel profile for the Otago, a barque with a waterline length of approximately 147 feet, required some minor tweaks. The software assumes that even a heavy-displacement vessel can beat upwind at 45 degrees true. The closest reach on Otago was probably closer to 66 degrees true. By adjusting the wind velocity/speed curve, we were able to generate a close approximation for the Otagos performance.

So what was the score? According to the Vessel Prediction Program, the rhumb line route from Bangkok to Singapore should have taken Conrad just over seven days. The slowest route took 14 days, and included a long zag into the middle of the Gulf of Thailand. In fact, finding a route that matched Conrads ultra-slow, 21-day February passage required some significant detours from the rhumb line.

The result highlighted a key point about Visual Passage Planner. It doesn’t matter if the passage youre planning is in 1880 or 2012, the predicted passage times for many passages can be misleading, particularly when applied to short coastal routes. All it takes is one stalled low or passing front to upset the typical wind pattern.

Long tradewind routes are more likely to match historical patterns. Winds are more reliable, and the long passage time will balance out inconsistencies.

Mostly, this is a fun program to fiddle around with, dream, and ask questions like: Can I sail to New Zealand before the Rugby World Cup?

We found the interface to be straightforward and the program was relatively stable. You can download Visual Passage Planner for $120, or buy the DVD for $130 at the Digital Wave website. A limited, 30-day trial download is free. And if you don’t like computers, but still want to sail among Maurys windroses, you can download free PDF versions of U.S. Pilot Charts through the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency web portal. Another option is Jimmy Cornells World Cruising Routes, a hefty guide that includes discussions of the worlds main cruising routes.

And for real-time weather, a peek out the companionway and a tap on the barometer usually offer some useful information as well.

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Soon for release: Routes for Sailors — free, quick and simple new feature

When do I have to leave to be in marina on time?! Every sailor has once experienced confusion while planning a journey thinking about wind forecast, depressions avoiding, crew comfort, being on time in marina — all at once.

Using the third parties sophisticated weather routing tools could help. But this decision may seem too complex, expensive and a bit too much, especially for 1-day family trip.

Soon you can use our new exceptional feature — Routes for Sailors! It is free, quick and simple. It will give you estimated time on route, measures distances, simulates sailing routes based on wind information.

How could you make a sailing route on the Windy.app site in the future

1. Go to the Wind Map Routing feature on this website:

2. Choose starting point of your trip, click on the map and then to "Add to route" button. Do it again and again making a route.

If you want to remove a part of the route, click on "Remove" button. Each time you also see the wind speed and direction and time in the point:

3. Click on "Calculate time" button in the left upper corner of the map. That's how you will get the approximate time it takes to sail along the route. For example, to sail around the Italian island Sardinia will take 90.6 hours (420 nm).

Important: Routes for Sailors is a beta feature we are working on. It considers changing wind forecast and boat specifics — it's Hanse400e polars implemented. Help us to make it by sending your feedback to [email protected] .

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