PredictWind, the marine weather forecaster trusted by more than a million sailors and mariners worldwide, has added two new features to Climate Data, its tool for exploring historical weather patterns.

Passage Guide shows cruisers and powerboaters the best time of year to make passages around the globe, while new time segments assist racers and boaters by breaking average conditions down into morning, afternoon and night.

“For sailors, the big decisions, like where to go, what month to leave and how to set up the boat, are usually made months earlier,” said Jon Bilger, PredictWind Founder. “Passage Guide and time segments put years of weather history behind those decisions, so sailors aren’t left guessing.”

PredictWind:::: Time segments show what to expect at any race venue in the world at the time the racing takes place © Predictwind

Passage Guide: know the best months to sail any passage

Passage Guide shows sailors the best months to make passages around the world. Using more than 10 years of historical weather data, it rates each month Good, Marginal or Avoid on a color-coded chart. Each passage also gets an in-depth written summary covering wind, wave and temperature trends, recommended departure windows, planning notes and the limits of the data.

Passage Guide shows cruisers and powerboaters the best time of year to make passages around the globe – photo © Predictwind

It works both ways. Cruisers and powerboaters who know the passage they want to make can see the best months to go, while those who already know when they’re leaving can browse passages that line up with the best seasonal weather for that time of year.

Time segments: see how conditions change through the day

For racing sailors, the race starts long before the warning signal. Time segments show what to expect at any race venue in the world at the time the racing takes place, so teams can choose sails, select crew, configure and optimize the boat for the typical breeze and sea state.

Passage Guide shows cruisers and powerboaters the best time of year to make passages around the globe – photo © Predictwind

It’s not just for racers. Day sailors and boaters can see how a typical day shapes up at their local spot, weeks before the forecast covers the weekend, and plan trips around the months with the best conditions.

Climate Data’s wind and wave roses now show average conditions for morning (9am to 1pm), afternoon (1pm to 6pm) and night (6pm to 9am), with the 24-hour view still available for overall daily averages.

PredictWind: Time segments show what to expect at any race venue in the world at the time the racing takes place – photo © Predictwind

“I spent a lot of my racing career trying to learn a venue’s personality before we got there: when the sea breeze fills in, how the chop builds through the afternoon. That kind of knowledge used to take years and a lot of local contacts to build,” said Bilger. “Now it’s available to everyone, whether you’re campaigning for a regatta or just trying to pick the right month for your next adventure.”

PredictWind: Time segments show what to expect at any race venue in the world at the time the racing takes place – photo © Predictwind

Key features

 

• PredictWind’s new Passage Guide is embedded in the Climate Data tool, ensuring all the information you need is available in one place.
• Passages from all over the globe are found in one simple-to-use tool.
• Limitations of the data are explained in detail, so informed decisions can be made.
• PredictWind’s time segments show the typical breeze and sea state at any venue at race time, so crews can practice for the conditions they will likely encounter.

Availability

Passage Guide and time segments are available now in Climate Data at PredictWind.com/Climate-data. All users can view the current month’s climate data, while every month of the year is available with a PredictWind Basic, Standard or Professional subscription.

by Casey Hodges/Predictwind