Best Wind/Wave Predicting App?

[SailorElliot]

I'm a new sailor who just finished the ASA 101, and I bought my first boat. I was wondering what the best app for predicting the waves and wind is? I currently use Windy because it is easy to use and is usually close to correct. My sailing teacher used the NOAA predicting website, but I just couldn't find the page and it is very not user-friendly.

Any ideas?

 

[dlochner]

I like Predict Wind, they have various levels of service starting at Free.

The World Leader in Wind Forecasting · PredictWind

Ocean Racing and America's Cup proven, highest resolution wind and marine forecasts on the web.

www.predictwind.com

 

[Calif. Ted]

I like to check the wind forecast and cams at Surfline, here's the link for the cam at MDR entrance.
Venice Southside Overview Surf Report, Live Surf Cam & 16-Day Surf Forecast - Surfline

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I was wondering what the best app for predicting the waves and wind is?

Experience and the weather report .

 

[sailme88]

The wind APPs are only as good as the assets. Just like weather radar, the reliability comes down to the interpretation of the site's computer program. I use several APPS for both weather radar and wind.. They get their info from the same sources ( in most instances) but then it suffers the scrutiny of THEIR interpretation. Hence the several sites as somewhere in the middle lies the actual forecast...

 

[dLj]

I like Predict Wind, they have various levels of service starting at Free.

The World Leader in Wind Forecasting · PredictWind

Ocean Racing and America's Cup proven, highest resolution wind and marine forecasts on the web.

www.predictwind.com

Dang last I checked in their site there was nothing for free and the two levels were in the hundreds of dollars. I'll have to look again I guess...

dj

 

[jssailem]

@SailorElliot being a new sailor means you need to consider the skill development to enable you to survive on the open waters you plan to sail. As Rome was not built in a day, neither will your weather and water skills come instantly from an app.

Here is a "good" NOAA site. It is called Now Coast. nowCOAST™: NOAA's Web Mapping Portal to Real-Time Coastal Observations, Forecasts, and Warnings

The raw data is presented in a user friendly format to assist the boat owner to understand what the weather forecasters consider important.

Windy is another excellent tool. I use it all the time for looking at the NOAA weather information in again a user friendly format.

Even with these tools, as with the gear on your boat to trim sails, the user (skipper) needs to be able to interpret the information and reconcile it with their boat skills.

You can be the boat owner that ventures out into all sorts of conditions and learns to survive or not whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

Or you can choose to learn to forecast your own weather. Then you take your boat out and adventure a little to see if your forecasting provides the same conditions you experience.

I suggest plan two is just as adventurous but safer. At some point if you keep doing this you'll be able to wake in the AM, look at the water and decide "Today" would be a fun time to take the boat out, or NOT.

 

[shemandr]

Local conditions have a lot to do with it. For instance, few weather/wind forecasts take a sea breeze into account. The sea breeze can be somewhat predicted taking into account the differential between land/sea heating and the gradient wind. Few forecasts are that specific. There were places in Cutchogue Harbor where where wind was funneled between land masses. Locals knew to expect another 5 knots of wind there. Never see it in a forecast.

 

[Stu Jackson]

When I sailed (motored) our boat from SF to BC in 2016, I used more than one predictive resource. Learn to use more than one, don't give up on any of them until you've learned how to use the ones you find or have been referred to you. Then compare them and compare each of them with your personal experiences. It takes time. That's one important constituent of experience.

I also find some of them are better at local conditions than others. Windy works for me here in the Gulf Islands, which have some unusual local area wind gullies and wind holes. Those are not covered in the same way as noaa or the Strait of Georgia forecasts.

You have to spend the time to learn their strengths and shortcomings.

Good luck.

 

[rgranger]

Don't forget tides... if you are coming into a port on an ebb tide, you may find your lack of progress frustrating.

I have an app appropriatly called "Tides" on my phone. Love it. I also use it when I go kayaking. When kayaking, I try to leave about an hour before slack tide and paddle with the current... when the tide turns, I also turn ....

 

[dLj]

Don't forget tides... if you are coming into a port on an ebb tide, you may find your lack of progress frustrating.

I have an app appropriatly called "Tides" on my phone. Love it. I also use it when I go kayaking. When kayaking, I try to leave about an hour before slack tide and paddle with the current... when the tide turns, I also turn ....

Do you know if this app works for anywhere in the world? Or what it's geographic limitations may be?

dj

 

[jssailem]

when the tide turns, I also turn

While that sounds like recreation, where is the cardio and resistance training in your plan. It is like your kayak is joining the flotsam on the tide.

 

[rgranger]

While that sounds like recreation, where is the cardio and resistance training in your plan. It is like your kayak is joining the flotsam on the tide.

Ha!

That is not why I'm on the water.

 

[rgranger]

Do you know if this app works for anywhere in the world? Or what it's geographic limitations may be?

dj

I don't but I think it is free so give it a try. If it was not free, I'm sure it was cheap or I would not have gotten it.
I think it pulls data from NOAA and just packages it in a user friendly interface. I find it very easy to use and I use it often.

 

[rgranger]

I don't but I think it is free so give it a try. It it was not free, I'm sure it was cheap or I would not have gotten it.
I think it pulls data from NOAA and just packages it in a user friendly interface. I find it very easy to use and I use it often.

It will also do weather forecasts etc.

 

[rgranger]

If you go to the iTunes store (or Google site) the app logo looks like this...

 

[dLj]

Thank you. I'll have to take a look. Really looking for world wide coverage. But the US is fine for the moment...

dj

 

[rgranger]

Thank you. I'll have to take a look. Really looking for world wide coverage. But the US is fine for the moment...

dj

Okay so for shucks and grins, I just set my area for Spain and it looked like it started showing me the data. Didn's spend a lot of time with it so I'm not 100% certain. So I guess it is world wide. Not sure where the data is pulled.

 

[dLj]

Okay so for shucks and grins, I just set my area for Spain and it looked like it started showing me the data. Didn's spend a lot of time with it so I'm not 100% certain. So I guess it is world wide. Not sure where the data is pulled.

Try the Chilean archipelago if you don't mind.

dj

 

[rgranger]

Try the Chilean archipelago if you don't mind.

dj

So the data station density is not has high but I was able to pull data... I'd have to change my primary location to put this into the same graphic output but it looks like it is possible.

Here is what the graphic looks like for me here in Charleston. The app also has weather data and a few other useful things.

You can scroll forward or backward with the cursor and get exact times and the five icons on the bottom take you to different screens.