Are there any charts that allow you to plot a course from point A to point B using weather predictions. I'm not planning any long term passages, just 20 mile treks. I would like to be able to specify the wind direction in the chart so that I can more effectivly determine the most optimal direction for traveling and can't seem to figure out how to do this.
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On paper charts
You will need to buy a Pilot Chart. But a 20 mile scale is too small. And they don't feature the needed nautical-chart information. I don't know if anyone is offering wind predictions electronically.
You will need to buy a Pilot Chart. But a 20 mile scale is too small. And they don't feature the needed nautical-chart information. I don't know if anyone is offering wind predictions electronically.
Try this
Pilot charts cover large areas of the open ocean for specific months of the year. What you're looking for is more localized. In the San Francisco area we have a website that shows you on a pretty much real time basis what the winds are doing to localized areas of the Bay. http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windbin.cgi There is a similar, but not as detailed site for NY Harbor in the link below. The non-real time, more general info you're looking for is "local knowledge", and comes from experience, and maybe studying websites and other info like these as well.
Pilot charts cover large areas of the open ocean for specific months of the year. What you're looking for is more localized. In the San Francisco area we have a website that shows you on a pretty much real time basis what the winds are doing to localized areas of the Bay. http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windbin.cgi There is a similar, but not as detailed site for NY Harbor in the link below. The non-real time, more general info you're looking for is "local knowledge", and comes from experience, and maybe studying websites and other info like these as well.
Electronic options
There are two electronic options. Virtual Passage Planner uses historic pilot chart data to predict weather conditions on ocean passages. Ray Marine's Ray-Tech software allows you to overlay 3-day and 7-day forecast information on your local chart. If you input your boat's polar performance information, the software will compute an optimum route based on the forecast.
There are two electronic options. Virtual Passage Planner uses historic pilot chart data to predict weather conditions on ocean passages. Ray Marine's Ray-Tech software allows you to overlay 3-day and 7-day forecast information on your local chart. If you input your boat's polar performance information, the software will compute an optimum route based on the forecast.
thanx but
Thanx guys. I may be overcomplicating my situation but here's the situation. I'm planning a passage over the weekend and the weather guys are predicting winds out of the south for much of Saturday. I'd like to be able to, at the comfort of my house, build a route plan that will take me from start to finish, through a series of waypoints. The trick is I'd like to be able to factor in wind condition to better lay out my waypoints.
Thanx guys. I may be overcomplicating my situation but here's the situation. I'm planning a passage over the weekend and the weather guys are predicting winds out of the south for much of Saturday. I'd like to be able to, at the comfort of my house, build a route plan that will take me from start to finish, through a series of waypoints. The trick is I'd like to be able to factor in wind condition to better lay out my waypoints.
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