Weather Routing for Sailboats

Sailrouting User Guide

Getting Started

To use Sailrouting, visit www.sailrouting.com. This is where you can access all weather routing tools.

1. Introduction to Sailrouting

Sailrouting is a weather routing tool specifically designed for sailboats. It calculates optimal routes by taking into account weather conditions (wind and current) and your boat's characteristics.

  • Find the fastest route based on weather conditions
  • Plan your navigation precisely with estimated travel time
  • Anticipate different navigation phases (sail and motor)
  • Optimize fuel consumption by planning engine usage
  • Visualize weather conditions you'll encounter throughout your journey

Whether you're preparing for an ocean crossing or coastal navigation, Sailrouting helps you make the best decisions for your navigation by considering all important parameters.

Sailrouting homepage

The Sailrouting homepage with interactive map

2. Configuring Settings

To configure your routing settings, click on the "Settings" icon in the Sailrouting interface. This will open a dedicated page for configuring your sailboat.

Sailrouting settings page

2.1 Sailboat Parameters

  • Your boat's length
  • Spinnaker usage option for downwind sailing (check if your sailboat is equipped with one)

2.2 Performance Adjustment

This section allows you to globally adjust your sailboat's performance by modifying a percentage. To help you set this parameter, a table displays your boat's speed at 10 knots of wind with a 90-degree angle.

Sailboat performance adjustment

2.3 Engine Parameters

  • Minimum wind speed to start the engine
  • Your boat's speed under power
  • Your engine's fuel consumption

3. Defining Your Route

3.1 Departure and Arrival Points

  • A departure point
  • An arrival point

3.2 Choosing Departure Time

  • Select a specific date and time for departure
  • With a free account, departure time must be more than 48 hours in advance

4. Analyzing Results

Routing results demonstration

4.1 Route Visualization

  • The wind direction and speed you'll encounter
  • Estimated time of passage at each point
  • Your boat's predicted speed
  • Weather conditions throughout the journey

4.2 Detailed Dashboard

  • Detailed navigation statistics
  • Estimated sailing and motor time
  • Total distance to cover
  • Estimated fuel consumption
  • Export route in GPX format

4.3 Weather Forecast Overlay

Weather forecast overlay

To visualize weather conditions along your route, click on the weather tab located at the bottom right of the screen. You can then overlay different weather layers (wind, current) on your calculated route, allowing for an in-depth analysis of the conditions you'll encounter during your navigation.