Safety is the key to a successful cruise of any complexity. Interparus will tell you how to optimize your travel routes.
Imagine yourself on the open sea. You are making a short passage on the way to the next point of the route (for example, during a cruise), when suddenly the weather starts to deteriorate rapidly. What to do?
Today's skippers have an undeniable advantage over the sailors of the past: the availability of weather forecasts and route-building systems. These tools allow you to plot the optimal route even taking into account weather conditions. However, before choosing the route suggested by the program, you should know all the features of working with such systems.
This article is adapted from a post on BoatNews.com by Elodie Baer.
The computer is a faithful companion of any sailor and skipper
Modern software for automatic route planning compares weather forecasts with specific data about your yacht's capabilities. This data set may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in general, the collection of this information is called "speed polars." This refers to the maximum speed achievable by a specific yacht, boat or catamaran under different conditions: for different wind angles or weather conditions outside.
Using this data, the software offers optimized routes tailored to different tasks:
- Fast Routes: The shortest and most efficient routes a yacht can take to reach its destination.
- Safe routes: routes laid out along the safest trajectory to minimize risks (avoiding shallow water, additional detour around a point of atmospheric instability).
- Economy Routes: Routes that are designed to minimize energy consumption on board. Useful when fuel or electricity supplies are low.
For a long time, such software was used either on commercial vessels or on yachts participating in ocean racing. Today, such programs are available to a wide range of yachtsmen.
The advent of navigation programs has revolutionized yachting. No longer do you have to rely on the freshness of paper charts; a computer can have a dozen different programs with charts installed… Today, GPS and digital weather data banks (GRIB and similar) have made precise route planning accessible to almost every yachtsman. Some of these tools are even equipped with artificial intelligence, which increases the accuracy of forecasts and route planning.
This software development provides two benefits:
- Increased navigation accuracy not only for professionals, but also for amateurs.
- An accessible experience for those who have just started their yachting life.
The author of the original article gives the example of a yachting enthusiast named Pierre. Pierre was crossing the Atlantic and for extra confidence he used one of the route-plotting apps (the text does not clearly indicate which one). According to Pierre, “using specialized software gave me a peace of mind that would not have been possible if I had plotted the route myself.”
Examples of programs for automatic route planning
Here are some useful programs with automatic route planning options. The vast majority of programs on the list are not limited to this functionality, so you have the opportunity to explore other interesting features of the software.
Description: One of the most popular navigation apps. Allows you to automatically plot a route based on depths, navigation signs and other data.
Peculiarities:
- Dynamic Routing
- Weather information
- Possibility of synchronization with chartplotters
Cost: The app is free, but maps and additional features are available by subscription.
Description: An intuitive app that makes it easy to plan your route based on wind, depth and other parameters.
Peculiarities:
- Automatic routing taking into account weather conditions
- Integration with popular maps
- User-friendly interface for beginner yachtsmen
Price: Free version with limited features, paid subscription from $14.99 per month.
OpenCPN
Description: Free and open source navigation software that supports automatic routing using maps and plugins.
Peculiarities:
- Wide range of supported cards
- Possibility of AIS and GPS connection
- Full route customization
Cost: Free.
Garmin ActiveCaptain
Description: An application for synchronizing data with Garmin chartplotters, which also supports automatic routing.
Peculiarities:
- Automatic route calculation
- Social functions (reviews of marinas and points of interest)
- Compatibility with Garmin equipment
Cost: Free app, maps and advanced features available separately.
Adrena Octopus
Description: Route planning software popular with sailors and regatta crews, Adrena Octopus is great for both cruising and racing.
Peculiarities:
- Advanced routing algorithm taking into account wind, currents and depths
- Integration with navigation devices and systems
- Possibility of analyzing past routes and forecasting
Price: Different versions available (including free demo), full version from €250. One-time purchase.
Description: Powerful navigation software used by both amateurs and professionals. Suitable for automatic routing in difficult conditions.
Peculiarities:
- Automatic routing based on maps and weather data
- Supports multiple chart formats including C-MAP and Navionics charts
- Possibility of connecting AIS and GPS devices
Price: Free version with limitations, paid version from €99.
What should you keep in mind when working with routing software?
As with paper maps, there are some quirks to working with software. So here are some things to keep in mind when working with automatic route planning software:
- Data up-to-date: Make sure you have the latest weather forecasts downloaded and your boat data is up-to-date.
- Accurate calibration. When setting up the software, it is important to perform a precise calibration in order to avoid possible problems and inaccurate forecasts.
- Current software versions. Navigation programs are constantly updated - not only functionality and control are improved, but also data updates on routes, bottom features, etc. are made. The fresher the version installed, the better.
And most importantly: the human factor. Like any other navigation device, software is just a tool in the hands of a person. It is necessary to be aware that programs can work with failures and errors, so completely trusting them with your safety is, at the very least, short-sighted. Remember that you are the skipper and it is you who plots the course of your yacht!
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24.12.2024
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