SEA OF CORTEZ PREP Part 2: PredictWind Routing, Float Plans & TimeZero Setup! ⚓ (& FREE Template)

Preparing for a long-distance crossing across the Sea of Cortez aboard their 57 ft Nordhavn trawler Noeta, Pat and Alexa tackled deck logistics, safety documentation, and digital navigation from Paradise Village. With mainland refit projects completed, the crew of M/V Noeta shifted full attention toward dialing in their passagemaking preparations before departing on an offshore passage toward Baja.

The preparation workflow required balancing shoreside supply runs with complex passage planning. Prior to leaving the marina, the crew needed to secure vital consumables, update critical safety communications, and map a safe routing window through the dynamic sea state across the Sea of Cortez.

Shoreside Logistics and Galley Upgrades

Passage preparation began with fueling the galley. The crew removed their heavy propane tanks from the deck locker to inspect fittings and replenish their cooking fuel. Pat replaced the main supply hose after an earlier marine survey identified light surface corrosion, opting to install a fresh line rather than simply monitor the old gear. Sourcing propane required driving into town and checking three separate supply stations before finding a facility displaying gas LP signage to top off both bottles.

While stocking provisions at Costco in Mexico, the crew encountered a 50-in smart display on sale for 450 bucks. With their existing salon television reaching 20 years of age and displaying degraded screen lines, they purchased the unit alongside wine for their upcoming voyage. Installing the screen aboard the yacht proved demanding due to tight clearance between the salon cabinetry and window frame.

After releasing the original wall bracket using hidden release cords, Pat found that the factory mounting bracket sat too high to clear the surrounding wood. He lowered the bracket by 3 cm and drilled 8 additional mounting holes into the backer board to ensure proper ventilation and solid fastener engagement. Once mounted, the crew tested streaming functionality using DAZN and AirPlay to monitor sports broadcasts over their satellite network.

Flexible Float Plans and Emergency Architecture

Establishing an offshore safety net formed the core of Alexa’s passage preparation. Adapting guidance from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, she emphasized that voyaging documentation must remain adaptable rather than rigid:

“It’s important to have a float plan when you do any sort of big passage, let people know where you’re going, but it’s also important that that can be a flexible float plan.”

Selecting reliable trustees represents a critical element of emergency readiness. Rather than placing emergency responsibilities on anxious relatives unfamiliar with maritime delays, the crew assigned two dedicated trustees: their eldest daughter and an experienced boater friend. Crucially, Alexa introduced the two contacts to each other so they could coordinate directly before contacting official rescue authorities:

“Don’t necessarily send it to your mom who would just panic if you’re overdue. So, we make sure it’s people that know how the boating world work, and then we have them in communication with each other.”

Shared through a live Google Doc, Noeta’s float plan outlines the intended track, vessel dimensions, registration particulars, MMSI number, and details regarding their 2 EPIRBs. The document defines a clear escalation protocol if the yacht fails to check in: trustees first cross-reference satellite tracking on PredictWind and marine AIS receivers before notifying the US Coast Guard Search and Rescue center in Alameda.

Alexa underscored the value of experienced contacts by recalling an emergency 5 years ago involving family crossing the Pacific. When their sailboat suffered a leaking rudder post 5 days offshore with 15 days of ocean remaining, the sailors phoned experienced cruisers in Mexico rather than family ashore. That swift coordination with the Mexican Navy at the Socorro Islands enabled the crew to unship their damaged rudder and navigate back under jury rig without loss.

PredictWind Weather Routing and Sea State Analysis

Navigating the Sea of Cortez requires monitoring seasonal wind events known as northers, which create steep, closely spaced chop across the waters. Evaluating their planned 350 mi crossing window, Pat examined digital forecast models to identify settling sea conditions. Early runs indicated northerly winds of 10 knots building to 14 or 15 knots, prompting the crew to wait for calmer windows showing 8 knots and 4 knots.

Beyond wind velocities, the crew studied wave dynamics and vessel motion models. Forecasts predicted wave swells between 3 and 7 ft. Utilizing PredictWind comfort metrics, Pat examined vertical acceleration graphs indicating 0.2 Gs of motion occurring 14% of the time, confirming manageable motion for the heavy displacement trawler. Automated routing models suggested an optimal departure window on the 5th at 6:00 a.m.

Digital Navigation and Route Setup in TimeZero

With weather models aligned, Pat built the digital passage track inside TimeZero (TZ iBoat), which interfaces directly with Noeta’s onboard Furuno navigation suite. The route begins by clearing the Paradise Village channel through navigation marks NAY041 and NAY040 before setting an offshore course across the open water.

Ocean current data played a major role in course selection. Remembering a previous crossing where adverse currents north of the Tres Marias slowed a companion vessel to 2 knots, Pat routed south of the islands to maintain favorable current flow. Offshore clearance rules around the island group were strictly observed:

“The other thing about these islands is they want you to be 20 mi offshore or off of these islands.”

Pat established waypoint 6 as a mid-route checkpoint at 132 mi into the passage. To ensure a safe arrival, he terminated the electronic line slightly seaward of Muertos anchorage, allowing the helm to disengage autopilot track mode and transition into manual steering or heading hold before dropping anchor. The finalized passage parameters confirmed their transit plan:

“And we’re looking at 315 mi and 1 day 13 hours to do this.”

Saved under the route name Banderas to Muertos, the navigation data synced via the cloud directly to the bridge computer, completing Noeta’s electronic passage preparations.

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