Offshore Weather Routing 101: The Skills That Save Lives
đź“– My new book "Be The Captain" is available for preorder now: https://payhip.com/BeTheCaptain
Limited signed copies — ships this summer.
In this video, I break down modern offshore weather routing — how it works, why waves are the real danger offshore, and how new tech lets us sail smarter and safer than ever before.
We’ll cover:
• How weather models like GFS, ECMWF, SPIR, and PredictWind actually work
• How to plan safe passages using modern routing tools
• Why secondary and tertiary swell matter more than you think
• My secret weapons for better offshore decision-making
LINK FROM VIDEO:
Preorder my book "Be the Captain": https://payhip.com/b/C2Ki8
Learn About Weather:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/meteorology
Atlas of Pilot Charts: https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APC
Predict Wind: https://www.predictwind.com/
(Weather Courses)
Backyard Meteorology: https://www.harvardonline.harvard.edu/course/backyard-meteorology-science-weather
AstroNavigation: https://my.vanderbilt.edu/astronav/overview/coordinates/
(Videos)
Unlocking the power of multi-objective algorithms for voyage optimization and vessel performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v461kfkmZ0E&t=10s
Introduction (Frank Bohlen, CCA)
Marine Weather Fundamentals (Ken McKinley, Locus Weather)
The 500 mb Surface: Significance and Analysis (Lee Chesneau, Chesneau Marine Weather)
Ocean Currents, Waves, and Sea State (Frank Bohlen, University of Connecticut Marine Sciences)
Ocean Forecasting: The Process and the Products (Joseph Sienkiewicz, NOAA NWS Ocean Prediction Center)
Communications for Weather (Jim Corenman, SailMail Association)
The Navigator’s Weather Watch (Ralph Naranjo, Annapolis School of Seamanship)
Questions from the floor – Roundtable Discussion (all presenters)
1320 Weather Windows and Weather Routing Campbell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Q0tQyl4nc&t=7s
Weather Routers:
[email protected]
https://metbob.com/
Stories to read:
https://wingssail.blogspot.com/1998/11/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_El_Faro
Support Sailing Zingaro:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro
T-shirts: https://www.bonfire.com/store/zingaro/
Chapters:
00:00 - Waves Kill, Not Wind
00:39 - The Real Danger Offshore
01:49 - Why Secondary Swell Matters
02:39 - Modern Weather Routing Changed Everything
03:40 - How Weather Models Work
05:15 - The Big Players: GFS, ECMWF, SPIRE
10:01 - PredictWind’s Proprietary Models PWE, PWG
10:31 - Why I Use PredictWind
11:17 - How to Plan an Offshore Route
15:00 - Why Wave State is More Important Than Wind
17:15 - Departure Planning Like a Pro
20:31 - Final Departure Advice
21:01 - Learn to Be Your Own Weather Router
21:27 - Secret Tools You Should Be Using
23:30 - Climate Data & Modern Pilot Charts
25:00 - PredictWind Data Hub: Next-Level Routing
26:11 - Be the Captain: Book Preorder Announcement
28:03 - What's Next
Sailing Zingaro
Join James Evenson of Sailing Zingaro as he documents his 2026 technical refit of his Crowther Spindrift 38 in Colombia and his 'Sailing Truth' mission.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Support Sailing Zingaro
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Zingaro invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos here and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore the gear, sponsorships, and boat partnerships highlighted in the "Offshore Weather Routing 101: The Skills That Save Lives" video description, or directly on YouTube. By engaging with these offerings or purchasing services and items, you directly support Sailing Zingaro, their collaborators, and the brands they're associated with.
To ensure you never miss an offshore update, consider visiting their official YouTube Channel to subscribe, like, and join their community directly.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Zingaro or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
đź“– My new book “Be The Captain” is available for preorder now: https://payhip.com/BeTheCaptain
Limited signed copies — ships this summer.
In this video, I break down modern offshore weather routing — how it works, why waves are the real danger offshore, and how new tech lets us sail smarter and safer than ever before.
We’ll cover:
• How weather models like GFS, ECMWF, SPIR, and PredictWind actually work
• How to plan safe passages using modern routing tools
• Why secondary and tertiary swell matter more than you think
• My secret weapons for better offshore decision-making
LINK FROM VIDEO:
Preorder my book “Be the Captain”: https://payhip.com/b/C2Ki8
Learn About Weather:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/meteorology
Atlas of Pilot Charts: https://msi.nga.mil/Publications/APC
Predict Wind: https://www.predictwind.com/
(Weather Courses)
Backyard Meteorology: https://www.harvardonline.harvard.edu/course/backyard-meteorology-science-weather
AstroNavigation: https://my.vanderbilt.edu/astronav/overview/coordinates/
(Videos)
Unlocking the power of multi-objective algorithms for voyage optimization and vessel performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v461kfkmZ0E&t=10s
Introduction (Frank Bohlen, CCA)
Marine Weather Fundamentals (Ken McKinley, Locus Weather)
The 500 mb Surface: Significance and Analysis (Lee Chesneau, Chesneau Marine Weather)
Ocean Currents, Waves, and Sea State (Frank Bohlen, University of Connecticut Marine Sciences)
Ocean Forecasting: The Process and the Products (Joseph Sienkiewicz, NOAA NWS Ocean Prediction Center)
Communications for Weather (Jim Corenman, SailMail Association)
The Navigator’s Weather Watch (Ralph Naranjo, Annapolis School of Seamanship)
Questions from the floor – Roundtable Discussion (all presenters)
1320 Weather Windows and Weather Routing Campbell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Q0tQyl4nc&t=7s
Weather Routers:
[email protected]
https://metbob.com/
Stories to read:
https://wingssail.blogspot.com/1998/11/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_El_Faro
Support Sailing Zingaro:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro
T-shirts: https://www.bonfire.com/store/zingaro/
Chapters:
00:00 – Waves Kill, Not Wind
00:39 – The Real Danger Offshore
01:49 – Why Secondary Swell Matters
02:39 – Modern Weather Routing Changed Everything
03:40 – How Weather Models Work
05:15 – The Big Players: GFS, ECMWF, SPIRE
10:01 – PredictWind’s Proprietary Models PWE, PWG
10:31 – Why I Use PredictWind
11:17 – How to Plan an Offshore Route
15:00 – Why Wave State is More Important Than Wind
17:15 – Departure Planning Like a Pro
20:31 – Final Departure Advice
21:01 – Learn to Be Your Own Weather Router
21:27 – Secret Tools You Should Be Using
23:30 – Climate Data & Modern Pilot Charts
25:00 – PredictWind Data Hub: Next-Level Routing
26:11 – Be the Captain: Book Preorder Announcement
28:03 – What’s Next
Latest Episodes from Sailing Zingaro
Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!
New Orleans to Costa Rica: What to Watch For
A passage from New Orleans toward Costa Rica comes with more to consider than distance. Unlit oil structures make a careful watch essential in the Gulf, while the choice between Costa Rica’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts brings very different exposure and anchorage options. Full Stream: 📗 Get My B...
Most People Miss these Awesome Islands
Costa Rica’s Islas Murciélagos offered hiking, breaching whales, and a memorable stop away from the usual anchorages. Most sailors pass these islands by, and without a little anchor symbol on the chart, it takes some exploring to discover what they’re missing. Full Stream: 📗 Get My Book:
Are These Orcas Biting the Rudder or Pushing It?
This incredible underwater footage appears to show orcas pushing against a sailboat’s rudder. The shaft looks bent, but the rudder remains attached and the crew is able to sail home. The encounter shows why the strength of the rudder’s bearings and supports matters when the steering takes a hit. Fu...
My Catamaran Broke Apart 100 Miles From Hawaii
About 100 miles off Kona, pounding waves broke my catamaran’s rear main beam, leaving the starboard hull hanging from the deck. Keeping the boat together meant repeated trips into the black water beneath it, using rope and winches to lash a broken home back together. Full Catamaran Video: Excerpt...
The Ghost Ship That Carried Its Own Evidence
Joyita departed for Tokelau on one engine with 25 people aboard, expecting a passage of roughly two days. None of those 25 people were ever seen again. The boat was later recovered after drifting hundreds of miles, carrying clues to what happened on that final voyage. Full Video: đź“— Get My Book: