Departure Planning

Departure Planning is the process of selecting the safest and most efficient time to leave port or anchorage for a passage. In boating and sailing, it combines forecast weather, tides, currents, sea state, vessel capability, crew readiness, and route constraints to identify a favourable departure window.

Good departure planning reduces the chance of starting a trip into worsening conditions, adverse tide, or uncomfortable seas. It helps skippers compare expected Wind Speed, Wave Height, and Tidal Current against the boat’s limits, improving safety, fuel use, arrival timing, and crew comfort.

In PredictWind, Departure Planning compares multiple start times using leading forecast models, routing calculations, and your vessel performance data. It works naturally alongside Weather Routing, GRIB downloads in the Offshore App, and onboard DataHub tracking to refine decisions before and during a coastal or offshore passage.