Safe Cruising with Modern Weather Tools
with Craig Smith | PredictWind
Learn how experienced cruisers make smarter, more confident weather decisions.
Modern weather technology has transformed the way sailors plan and execute passages. With powerful forecasting, routing, and tracking tools now available at your fingertips, cruisers can make better-informed decisions before departure and while underway. This online class will show you how to use these tools effectively to improve safety, confidence, and enjoyment on the water.
Online Class Overview
Weather is one of the most important factors affecting every cruising decision. In this practical online class, you’ll learn how experienced sailors use modern weather tools to assess conditions, identify risks, and make smarter routing decisions.
Craig will cover key questions sailors ask when preparing for a crossing, including when to depart, what weather systems to expect, how to find the safest and most comfortable route, what onboard systems to use, and how to download and manage weather data while on passage. You’ll also learn how to share your position and allow friends and family to track your progress from home.
Whether you’re preparing for a coastal weekend cruise or an offshore passage, you’ll leave with practical strategies to help you plan smarter and sail with confidence.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is designed for any cruising sailor who wants to make better weather decisions and improve their confidence on the water. Whether you’re a newer coastal cruiser learning the fundamentals or an experienced passagemaker looking to get more value from modern forecasting technology, you’ll gain practical skills that can help you make safer, more confident decisions for your crew and vessel.
What Will I Learn?
In this live online class, Craig Smith, PredictWind’s weather routing specialist, will cover key questions sailors ask when preparing for a crossing. You’ll learn how to find the best departure window, compare forecast models, plan safer routes, and use PredictWind’s tools before and during a passage. You’ll also gain practical techniques for managing weather data offshore and sharing your progress with friends and family ashore.
List of Topics:
- Comparing weather models and forecast confidence
- Using Sail Planning to choose the best departure window
- Using Weather Routing to find the safest, most comfortable route
- Understanding wind, waves, and sea-state forecasts
- Choosing the right onboard systems
- Downloading and managing weather data while on passage, using the PredictWind Offshore App
- Sharing your progress using a PredictWind GPS Tracking page
MAKE BETTER WEATHER DECISIONS AT SEA
SMARTER WEATHER DECISIONS BEFORE YOU DEPART
Successful passage planning begins long before you cast off the dock lines. Modern forecasting and weather-routing technology give sailors powerful tools to evaluate conditions, identify risks, and make more informed decisions before heading offshore. In this online class, PredictWind weather routing specialist Craig “Smilie” Smith shares the practical weather-planning techniques, forecasting strategies, and routing workflows he uses to help sailors make safer, more confident decisions on the water.
REAL-WORLD WEATHER ROUTING AND PASSAGE PLANNING
Knowing when to leave can be just as important as knowing where to go. From comparing forecast models and evaluating weather windows to understanding wind, waves, sea states, and routing options, weather planning plays a critical role in every successful passage. Craig draws on more than 120,000 offshore miles of experience to demonstrate how sailors can use modern weather tools to improve route selection, reduce risk, and make better decisions before and during a voyage.
BUILD CONFIDENCE WITH MODERN WEATHER TOOLS
Confidence at sea comes from preparation, awareness, and understanding how conditions may evolve throughout a passage. Whether you’re planning a coastal cruise, preparing for an offshore crossing, or looking to get more value from modern forecasting technology, this online class provides practical guidance on weather interpretation, route planning, offshore communications, and voyage tracking. You’ll leave with greater confidence, a stronger understanding of weather-routing tools, and proven strategies for making smarter decisions on the water.
Your Instructor
CRAIG SMITH
Craig “Smilie” Smith is PredictWind’s weather routing specialist. With over 120,000 offshore miles as a former Round the World Ocean Race sailor, offshore racing champion, and seasoned delivery skipper, Craig brings decades of practical experience helping sailors make better decisions at sea. He works closely with cruisers around the world, helping them use weather forecasting and routing tools to plan safer, more enjoyable passages.
