The 2026 Pacific Passage Planning Webinar was recorded on the 18th March 2026.
📺 Watch the Recording
You can now watch the full session on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW6wKFKksQo
👉 YouTube Recording – 2026 Pacific Passage Planning
This webinar was a practical session covering key questions sailors ask when preparing for a crossing, including when to depart, which weather systems to expect, how to find the safest and most comfortable route, which onboard systems to use, GPS tracking, and how to download and manage weather data while on passage.
Below, we answer the 10 most commonly asked questions:
1/ What is the difference between the PredictWind App / Forecast Website and the Offshore App?
There are multiple ways you can use PredictWind with a Standard or Professional Forecast Subscription with the same account and subscription.
The PredictWind Website https://forecast.predictwind.com/ is used on your PC/ Mac using a web browser like Chrome or Safari. You need high-speed internet services (land-based or Starlink) to use this. This is our primary platform for subscription management, billing, and setting boat polars.
The PredictWind App is installed on your mobile device and is an online tool. It requires a 4G/5G cellular connection or high-speed internet services (land-based or Starlink)
You can use the PredictWind Offshore App on PC, Mac, Apple or Android devices. It is an offline tool for downloading compressed GRIB weather data and weather routing via an internet or cellular connection, or at sea via satellite, such as the Iridium GO! or GO exec. It stores files locally on the device for offline review.
2/ What are Boat Polars, and how do I configure them?
Boat Polars describe your boat speed and wind angle in any given wind speed and direction. In short the performance of your boat.
Setting the boat polars in your PredictWind account is essential for an accurate weather route. Please set up the boat polars in your account before using the weather routing and departure planning tool on any PredictWind platform.
Relevant article: How to Set Up Boat Polars - All Platforms.
3/ How do I set up and use Wave Polars?
With PredictWind Weather Routing, you can set your Wave Polar not only to define the performance of your boat in various wave conditions but also to view the Roll, Vertical Acceleration and Slamming Incidence that your boat will experience through the route.
Relevant article: Weather Routing using Wave Polars.
4/ Can I get more information about the features of GMDSS/Extreme Weather Warnings?
The GMDSS text forecasts are analysed in the PredictWind server, and then each weather system, front, and warning region is plotted accurately on the map, providing a world-first, global view of the GMDSS forecast.
Relevant article: AI-Generated GMDSS Maps.
PredictWind uses Extreme Weather Warnings to alert you when forecast conditions meet thresholds for strong gusts, rain squalls, thunderstorms, etc. These warnings are displayed on maps and routing tables, so you can see at a glance where there might be dangerous or uncomfortable weather.
5/ What is CAPE, and how can I predict severe weather?
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) is essentially the fuel for thunderstorms—it measures how unstable the atmosphere is and indicates the potential for thunderous activity not shown on the Wind Maps. It’s not a guarantee of a storm, but if CAPE is high and other indicators, like precipitation, are present, it suggests a greater risk.
Relevant article: What does CAPE mean?
6/ What is the difference between departure planning and weather routing?
In short, use departure planning to analyse which day is best to leave, then switch to weather routing to get a detailed breakdown of your passage.
Departure Planning: helps you choose when to depart by comparing options for leaving on different days or at different times of day (usually Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4). It summarises the expected conditions along the route for each departure date (wind, waves, currents, CAPE, rain, etc.), so you can pick a departure date that avoids the worst conditions or optimises comfort/safety.
Weather Routing: Calculates a route between two points using forecast data, giving a clear picture of what conditions to expect along the way.
It draws on multiple high-resolution forecast models, allowing you to compare outcomes and see how different scenarios may unfold.
The routing also includes wave and current data. By entering your boat’s details, you can view additional metrics, such as roll, vertical acceleration, and slamming, to better understand your comfort levels.
Each route provides summary statistics for wind, waves, currents, rain, CAPE, and any extreme weather warnings, helping you plan passages with a realistic view of the conditions.
7/ What are PredictWind's model update times?
PredictWind offers multiple atmospheric, wave, ocean, tidal current and SST forecasts that update at varying times depending on when we receive the source data from the supplier.
Relevant article: PredictWind Forecast Update Times
8/. What is a DataHub, and why do I need one?
The PredictWind DataHub is your onboard hub that keeps everything connected, including tracking, AIS, weather data, and your boat’s instruments, whether you’re offshore on satellite or back inshore on mobile or Wi-Fi. It automatically switches between connections, keeps your GPS tracking running without gaps, and stores position data when offline for upload when you reconnect.
It also connects to your NMEA 2000 network and shares AIS, GPS and wind data over Wi-Fi, so your tablet or laptop can act as a backup chartplotter. It can generate AI-driven boat polars for more accurate routing and enables Over the Horizon AIS, so you can see vessels up to 300NM away. There are no ongoing device fees, just a PredictWind subscription for advanced features.
Why choose the DataHub Pro instead of the DataHub?
The DataHub Pro is built for modern setups. It is much faster, offers Wi-Fi 6 with significantly better range, native Starlink integration, a built-in 4G modem, and additional connectivity options such as Ethernet and USB. It is ideal for boats running multiple devices or high-speed internet and is the more future-proof option, with upcoming features and even backup GPS via Starlink.
In short, DataHub gives you reliable tracking and onboard data, while DataHub Pro gives you a faster, more powerful and future-ready system.
Compare the Data Pro and DataHub side by side
9/ What is OHA - Over the Horizon AIS
PredictWind AIS Data displays real-time positions and movement of ships and other vessels anywhere in the world, and is available on the PredictWind Website, PredictWind App and Offshore App.
With our Over the Horizon AIS (OHA), you can now view AIS data up to a range of 300 nautical miles directly into Chartplotters and Navigation Apps.
Relevant article: What is OHA?
10/ Why should I get a Professional Forecast Subscription to PredictWind?
The Professional package gives you access to the best data that PredictWind has to offer. The Professional level allows access to the following:
Wave modelling of your boat (including Roll, Vertical Acceleration and Slamming Incidence). Please learn more with this 1-minute video.
Ocean current GRIBs/Maps (Mercator and RTOFS)
High-resolution tidal currents
High-resolution forecast GRIB files (1km and 8km PWG/PWE, 9km ECMWF, 27km GFS, 14km, 10km UKMO)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST).
AIS data in the Offshore App, accessible via satellite when offshore. Please learn more with this 1-minute video.
AI Polar generation
Any weather route or departure plan calculation using either the Standard or Professional Forecast Subscription will consider the tidal current, the ocean current model you have selected and your wave polars when calculating a weather route. However, only the Professional Forecast Subscription will show you these details when viewing the routing results in the Routing Tables and along the route when viewing the Wind Map.
🌐 Want to Learn More?
Explore the PredictWind Marine Meteorology Course with in-depth articles, visual guides, and expert tips. Of particular importance for any Pacific crossing will be the Clouds article.