The 2026 Atlantic Crossing Webinar was recorded on the 29th October 2026.
📺 Watch the Recording
You can now watch the full session on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQttomcu9P4
👉 YouTube Recording – 2026 Atlantic Crossing Webinar
This practical webinar showed you how to use PredictWind to plan a safer, more comfortable passage; from choosing the best departure day and setting up weather routing to using the AI Router and staying connected offshore with DataHub Pro, Over the Horizon AIS, and GPS Tracking.
Below, we answer the 10 most commonly asked questions:
1/ 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 modeling of your boat (including RMS 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.
2/ What are Boat and Wave Polars, and how do I set them up?
Boat Polars describe your boat’s expected speed at different wind speeds and angles. Wave Polars show how wave conditions may affect your boat’s performance and let you view comfort metrics such as RMS Roll, Vertical Acceleration, and Slamming Incidence along your route.
Setting up your Boat Polars is essential for accurate weather routing and departure planning. You can also configure Wave Polars in Weather Routing to include wave effects in your route calculations and view the related comfort metrics.
Related articles: How to Set Up Boat Polars – All Platforms · Weather Routing Using Wave Polars
3/ How do I export a PredictWind weather route to another navigation program?
After calculating a weather route, you can export it as a GPX file and open it in compatible GPS or navigation software, such as iNavX or Navionics.
In the PredictWind App or Forecast Website, open the calculated route, select Data, swipe across the tabs to Export, choose the route, then select Export as GPX. Your device will offer apps or locations for opening or sharing the file. The exact sharing options depend on your device and installed apps.
You can export a calculated weather route, but you cannot export a departure plan. Relevant article: Weather Routing – Export a Weather Route as a GPX File.
4/ What is CAPE, and how can I predict severe weather?
CAPE stands for Convective Available Potential Energy. It describes the energy available to fuel rising air and thunderstorm development. Higher CAPE means more energy is available for strong updrafts and potentially powerful thunderstorms if storms develop. Values above about 2,500 J/kg indicate a highly unstable atmosphere; in PredictWind Forecast Tables, this may appear as 2.5 kJ/kg. CAPE is a risk indicator, not a guarantee that a thunderstorm will form. Check it alongside the forecast wind, rain, cloud, and extreme weather information, and remember that different weather models calculate CAPE differently, so values may not compare directly. The CAPE map displays J/kg.
Relevant article: What does CAPE mean?
5/ How can I access the departure planning and weather routing AI output?
In short, use departure planning to analyze 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 optimizes 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.
6/ 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
7/ DataHub or DataHub Pro, which one should I choose?
A PredictWind DataHub connects your boat’s internet connection, GPS, and onboard instruments in one place. It supports GPS tracking, streams instrument data to your devices, and can provide features such as AI Polars and Over the Horizon AIS when you have the required PredictWind subscription and setup.
DataHub Pro offers the full DataHub feature set, with three times the performance, Wi-Fi 6, four Ethernet ports and USB-C. It has a built-in LTE modem, with an optional data plan for coastal coverage in supported regions, and is designed to support Starlink Direct-to-Cell where available. Pro also adds boat battery monitoring and DataHub Connect for remote access to your boat’s network. It supports the PredictWind Man Overboard App, which can mark a crew member’s position on your chartplotter and alert the crew. The MOB App requires a Professional Forecast subscription for the boat.
Both models can suit a cruising setup. DataHub Pro is a good fit if you want faster onboard connectivity, LTE options or MOB support. There’s no ongoing fee just to own the device, but some features require a PredictWind subscription, and LTE connectivity has a separate plan.
Relevant article: DataHub models side by side.
8/ 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?
9/ What is PredictWind Mode, and should I use it with Starlink?
PredictWind Mode is a DataHub firewall setting designed to reduce unwanted background internet use on metered connections, such as Starlink Ocean Mode. When enabled, supported PredictWind apps and DataHub services continue to connect while other internet traffic routed through the DataHub is blocked. Supported services include the Forecast Website, PredictWind App, Offshore App, GPS Tracking, AI Polars, Anchor Alert, MOB on DataHub Pro, Whale Watch, OHA and PredictMail.
PredictWind Mode requires a DataHub or DataHub Pro on firmware 4.58 or later and an active internet connection. Enable it in the DataHub web interface under Services > Settings > Internet Status > PredictWind Mode. It does not compress PredictWind data or cap its usage; forecast downloads, maps, and other allowed services still use data normally. You can whitelist other websites or services if needed. A phone may report “No Internet” while connected to the DataHub Wi-Fi because general internet traffic is blocked.
Relevant article: How to Reduce Starlink Data Usage with PredictWind Mode.
10/ What is the PredictWind Man Overboard App, and which DataHub does it work with?
The PredictWind Man Overboard (MOB) App helps alert the crew if someone goes overboard. It monitors crew devices connected to the onboard network. If a connection to the DataHub Pro Wi-Fi is lost, the app marks the person’s last known position on the chartplotter and alerts the crew.
The MOB App requires a DataHub Pro and a Professional Forecast subscription for the boat. It isn’t compatible with the original DataHub.
Relevant article: MOB - Overview
🌐 Want to Learn More?
Explore the PredictWind Marine Meteorology Course with in-depth articles, visual guides, and expert tips. Of particular importance for any Atlantic crossing will be the Clouds article.