Equipment

Learn from us: PredictWind Datahub Review – Insights from 2 Atlantic Crossings!

Von |2024-07-26T16:58:19+02:00Juli 25th, 2024|Kategorien: Equipment, Sailing, Starlink, PredictWind|Tags: , , , , , , |

PredictWind Datahub Review This article is a test review of the PredictWind DataHub, the pros and cons and explains how we used the system in combination with PredictWind the leading weather application (please check out our report on Predictwind) on board of Ambra during our last two Atlantic crossings. As sailors aboard the sailing vessel Ambra, we’ve found the PredictWind and the DataHub to be an invaluable tool for our voyages. This smart device has revolutionized how we access and utilize marine data and communications while at sea. Online connectivity and cost is a very important topic discussed in the sailing community. When you sail in the Baltic Sea or the med and visit a marina every night it might not be a problem for you. You might have European wide roaming on your mobile handset and in most marinas you will be able to find a decent wifi internet connection to check your weather forecast and data. In case you start sailing abroad communication and least cost routing becomes an important and costly topic. In the past we bought a local SIM card in a given country you are visiting and offshore most sailors relied on Iridium Go (in the past SSB) to download news or weather informations. This is very costly and you need to install a firewall to protect the systems from unwanted satellite traffic. We have meet sailors, who lost their entire satellite data subscripton  for a couple of hundert dollars overnight, because a computer downloaded a virus update over the Iridium connection. Now Starlink has become a major game changer for the boating community. Here in the Carribean Sea most of the vessels have Starlink on board. Starlink is a global satellite data service and can be used on and offshore. The data [...]

PredictWind: A Practical Guide to Weather Forecasting for Ambra

Von |2023-08-29T12:11:10+02:00August 6th, 2023|Kategorien: Atlantic Crossing, Equipment|Tags: , , , |

  Weather plays a critical role in sailing, influencing course, speed, and onboard safety. As sailors on board Ambra, we understand the importance of accurate and up-to-date weather information, both onshore and offshore. We used PredictWind as a weather forecast app and routing on our Atlantic crossing.   PredictWind Weather Routing Atlantic Crossing on Ambra   In this blog post, we share our experience in obtaining the most reliable weather forecasts using Predictwind, an exceptional weather forecast service for sailors. We'll explore the challenges of offshore communication, choosing the right platform, and optimizing weather updates to ensure a smooth and safe journey. We will not focus in on weather information analyzing the current environment, clouds, pressure, radio, NAVTEX or VHF news in this blog article.     So, buckle up (or should I say, strap on your life jackets?) and let's sail into the world of weather forecasting on board Ambra!   1. Understanding the Challenge of Offshore Weather Forecasting: Crossing the Atlantic poses unique challenges, especially when it comes to obtaining weather updates offshore. Satellite systems and SSB communication can be slow and costly, making it essential to have a reliable backup system in place. Some services offer dedicated applications or services (via Email update or Grib files) to be used via satellite communications. Starlink as a broad band service onboard, could be an option to use onshore weather apps and services (need more bandwidth) but might not work reliable offshore. You should consider a backup system using satellite coms or SSB on top. In addition Starlink has a higher power consumption (check out https://www.predictwind.com/starlink ). SSB is complex and costly as well. You need to obtain the LRC license and install the system. The connection is not always reliable and very slow. However, it is [...]

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