We tested the PredictWind Satellite Communicator and 3G Communicator, which were developed to extend the geographic range at which sailors can receive the companys weather forecast services.
To get weather routing updates via the Satellite Communicator, the professional package is required.
Annual subscription rates range from $19 for a basic package (five-day forecasts with high-resolution, which is adequate for the casual, coastal cruiser) to $499 for the professional package, which includes personalized weather forecasts plus weather routing, trip planning, location reporting, alerts, and high-resolution GRIB downloads.
PredictWind website users can get free single-day forecasts, but in-depth forecasts require a subscription. The forecasting model has proven successful and the predictions accurate-especially for long-distance sailors like Rutherford and offshore racers like Volvo Ocean Race crews. They also offer higher-resolution and more accurate forecasts for a fee, along with services like weather routing, trip planning, boat tracking, live observations, and forecast alerts. Since 2008, the company has offered free wind predictions for recreational and racing sailors through its website. PredictWinds offerings include high-resolution wind predictions for more than 20,000 locations throughout the world. Over the years, the company developed a number of weather forecasting products and related electronics that enabled clients to receive its weather forecasts beyond the range of typical Internet and cellular signals.įor our sea trial, the company supplied us with its PredictWind Satellite Communicator and its newest product, a 3G Communicator, which is basically a modem/booster for 3G cellular signals. PredictWind is primarily a weather-forecasting company-not an electronics manufacturer-that got its start in 2000, when founder Jon Bilger began developing tailored weather forecasts for Americas Cup racing. Considering the difficulties of the adventure-including transiting the Northwest Passage through the Arctic and rounding Cape Horn, in all types of conditions, aboard a wet boat-we considered this high praise for an electronic device and decided a Practical Sailor sea-trial was in order. SailGrib uses the JGRIB Java GRIB decoder ( we reported on Matt Rutherfords solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the Americas aboard his Albin Vega 27 ( PS, July 2012), we noted that one of the few electronics that survived his voyage without failing was an email/weather satellite communicator from New Zealand-based PredictWind. By using these data you agree to these limitations and assume all the responsibility for their use. There is no assurance that the data is accurate or correct. Grib files are computer-generated forecast files which are sent without review, and are offered on an as-is basis. Tide forecast are not official and are for reference purpose only. With SailGrib, you can view the following data: SailGrib estimates the size of the grib file you request and adjust the grid resolution and the time step to make sure your file will size be lower than your set limit. number of days for the forecast: from 1 to 14 depending on model time step between forecasts :from 1 hour to 12 hours depending on models grid resolution: from very high resolution to 2.5°
request method : direct download (SailGrib, Great Circle, MeteoConsult, GMN) or email (SailDocs, GMN or Great Circle) grib provider : SailGrib, Great Circle, SailDocs, Open WRF, MeteoConsult, GMN, Mercator Ocean for oceanic and coastal currents. With SailGrib, you can specify the following parameters for your grib file request: Wave (significant wave height, mean wave direction and period) Precipitation (accumulated over 6 hours) With SailGrib, you can download and view the following data: offlline maps capability combined with satellite mail allows usage at sea. can be used at sea with a satellite phone or the Iridium Go request can be adjusted to match a maximum file size specify the parameters(wind, pressure.) to your needs download data using the best Grib files providers : SailGrib, Great Circle, GMN, OpenWRF, SailDocs. pan and zoom the map to choose your region Weather data are downloaded as grib files while tides are calculated locally on your device. Get all the major models of weather forecast from many different sources in one easy to use app. SaiGrib is a weather and tides forecast app designed for the sailing community, cruisers and raceers, worlwide. YACHTING WORLD - "IMPRESSIVE" - July 2014ĭesigned for Iridium GO! and Approved by Iridium.