PredictWind Review: Pros, Cons & Real Use at Sea
Have you ever wondered if PredictWind is worth tapping into your hard-earned cruising kitty? Or is it just an overhyped weather tool?
As full-time liveaboard sailors for over 2 years, we have been using PredictWind Standard subscription daily as our go-to weather forecasting tool, and it has saved us on more than one occasion!
Our favorite features are the Departure Planning and Weather Routing tools!
It made us think twice about going out in sloppy 7 foot seas with 9.5 second periods for a passage from St. Martin to Martinique, which we more comfortably completed a few days later.
In this honest PredictWind review, we’ll walk you through its best features, the pros and cons, and whether or not it’s worth the cost for your sailing adventures.
PredictWind Overview
What is PredictWind?
PredictWind is a weather forecasting tool that uses multiple models to predict weather conditions going out up to 10 days.
With PredictWind, you can track wind, wind gusts, rain, CAPE, UV Index, barometer, wave height and period, and the tides for your area, depending on the subscription you sign up for.
Having this tool helps us make informed and safe decisions when sailing between islands in the Caribbean Sea, across the Gulf Stream and in the Bahamas, across the Mona Passage, and when sailing across oceans.
PredictWind Key Features: Sailor-Tested & Proven
Spoiler Alert: Departure Planning and Weather Routing are my favorite two features of PredictWind and we use them for every passage we plan. Below are the top 8 key features of PredictWind:
Multi-Model Forecast Comparison
With the Standard Plan we use, we can compare up to 6 different weather models. Comparing the models helps us look for consistency in the forecasting, indicating more certainty in the weather predictions.
Departure Planning
This tool makes it easy to pick the best day for departure based on winds, waves/swell, CAPE, current and boat draft. I especially like the feature where it tells you the predicted percentage of sailing upwind, reaching and downwind for your trip.
Weather Routing
This tool calculates the best sailing routes based on each forecast model and your boat polars.
When we used the Weather Routing on our 2-day passage from St. Martin to Martinique and cruised around the corner into the wind at Diamond Rock we found it to be light just as predicted. This made the last couple hours of our trip very pleasant!.
⛵Plan your passage with ease with Weather Routing and Departure Planning!
Boat Polar Settings
PredictWind allows you to enter your details about your boat and how you like to sail to help fine tune the departure planning and weather routing.
With the Professional Plan, you have access to AI Polars that use real-time data to learn the way you sail your boat and provide you with even more accurate weather routing.
We do not have the Professional Plan, therefore, I did not include use of the Professional Plan features in this PredictWind review but they sound helpful for offshore sailing.
PredictWind & Offshore Apps
PredictWind has two apps, the PredictWind (Main) App and Offshore App:
- PredictWind App: Best for coastal cruising and day sailing or planning passages while connected to the internet
- Offshore App: Best for passage planning and getting low-data forecasts from a satellite connection (Iridium Go!, Starlink or slow SSB-connections).
We use the PredictWind App on our phones 99% of the time.
🌤️Check the weather anywhere, anytime with the PredictWind App!
CAPE Index
CAPE stands for Convective Available Potential Energy. In simpler terms, it is the instability of the atmosphere or amount of fuel available to a developing thunderstorm, as defined by the National Weather Service.
It measures thunderstorm potential – this helps us determine if we depart or wait for clearer weather.
Rain Radar & Satellite Imagery
Rain radar and satellite imagery provide great visual weather data for short-term planning.
It’s nice to access this data in PredictWind instead of having to go to another weather website or app.
GPS Tracking / Sharable Tracker Page
Last but not least is the GPS Tracking overlaid on PredictWind maps that we can share with friends!
I just learned recently that we have access to this feature with the Standard Plan. I sent PredictWind my GPS data from our Garmin Inreach and now our family and friends can track our location, boat speed and course, and see weather we we are located.
Here is our link to see where we are and what kind of weather we are in today: Pelagia PredictWind Tracker
With PredictWind, your friends and family can see the wind and weather systems you are in, and see how you are progressing along.
⛅Let your family and friends see where you are and the weather you are in!
PredictWind Pricing
There are 4 plans with PredictWind: Free, Basic, Standard and Professional.
You can be billed annually, or billed for 3 months access if you just want to try it out without a huge commitment.
We like the Standard Plan the best, but I’ll go through all 4 plans.
The Professional Plan is designed for ocean going sailors, racers and even commercial vessels.
If you are a weekend sailor or coastal cruiser and want something a little more than the Free models, I recommend the Basic Plan.
For full-time liveaboards, and those making longer passages such as to the Bahamas or Caribbean, the Standard Plan is for you. This is the plan we are using for sailing in the Caribbean and it is perfect for our needs.
Pros of PredictWind: Why Cruisers Love It
☀️Departure Planning & Weather Routing – take the guesswork out of passage planning (my favorite features!)
☀️Easy save and switch between forecast locations – save up to 20 locations. We use this all the time aboard Pelagia when island hopping in the Bahamas and the Caribbean
☀️Easy to use interface – even for non-techies like me!
☀️Split screen model comparisons – easy to see the differences between the models
☀️Customizable based on your boat and cruising style – means better planning
☀️Offline Capabilities – no Starlink between islands – no problem with the Offshore App
Cons of PredictWind: Potential Downfalls
⛈️Steep learning curve for advanced features – All of these different features can feel overwhelming at first, but once you learn them, it’s worth it.
⛈️Premium features for premium price – My favorite features: Departure Planning and Weather Routing, are only available in the Standard and Professional Plans. The AI boat polars using real-time data is only available with the Professional Plan.
⛈️Two apps adds confusion – While they serve different purposes, it can be confusing at first.
PredictWind Alternative: PredictWind vs Windy
There are several other weather forecasting tools and services that you can use. We do use a couple others, like Chris Parker / Marine Weather Center and the free version of SailFlow alongside PredictWind.
The most similar tool to PredictWind is Windy. In fact, the PredictWind vs. Windy debate is a hot topic amongst cruisers.
We prefer PredictWind for its Weather Routing and Departure Planning features, especially when we go offshore. This is something that Windy does not provide in such a useful way as PredictWind.
While it is more costly than Windy, you get a lot more bang for your buck with PredictWind.
FAQs About PredictWind Features
Does PredictWind offer a free version or trial?
Yes, PredictWind has a free plan that uses 9 forecast models with worldwide coverage.
Can I overlay my GPS coordinates from my Garmin on PredictWind maps?
Yes, you can provide your Garmin GPS shareable map to PredictWind and they will provide you with a link with your GPS location overlaid on their weather maps. PredictWind has easy to follow instructions with a quick turnaround.
Can PredictWind be used on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes, PredictWind can be used on up to 4 different devices. We both check PredictWind first thing in the morning – this feature is very handy!
Can I pause or cancel my subscription seasonally?
While you cannot pause your subscription, you can cancel or simply not renew your PredictWind subscription.
What is the difference between the PredictWind App and Offshore App?
The PredictWind App is best for coastal cruising and use while connected to the internet. The Offshore App is best for offshore passages, and getting forecasts through satellite using reduced data.
Is PredictWind Worth It?
PredictWind is my favorite weather forecasting tool.
I have played around with Windy and other tools, but kept finding myself coming back to PredictWind.
We sailed from Solomons, Maryland down the east coast of the USA, through the Bahamas, along the Thorny Path and all through the Eastern Caribbean using PredictWind as our primary weather forecasting source.
We used the Departure Planning and Weather Routing features in the Standard Plan on all of our passages. As highlighted in this PredictWind review, they truly helped us plan safe passages.
If you are planning passages like sailing offshore along the eastern coast of the US, sailing through the Bahamas, or sailing between islands in the Caribbean, then I recommend signing up for the PredictWind Standard Plan.
⛵ Get PredictWind today to take the stress out of your passage planning!
