Who hasn’t been caught off guard by a front, drenched by a sudden squall, or slowed by a dying wind? Weather routing is crucial for planning your outings at sea, whether sailing solo, with family, offshore, or coastal.
To delve into this captivating topic, Dufour invites Christian Dumard, weather router and founder of Marine Weather Intelligence, to discuss with Nicolas Bérenger, a solo offshore racer in major events like the Solitaire du Figaro. These two seasoned sailors will show you how to best plan your navigation program by taking all factors into account.
What is Weather Routing?
“Generally, we use a program that allows us to project into space. So we can say, ‘Today, we’re leaving from this point and want to go to that point,’ and the software will then optimize the route. It uses performance criteria for racing boats but also safety criteria for cruising boats. This gives you an idea of the weather conditions you will encounter throughout your navigation,” explains Christian Dumard, weather router and founder of Marine Weather Intelligence.
“It’s important from every perspective,” adds Nicolas Bérenger. “First, in terms of safety, knowing where we’re going and in what conditions we’re departing. It allows you to anticipate, to know what you’re going to experience. It helps to equip your boat based on what you’re doing. Weather is the beginning of the dream. I spend my life dreaming about my voyages. So, the closer the navigation gets, the more I can focus on increasingly precise weather information. Weather analysis is part of the journey.”
What Basic Weather Knowledge Should You Have?
Christian Dumard: “It’s very important to take weather training courses. Today, it’s easy; you launch the routing program, so you leave from point A, arrive at point B, and there are little arrows along the route. But sometimes the arrows might change direction, strange things happen, but nothing alarming. In real life, a change in wind direction can mean a front is passing, strong gusts, squalls, a danger.”
What Mistakes Are Made Regarding Weather?
Nicolas Bérenger: “I think I still remember by heart all the mistakes I’ve made. I’ve spent months and months going over all the maneuvers I missed, all the weather mistakes I made. Making mistakes is useful, and it’s extremely valuable. What’s important is to recognize that you’re making mistakes, analyze them so you don’t repeat them. And we all make a lot of mistakes.”
How Are Dufour Yachts Equipped for Weather Forecasting?
“We have an electronic environment provided by B&G, an internationally renowned brand in the world of racing. This allows us to offer a reliable work environment with screens, sensors, and a very effective autopilot… This setup is Wi-Fi connectable.
More informations about the range
What I recommend is bringing your own computer that you’re familiar with, that you have at home. You can do routing and download weather files in advance to prepare your trip. For me, navigation is prepared well in advance. Once on board, you connect to your boat and can transmit information and retrieve it.
For more information and anecdotes on this topic, don’t hesitate, dive into this fascinating video.