There is hardly any single thing you can do to safeguard your cruise to
an unfamiliar area than to study the Fleet Numeric NGP graphics.
The graphics topic to select is "Wave and Winds."

https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/WXMAP/

Following the presentations for the area of interest just prior and
during the passage you make is the single best way of protecting
yourself. This may not be possible except when in port. The fallback is
to have someone on shore who you can contact and who will follow this
for you.

Keep in mind the following comments. The FN graphics are not all that
accurate right near the coast and the absolute location of where storm
centers will be beyond a couple days ahead, is only marginally accurate.
Last, but not least. Your ability to find the data useful will be
enhanced profoundly if you have been studying the charts in the previous
2 or 3 months. In other words, the pattern that has preceded the present
time frame is the one LIKELY to prevail immediately following.

I consider the Pilot Charts which show general patterns of winds and
directions to be obsolete if you have access to the FN graphics. There
are other methods of getting wind and wave predictions, like GRIB files
but I consider all of these others to be second rate.

I am wary of so called weather routing services. The weakness of using
these services fall under these comments. Not enough attention to
whether winds will be less than 20 knots for powered craft. Inattention
to counter currents in the area. Not taking into account whether so
called light winds of 15-20 knots will be from a favorable direction.
Not enough experience with the specific vessel type and characteristics
that you actually have. And, with any specific equipment limitations at
the time like stabilizer failures, etc. Not taking into account the
effects of varying wind directions, resulting in very confused and
uncomfortable sea conditions.

Confused seas are much more prevalent outside the so called "trade wind"
routes where the wind tends to blow from one direction for weeks if not
months at a time.

It is not enough to just avoid really bad storms. Cruising boats that
lack fairly deep keels, ballast and sails for stabilization(commonly
known as "sailboats") need to concentrate on optimizing the route to
maximize comfort. This form of comfort is not a luxury.

Mike

Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(Near Portland)

The descriptive materials that you would like to have to visit an area
that you have never been to would be identical to that which one would
have for an area that one knows well. This is not likely to happen.

For myself I would have tide and current tables, overhead photographs,
coast pilots with the level of detail like that in the US ones. Charts
made from surveys with detail to the level of every individual rock in
water up to a 30 feet of depth. The charts for coastal areas would be at
least 100,000 to one scale and harbors at least 20,000 to one and small
harbors perhaps 5,000 to one. Of course this is all a dream and as
likely to be available as ice water in hell.

I would have paper charts at the price of printing(press, ink and
paper), perhaps $1 each. A chart table large enough to lay the chart out
in all it's glory for infinite examination. There would be no gaps in
the charts carried. In fact, none of this is available in any consistent
manner. The situation is so chaotic world wide that the temptation is to
give up and accept whatever one can get their hands on without being
driven to despair.

More later.

Mike

Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(Near Portland)