Weather/tidal routing app feedback

[chris-s]

An advert popped up today promoting the routing options in the Orca nav app.

This type of feature is available in various apps now like Savvy Navvy, Predict Wind and now Orca.
Personally, we have no need for them with the sailing we do, but in general how do they work out for people? I imagine they are useful to compare your planning trips, tidal routing particularly in some areas especially as it’s more ‘known’ than the weather.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’ve been using the free version of Orca for a year or so now, I do like it. Useful as an additional source of planning and execution data for certain passages. Recently did a 200-odd mile delivery where the boat’s own nav kit was useless except for depth and radar; after initial planning on paper charts the passage was then routed and executed using a 4G iPad Pro running Orca. Tidal info was useful, weather less so, and I really appreciated having the AIS overlay as we passed Dover and headed up the Thames estuary. 67’ motor boat.

Summary:; Orca is worth a look.