PredictWind Launches AI Weather Router to Brief Skippers on When to Go
Published: Sunday, November 8, 2026
By: PredictWind
Photo courtesy PredictWind
Auckland, New Zealand-based PredictWind, the marine weather forecaster used by more than one million sailors and mariners worldwide, has launched AI Weather Router, a new AI feature built into its Weather Routing and Departure Planning tools. Announced October 26, 2026, the feature turns complex routing results into clear, practical briefings to help sailors and powerboaters decide when to set off and understand what lies ahead.
AI Weather Router doesn't create its own forecast. PredictWind's routing algorithm first calculates the routes using the selected boat's performance data and preferences. AI Weather Router then interprets those results the way a professional weather router would, explaining how the routes and departure days differ, how each stretch of the passage will feel on board, and pointing out details that could otherwise be missed. It was developed with input from professional sailors, weather routing experts and experienced delivery captains.
"When I was forecasting the weather for two America's Cup-winning campaigns, every morning started with a briefing that turned the forecasts into a clear plan for the day," said Jon Bilger, PredictWind Founder. "AI Weather Router gives every sailor that same kind of briefing. It reads the routes the way an expert router would, tells you which day to leave and why, and is honest about where the forecast becomes less certain."
Go, caution or no-go
The briefing compares up to four departure windows, identifies the most favorable option and explains whether it's a go or a no-go. It can recommend a departure date, advise proceeding with caution, or flag that none of the selected options is fully recommended, with scores out of 10 showing how each option compares across individual factors. It weighs wind conditions, passage duration, upwind sailing, motoring, rain and potential thunderstorm activity.
Photo courtesy PredictWind
AI Weather Router interprets the calculated routes across eight forecast models. Broken into time periods suited to the length of the passage, it explains expected winds and gusts, changing conditions and any demanding stages of the trip. Briefings also highlight where forecast confidence drops further into a passage, typically beyond about five days, helping skippers prepare their crew before departure and reassess conditions underway.
Every briefing is specific to the boat and passage being planned, with detailed maps, graphs and tables alongside the written assessment. PredictWind stresses that AI Weather Router is designed to support the skipper's judgment, not replace it.
Key features
- AI Weather Router briefing: a clear, written summary of the calculated routes for the skipper and crew.
- Departure Planning: compares departure windows side by side to help choose the best time to leave.
- Forecast confidence insights: shows where conditions build or ease along the route, and where forecast confidence drops.
- Crew comfort and safety: explains how the chosen weather window will affect the crew. For Professional subscribers, boat motion analysis covers roll, vertical acceleration and slamming, plus the likelihood of seasickness, injury and fatigue, how well the crew will sleep, and how hard it will be to move around the boat.
- Key concerns at a glance: a short bullet-point summary to share with the crew.
AI Weather Router is available now to all Standard and Professional subscribers through the PredictWind app, the Forecast Website and the Offshore App. Subscription options are listed on PredictWind's pricing page.
Photo courtesy PredictWind
PredictWind is also hosting a free one-hour webinar on planning an Atlantic crossing with Keryn McMaster, NZ pro sailor and PredictWind Support Lead, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (7-8 p.m. UTC). It will cover weather routing basics, AI Weather Router in action on Weather Routing and Departure Planning, and the DataHub features crews use to stay safe and connected offshore. A recording will be sent to all registrants.
tags: AI, boating, PredictWInd, routing, weather
