Marine Weather Planning
with Andy & Lisa BatchelorBlend weather, oceanography, and routing strategy to prepare for offshore and coastal passages.
Before you plot your course, or load your provisions, or prep your sail plan—start with the weather. This two-part online course gives sailors a clear framework for integrating weather forecasting into trip planning. Whether you’re a coastal cruiser or an offshore voyager, understanding marine weather is the first—and most important—step.
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ONLINE COURSE OVERVIEW
Effective weather planning is more than checking a forecast—it’s a process that starts long before you set sail. This course breaks that process down into actionable steps. You'll learn how to shape your route using real-time data, anticipate changes, and manage your plan underway.
From understanding GRIB files to working with weather routers and analyzing synoptic charts, this course brings clarity to the complexity of marine weather. You’ll apply everything you learn to a real-world passage scenario from Norfolk to the USVI.
Who is this online class for?
This course is designed for sailors planning coastal or ocean passages. Whether you're just starting to build your passage-planning skills or are looking to strengthen your weather integration strategies, this course delivers practical techniques you can apply right away.
What Will I Learn?
By the end of this two-part course, you’ll walk away with:
- A step-by-step methodology for route and weather planning
- Confidence in interpreting forecast tools and synoptic products
- A better understanding of how to adjust your plan underway
- Strategies to optimize comfort, safety, and efficiency offshore
List of Topics:
SESSION 1: Planning the Passage – Strategy & Structure, Weather Data
Objective: Build a passage plan by blending boat capability, route design, tides, and climatology.- Introduction: You can’t control the weather—but you can plan to optimize it
- 10-step Passage Planning Methodology
- Performance Criteria & Constraints
- Navigation Basics
- Tides & Currents
- Marine Weather Basics
- Forecasting Sources
SESSION 2: GRIBs, Forecasting & Real-World Application
- GRIB Files & Weather Models
- Weather Routing
- Human vs automated services
- Tools: PredictWind, LuckGrib, SailGrib, Squid, etc.
- Getting Data Offshore
- SSB, SiriusXM, Iridium, Starlink
- Passage Scenario: Norfolk, VA to USVI
Smooth Sailing is No Accident
Make Safer Passage Decisions
Learn how to read and interpret multiple weather sources, spot hazards early, and plan routes that avoid dangerous conditions. By blending forecast data with your boat’s capabilities and route realities, you’ll make confident decisions that keep crew and vessel safe.
Optimize Comfort and Efficiency
Time departures, choose smart waypoints, and ride favorable winds, tides, and currents. The result—faster, more efficient passages with less fatigue, seasickness, and wear on your gear.
Gain Confidence in Any Conditions
Weather changes quickly at sea. You’ll master GRIB files, synoptic charts, and long-range forecasts, so you can adapt mid-passage while keeping safety and destination goals on track.
Turn Data into Actionable Strategy
With endless weather data available, the challenge is knowing how to use it. This course gives you a clear process to turn raw forecasts into practical passage plans—ready for coastal or offshore voyages.
YOUR HOSTS
CAPTAINS LISA & ANDY BATCHELOR
Sail Solomons ASA School & Charter Base, Founders
Captains Andy Batchelor and Lisa Batchelor Frailey are both lifelong sailors and retired military officers. Andy served in the Royal Air Force in aviation and intelligence, and Lisa served in the US Navy in aviation, meteorology and oceanography – a combination of skills that have proven very useful to sailing and passagemaking. They founded and operated Sail Solomons ASA school and charter base, receiving numerous awards for ASA Outstanding School and Outstanding Instructors.
Andy and Lisa wrote ASA’s textbooks for Bareboat Cruising, Catamaran Cruising, and Dinghies and Outboard and are the primary contributors to ASA’s Advanced Cruising and Seamanship text. Their most recent book, Docking & Maneuvering Made Easy, is American Sailing’s new textbook for the ASA 118 Docking Endorsement. Lisa also regularly teaches the ASA 119, Marine Weather Endorsement.
Cruising for seven years onboard their Passport 47 ZINGARO and Outbound 46 KINETIC, Andy and Lisa have made numerous coastal passages and ocean voyages, conducting cruising and passagemaking training while living aboard in exotic locations. They also organize and lead sailing flotillas on cruising catamarans and monohulls in the Caribbean. Andy and Lisa are regular speakers at Cruisers’ University and present many live and virtual seminars.
Andy and Lisa launched Kinetic Sailing to offer marine consulting, charter brokerage, instructional yacht deliveries and tailored instruction with a global scope. They are USCG Captains, cruisers, instructors, analysts and business owners with a wealth of experience in the sailing industry.
ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION
Thursday, September 25th
@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)
Regular Price
$79
ASA Member Price
$59
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.
ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT
American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you're not a current member, then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!
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