Marine Weather Planning

with

Lisa & Andy Batchelor

Kinetic Sailing

Blend 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.

FREE

Marine Weather Planning

Online class 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
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.

Your Host

Lisa & Andy Batchelor

Captains Andy Batchelor and Lisa Batchelor Frailey are both life-long 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 which have proved 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 and Catamaran Cruising, and are the primary contributors to ASA’s Advanced Cruising and Seamanship text.

Get the class Bundle

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Online Class Registration

@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)

Regular Price

ASA Member Price

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!

Online Course
Course*
- Marine Weather Planning
ASA Certification
ASA Online Achievement Seal
- ASA Online Achievement Seal
  *recommended
  $19.00
By completing this entire course you can earn an ASA Online Achievement Seal - an official ASA seal that can be entered into your ASA Logbook!
Official ASA Logbook
- ASA Logbook
  $29.99
The ASA Logbook is a living document that chronicles your certifications and can also be used to keep a record of any and all sea-hours accrued along the way. If you chose to earn an ASA Online Achievement Seal and don't have an ASA Logbook then you *must* chose this option and purchase one.
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