New plugin "Passage Planner" in v50
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@dav3richo
Why would a route based on a GPX file avoid the problems with the same route created manually in the plugin?
Is it a tricky route through an archipelago or very close to the coast ?
If so, I'm not sure this plugin is the best solution. This plugin calculates the fastest route between point A to point B based on the weather conditions predicted by a weather model. Probably not the best solution near the coast.
Have you tried the Route Planner (Distance&planning) in Windy ? With this feature, you are the one who plots the route, and not a weather model. -
Hello, I tried the plugin on my IPad , but I‘m wondering two items:
- Where can I delete the current route?
- Where is my polar file, after I created a unique one for my boat.
Otherwise, keep on the good work.
D.G.
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@Roberto-Portoni Both very good suggestions, which will be easy enough to implement in the next release. Thanks.
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@idefix37 Spot on here - the plugin uses a pretty course land map - as such when navigating close to land, it may cut across portions of land. A few things you could tweak in the advanced settings are:
- Time step - reduce this to say 0.25 or less.
- Land Margin - increase this to buffer yourself further from land.
Importing a GPX somewhat defeats the auto routing benefits of the tool - and the Distance and Planning tool is better suited if you just want to see weather along your route.
This plugin isn't designed to be used for any navigation purposes - there are many components not considered by this (and many) weather routing tools.
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Regard to deleting your current route, there is a 'Clear Route' button at the bottom of the screen.
If you have saved your route, hit the little (x) next to it on the load route files.
However I suspect your talking about clearing your Start and Finish pins from the screen. Rather than dragging them to a new location. In the next update, youll see little (x) next to these pins allowing you to clear those too and click on the map to set new locations. For now youll have to drag them to your new location.
With regards to your polars, most people edit an existing polar, rename it at the top of the screen. It will then appear in the drop down to use for future routes. However your welcome to start from scratch and select 'new' and name it as you wish.
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@Tirili75 sorry your seeing this, I have experienced myself but not seeing any rhyme or reason to it. We will look at a more robust method of sampling conditions and come back to you shortly. I have added some retry logic to the next build you'll see early next week, but will see what else we can do prior. Ill be back in touch with the group.
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@oldkorsr its been designed for multi day passages, actually really its designed for ocean passages, that route obviously looks wild.
If possible if you could share a screenshot of the start/finish (+ any waypoints) ill dive into it deeper. I have already made some changes to the router, to route in much more detail so it doesn't make as many mistakes close to land but i'd be keen to try this one.
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Thx very much for your comprehensive answer. But as for the PolarFiles, I actually wanted a way to export and import them so that I could edit them on my desktop at home or use them with Windy to plan a sailing trip on a larger screen
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@brodiej would you consider adding gusts to the mix. We tend to always plan our passages on gusts, not wind. Great plugin btw :)
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Hi,
i have a question.. You talk about remove the routes, but with two routes i can change them but not removing. So, is it not possibile to remove them for starting new ones for example kinds in the Pacific Ocean without move the existing ones?thanks
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New version now live.
@j-ayr great suggestion, now captured and displayed. I have wound back how much data we show here by default, but you can turn the layers/metrics back on as you wish.
@godie - Import / Export is now available. Let me know if that helps!
@tirili75 - Please give it another go when you have some time. I have added some more robust mechanisms to fetch - and will strike up a conversation in paralell with the Windy team to see if they can assist in providing an alternate route.
@idefix37 - Routing has increased in its accuracy greatly. I'm seeing it navigate very tight complex routes, with waypoints now. Very keen to hear your feedback though. As always, this is no replacement for good seamanship and navigation. It has no knowledge of depths, and navigation.
@roberto-portoni - when scrubbing through your timeline you'll now see a indication if your sailing or motoring. Route details chart (as before) still has its indication.
Wind direction also now visible in the route details!
Other comments:
- Mobile apps didnt support the export GPX - fixed.
- The amount of weather is fetched based on a estimated VMG through waypoints + a buffer now.
- @roberto-portoni You can now 'remove' start/finish points rather than having to drag them across your map.
A bit of work left to optimise the iPad / Mobile view (make it actually useable) - so ill come back to you with that soon. Welcome any more feedback and comments.
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@brodiej Thank you so much for ongoing work to elevate the effectiveness and usefulness of this function within Windy. In some cursory scrolling through community.windy it looks like you’re a coder from Australia who’s developed this independently for the benefit of the community? Released it last month? Major kudos and gratitude if my take here is correct.
- Passage Planner works on my iPad but not on the iPhone. Is this intentional?
- Passage Planner is unable to import a simple GPX with a direct nav route that crosses land. The plugin seems confused with creating an intermediary waypoint and rounding land obstacles.
- When planning for a future date (like 5 days out, ECMWF) the wind modeling shown in the scrolling seems to be for time now. The wind graphic displayed doesn't alter to adjust for the future sail time in Passage Planner.
- When a new version of Passage Planner goes live, do we get that automatically updated (push) from within Windy, or do we need to actively pull down and install the update?
We've all experienced the myriad of apps, particularly for mariners, attempting to become the de facto Google Maps of navigable waters. If Passage Planner can continue to incorporate everyone’s helpful comments herein then it can help many of us trying to synthesize active passage planning amidst all our competing sources, subscriptions, and screens.
Captain Sammy G
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@SamGraber kinds words, thanks! Really was built just to help my passage planning, but has had significant uptake from the community which is great.
- Not intentional that its not working for you on iPad. Have a large number of improvements coming that will resolve these quirks.
- Do you mind pinging me directly an example of this just to ensure iv handled this in the latest versions.
- Can I confirm your talking about the wind animation in windy itself? Be great if you can capture a bit of a screenshot or similar and share.
- Yes indeed, Windy will auto update the plugin for you on your next run.
Bit of a re-development coming that addresses the issues people have raised, also includes some new features that I am keen for myself, such as 'Arrive By' etc.
Very much appreciate all the feedback, keep it coming. Looking for a small group of testers that can help test and validate the next version prior to public release - ping me directly if your at all interested.
Cheers!
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@brodiej Hi
could i suggest for example to add in the column current the reference about the sea current against or in favor of the course? in the graphic label i can see the waves meters and current size.
Also could be good to add the SWELL direction and the period?The plugin now is fantastic, i want only suggest what i could see in some free applications like Qtvlm web free edition...
Good job guys! compliments
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@brodiej @roberto-portoni
Further to my previous post for which went unanswered, I personally consider that SWELL is not a relevant parameter for choosing the route, but WAVES (the addition of swell and wind waves) is much more useful. -
@brodiej
Passage Planner is working on the iPad, not working well on the iPhone. :)
I tried to message you direct but my internet skills are failing me.
Would love to send a screen shot. Basically, the wind animation being shown stays the current time wind animation regardless of scrolling forward in the passage planning timeline.
Great!I am actively using this widget for nearshore route planning on Lake Superior.
My continued appreciation for your work.
Sam
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@idefix37 sorry I missed that thread. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. I have always just considered wave/fetch a output of wind, one that im already routing for, i.e comfort for example.
I have personally considered Swell the leading factor - however believe that perhaps we should be calculating a combined wave/swell (sea) forecast and use that? Very keen to hear if you believe otherwise.
@samgraber ill ping you a message to try respond to with that screenshot.
Thanks!
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@brodiej
The WAVES LAYER in Windy is not the wind waves resulting from the local wind and the fetch. WAVES is the total sea i.e. “the addition / the combination” of the wind waves and the swells.
The SWELL layer shows the waves resulting only from a strong distant wind.
See more about it and what WAVES means according to ECMWF WAM.
You can check that the significant height of WAVES is always more important than the significant height of SWELL. So you can have no SWELL but tough WAVES.
For me WAVES data is more significant for sailing than SWELL data.
Swells are more dangerous in shallow waters near the shore because of their high energy.
But from experience, in anticyclonic conditions, on the open sea with light winds, a long swell (period of more than 10 seconds) of 4 m height has absolutely no effect on a 10-meter sailboat. -
@idefix37 - I 100% agree, what a great write up - that is our combined param I was seeking. Ill make that change - great suggestion! Thankyou.
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@brodiej Sometimes the swell comes from a different direction than the waves generated by the wind, and they may also differ in height. In these situations, which one is more important for navigation?If the wind is not so strong... thanks
