The two most important factors involved in achieving optimum courses are the weather forecast and speed of the sailboat. Other influences include tidal and ocean currents that may cause the boat to drift significantly.
Many of our competitors attempt to pass off "the optimization of boat speed in relation to the wind" as routing. This is not true routing. MaxSea offers "true routing", which uses an algorithmic method to determine the optimum route.
High winds can slow boat speed tremendously, but more importantly, create an unsafe environment for the vessel and its crew. MaxSea routing is very safe. The routing algorithm automatically compensates for increased winds and avoids sending the boater into unsafe conditions.
The unique Routing algorithm developed by MaxSea uses the isochrons method (isochrons are displayed on the chart as alternate yellow and purple curves). Each isochron represents a group of points that the selected sailboat can reach in a fixed amount of time, dependent upon the weather forecast and the boat speed (boat speed is entered into the equation from a polar curve diagram which relates boat speed to wind speed at a given wind-angle). For example, if the difference between 2 isochrons is 3 hours, then the first isochron represents the point the boat can reach within 3 hours, the second isochron is the point the boat can reach within 6 hours, the third one is the point the boat can reach within 9 hours, and so on. The shape of the isochron displayed indicates global tendencies. For example, if a closely knit group of isochrons is displayed in the West, and a flat curve is shown in the East, this indicates that the East holds the better options for travel. For a boater to utilize this system of routing, he must follow the joining isochrons, which designate the most efficient routes (a bright red line joins the isochrons and indicates the optimum route).Let's take the following route as an example. The yellow lines represent the isochrons. Color indicates sea surface temurature. The Large yellow arrows represent surface stream (current) and the thin arrows are wind indicators.
MaxSea routing enables the sailor to think ahead (long term weather conditions) to alter and calculate his optimum route. Since the weather forecast can be incorrect or change quickly, MaxSea provides the skipper with powerful tools to modify and recalculate a better route. Target points, the forecast speed of the boat, and the force and direction of the wind the sailboat will encounter, are three necessary pieces of information. MaxSea routing provides the skipper with a variety of powerful decision-making tools to ensure a safer, more strategicly planned trip or cruise.
