3 Factors of Departure Planning for Cruisers

 

 

Three things to consider when planning to leave somewhere on your boat. Hint: Arrival time is often the key.

Summary 

Planning a trip by boat is far more complex than a trip by car. You can't simply decide when you'll leave and start out. There are actually three factors you need to think about when planning when to leave on the next leg of your journey.

First, ask yourself when you need to arrive. Do you have to align your arrival with the tides? Or perhaps daylight? Then your calculations are a bit more complex and require some thought.

Secondly, what is the weather? Do you need to arrive somewhere ahead of a weather front? Perhaps you need to leave an anchorage that is not optimal for the weather coming in. 

Finally, how will your boat's speed affect your timing? In addition, if you travel either faster or slower than expected, how will you adjust? 

For more details and real-life examples, listen to the full podcast or check out Timing Passes in the Tuamotus(https://www.fit2sail.com/countdown-to-cruising/2025/7/1/timing-passes-in-the-tuamotus). 

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Links (Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that The Boat Galley Podcast earns from qualifying purchases; some other links may be affiliate links):

Departure planning -  https://fastseas.com

NEW Boat Galley weather book - https://products.theboatgalley.com/products/weather 

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