The Mariner · video

What this video covers

Chris sails the Volvo 60 Grand Mestral offshore near Portugal and Spain, using PredictWind to manage a developing weather system without functional wind instruments.0:22 Running three reefs and a J5 headsail in Force 4-plus conditions, he walks through how he uses PredictWind's multiple GRIB model layers: GFS (volatile, frequently updated, good for system strength), ECMWF (stable, reliable for placement), UK Met Office (strong in the North Atlantic, weaker farther south), and PredictWind's own correction layers PWG and PWE, which apply a meteorologist-style adjustment on top of raw model data.5:56 He explains why PWE is his primary reference and PWG his regular check.14:12 PredictWind costs $99 for three months; Starlink makes downloading full-Atlantic GRIB data practical offshore where cell signal is unavailable.8:01 Because no polars exist for the Grand Mestral in PredictWind, he uses Volvo 60 polars set to 75% as a proxy.3:22 He cautions that automated routing ignores fuel constraints — the tool suggested motoring through the Azores High, which he rejected on fuel grounds.18:16 He also covers a prior gooseneck split-pin failure caught on camera, Raymarine gear damage, a rigger in Cherbourg who failed to complete rig adjustments, and the qualification goal for the 2027 Global Solo Challenge.0:33

More from The Mariner

Sailing to Newport, my Trimaran Project & Notes on Archive Management for L- Matrix AI'sJul 2026Taking a Look Around the Waterfront in Lunenburg, Nova ScotiaJun 2026Solo Docking an 80ft Yacht Without Use Of The Auxillary EngineMay 2026Introducing Longitudinal AI SystemsMay 2026

From The Mariner — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.