How I Read the Weather After 85,000 Miles (PredictWind Masterclass #1/5)

The ocean doesn't care about your plans. But it does respond to physics. After 85,000 miles at sea and a career as a Navy Submariner, I’ve learned that PredictWind is only as good as the person making the decisions. This is the first video in a 5-part intensive series designed to transform you from a "passenger" into a Captain who truly understands the weather. 📘 GET THE BOOK & SAVE $100: My book Be The Captain is the foundation of this entire series. It pays for itself because every reader gets 20% OFF a PredictWind Standard or Pro subscription (up to a $100 savings). 👉 Grab your copy and the discount here: https://bethecaptain.com/ ⚓️ WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN VIDEO #1: We are moving past "looking at pretty wind maps" and into professional decision-making. In this session, we cover: The 3-Question Framework: My mental model for every offshore departure. Boat Polars: Why your boat’s "fingerprint" is the most important setting you’ve probably ignored. UI Hierarchy: What matters, what’s noise, and how to navigate the interface without overwhelm. Departure Planning: The exact workflow I use to choose a safe weather window. ⚖️ TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE & TRANSPARENCY: To make this series possible, PredictWind provided the iPad and the professional editing used in these videos, along with my Pro account. However, I have received no cash payment for this series. I retain 100% editorial control, and I am making these videos because I believe this is the most important safety tool a modern sailor can own. My goal is to get you the best training—and the best price—on the tools I trust with my own life. 🌊 ABOUT JAMES EVENSON: James is a U.S. Navy Veteran (Submariner) and professional offshore sailor. He is the author of the bestseller "Be The Captain" and the creator of the YouTube channel Sailing Zingaro. This series is designed to bridge the gap between "having an app" and "having a plan." 📽️ THE PREDICTWIND MASTERCLASS SERIES: Video 1: The Foundation & Setup (You are here) Video 2: Weather Routing & Interpretation Video 3: Power Routing for Comfort Video 4: Safety, AIS & Extra Features Video 5: The Offshore App & Starlink Integration ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The Big Idea: Decision Support vs. Weather Data 2:15 - The 3 Questions Every Captain Must Ask 4:40 - Navigating the PredictWind Interface 7:10 - Setting up your Boat Polars (Crucial!) 10:35 - High Res vs. Global Models: When to use which? 14:20 - Using the Departure Planner for Go/No-Go Decisions 18:50 - How to get your 20% Discount #Sailing #PredictWind #BeTheCaptain #OffshoreSailing #WeatherRouting #SailingZingaro #Seamanship