PredictWind launch new wind forecast App for iPhone and Android

by Zoe Hawkins on 21 Mar 2012 www.predictwind.com!PredictWind has announced the launch of its newly developed iPhone and Android app that delivers full wind forecast functionality to smartphones, making forecasts easier and faster to access from any location.

The marine wind forecast tool is the most advanced available on an App and allows users to set up and receive forecasts for specific locations, alerts for ideal conditions and check the latest wind observations.

'Using a customized application to get up to date wind forecasts, and applying that information, in detail, to a specific race or passage, is the ideal scenario for sailors,' says PredictWind founder Jon Bilger of the software that has been twelve months in the making.

By using the latest forecasts from PredictWind’s high resolution weather model, the weather routing tool will plot the fastest route for users to sail between two points, and the trip planner will assist users in planning the best time and day to commence their passage.

PredictWind delivers detailed information about many different aspects of weather, including wind speed and direction, down to a one square kilometre area, and records weather observations (nowcasts) from 15,000 weather stations around the globe.

'I use it for my racing, cruising, kiting, and even surfing,' says six time world champion and 2011 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, and one of www.predictwind.com!PredictWind’s biggest proponents, Bill Hardesty, 'The weather forecasts are a must, the online routing software makes passage making a pleasure, and the worldwide accuracy is truly amazing.'

'www.predictwind.com!PredictWind forecasts are consistently accurate and very detailed. Our designers have worked hard to create a clean and intuitive user interface specifically for iPhones and Android smartphones,' says Jon Bilger. The PredictWind Forecast App can be downloaded from the iPhone app store and from the Android Market Place.

Sail-World's NZ and Editor at Large, Richard Gladwell is a long-time www.predictwind.com!PredictWind user. The routing feature of the product is used extensively to compile and develop stories on Sail-World's Volvo Ocean Race, and general sail racing coverage. 'The new iPhone app for PredictWind means you have a full forecasting program in your pocket', he says.

'This includes real time observations of the weather - for instance, we could see what the breeze was doing at the other end of the course during recent InPort racing in the Volvo (it showed a 30 degree shift in direction at the opposite end of the harbour). Plus you have five day forecasts available for your favorite areas - so you have the ideal mix of future and present wind and forecasting - all in your iPhone - and all in your pocket, wherever you may be.'

'I really like the way that I can set up many views and locations on my PC, and then have those presets available in my pocket for the iPhone. The weather routing feature is particularly relevant and useful for the racing a cruising sailor.

'We've even used Predictwind to give us information on swell heights in the vicinity of the wrecked container ship, MV Rena, and thanks to PredictWind were able to predict the initial breakup of the stricken vessel three days before it occurred, and in advance of officially released information.'

'But the real benefit of PredictWind is that it allows you to plan ahead with some certainty as to what the weather will be. My friends use it to work out when it will be fine enough to play golf, days in advance, and in Auckland's current perpetual rainy season. That is a big gain. But even if you just have an outdoors family or work function planned, you can tell what the weather will be using PredictWind, and make contingency plans well in advance if you have to - so it makes you look super-organized!' he adds.

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For more on PredictWind see www.predictwind.com