Overview
Ask Captain Jim V8.0 — Gulf Coast Edition. Fetches live hourly wind forecasts from NWS and tide predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents, scores every possible time block against your preferences, and shows the best sailing window for today. Covers 35 verified NOAA stations from Port Isabel, TX to Key West, FL. No login required — preferences are saved in your browser.
Sailability Score
The large number (0–10) rates conditions during the best available window. The colour badge describes it in plain English:
🟢 Excellent9–10 · Prime conditions, go sailing
✦ Good7–8.9 · Solid day, comfortably in range
🟡 Marginal5–6.9 · Sail with awareness
🔴 No-Go0–4.9 · Stay ashore
The reason tags below the score summarise wind, gusts, rain, storm risk, and wind direction during the window.
Best Sailing Window
Ask Captain Jim scans all daylight blocks (7 AM – 6 PM) matching your Trip Duration, scores each, and shows the best departure and return time. A green shaded band on both the Wind and Tide charts marks the same window visually.
Conditions Panel
Four tiles show key metrics measured during the best window:
💨 Wind
Speed range (kt) + direction. Ideal = inside your preferred range.
⚡ Gusts
Peak gust vs. your limit. Amber = near limit. Red = exceeds limit.
🌊 Tide
Favorable = tide direction matches your preference (or you chose Any).
⛈ Storm Risk
Average rain probability. Red if thunderstorms appear in the forecast.
Wind & Tide Charts
Wind chart — 24-hour hourly view. Teal = sustained wind (kt), amber dashed = gusts, green band = best window. Tap to read exact values for any hour.
Tide chart — full-day tide curve in feet MLLW, best window shaded. The Tide Events table below it lists each high/low with local time and height.
7-Day Forecast
Tap 7-Day in the bottom nav to see a full week of sailability scores and best windows, powered by the ECMWF IFS model via Open-Meteo — a high-resolution European forecast model well-suited for Gulf Coast marine conditions.
Sailing Preferences
Open the settings sheet to adjust:
Wind Min / Max (kt) — ideal sustained range. Hours outside it are penalised.
Max Gust (kt) — any hour above this scores 0 (automatic no-go).
Duration (hrs) — length of your sail (0.5–12 hrs). Sets the window width searched.
Tide Preference — Any, Incoming (flood), or Outgoing (ebb). Matching hours get a small scoring bonus.
Tap Save & Refresh to apply and reload live data immediately.
Location & Marina Map
Tap Change on the location bar to use device GPS, pick from 32 Gulf Coast preset stations (Texas → Louisiana → Mississippi → Alabama → Florida), or open the Marina Map. For unlisted locations use Preferences → Custom GPS / NOAA Station.
The Marina tab shows a searchable list and interactive map. On phones, tap the 🗺 icon to toggle between the list and the map. Marina data is cached for 24 hours — the map loads instantly on return visits.
Cruiser's Log
Tap Log in the bottom nav to open the Cruiser's Log. Rate your trip (1–5 stars), log your departure and destination, note conditions and bridges encountered, and add free-form notes for fellow cruisers. Tap Submit to Community Log to share your entry.
The Community Feed tab shows recent entries from other sailors — a real-time picture of conditions, bridge delays, and anchorage tips along the route.
Bridge Schedules
From inside the Cruiser's Log, tap Schedules in the top bar to open the ICW Bridge Schedules reference. It covers 34 Florida drawbridges — 11 on the Gulf ICW (33 CFR 117.287) and 23 on the Atlantic ICW (33 CFR 117.261) — organized by mile marker.
Filter by waterway (FL Gulf ICW, FL Atlantic ICW, FL Panhandle, TX/LA/AL) or search by name, city, or mile marker. Tap any bridge card to expand its opening schedule and CFR citation. Texas and Gulf Coast bridges are also included for reference.
Schedules are based on published 33 CFR regulations. Always verify current restrictions with local USCG notices before transiting — special events, maintenance, and emergency orders can override posted times.
Feedback
Tap Feedback in the bottom nav to report a marina that has reopened, newly closed, has wrong contact info, or to share app ideas. Select a category, add details, and tap Send — your email app opens with the report pre-filled.
How the Score is Calculated
Each hour starts at 10. Hard disqualifiers drop it to 0: wind below 4 kt or above 26 kt, gusts over your max, rain ≥ 70%, or thunderstorms in the forecast. Otherwise points are deducted for wind outside your preferred range, gusty spread, rain probability, and mismatched tide direction. The best block is selected using a 70/30 blend of average and minimum score, so one dangerous hour can't hide inside an otherwise good window.
Troubleshooting
Data won't load
Check your internet connection. NWS occasionally returns 500 errors — wait a minute and tap Refresh Live Data.
Score seems too low
Check your wind range — a narrow range penalises most days. Also verify the correct location is active.
GPS not working
Allow location access in your browser settings. GPS auto-selects the nearest of the 32 built-in NOAA stations — full Gulf Coast coverage from Brownsville, TX to Key West, FL.
