How to import and export GPX routes for a sailing passage plan
Published 2026-05-16
How to import and export GPX routes for a sailing passage plan
One of the reasons I wanted a web-based passage planner was to make route planning feel less trapped inside one device.
Sometimes you want to sketch a route on a laptop at home. Sometimes you already have waypoints from a chartplotter or navigation app. Sometimes you want a simple file you can move between tools without typing every waypoint again.
That is where GPX is useful.
GPX is a common route and waypoint file format used by many navigation apps and chartplotters. It is not glamorous, but it is practical: a small file containing positions, routes, tracks and waypoint names.
Estuary Forecast Passage Planner supports GPX import and export so you can bring routes in, tidy them up, add notes, and then take them back out again.
When GPX export is useful
GPX export is handy when you want to:
sketch a route at home on a bigger screen;
add waypoints without wrestling with a small plotter interface;
produce a draft route for Navionics, OpenCPN, B&G, Garmin, iSailor or another tool;
keep a backup copy of a planned passage;
share a route with crew for discussion before you leave.
The key word here is “draft”. A GPX file from any planning tool still needs checking against official charts, pilotage information, tide tables and the conditions on the day.
Importing an existing GPX route
If you already have a GPX file, Passage Planner can import standard waypoint, route and track data.
That includes common GPX structures such as:
<wpt>waypoint entries;<rte>route entries;<trk>track entries.
The useful bit is that imported points become part of a passage you can work with. You can review the route on the chart, adjust waypoints, rename points, add notes, and build it into a proper planning document.
This is particularly helpful if you have an old route from a previous trip and want to refresh it rather than start again.
Exporting a planned route
Once you have plotted your passage, you can export it as:
GPX for navigation apps and chartplotters;
CSV for spreadsheets, crew notes and checklists;
JSON if you want structured data for your own use;
or use the print/PDF view for a chart-table-friendly passage plan.
The GPX export is the handoff file. The printed plan is the human-readable briefing.
I would normally use both.
A sensible workflow
A calm planning workflow might look like this:
Create or import a route in Passage Planner.
Check each waypoint against the chart.
Add notes for hazards, VHF channels, tidal gates, clearing bearings or pilotage reminders.
Set the vessel profile and departure time.
Review distances, bearings, ETAs and fuel estimate.
Export GPX for the navigation app or plotter.
Print or save the passage plan as PDF for the crew.
Cross-check the whole thing against official sources before leaving.
That final check is non-negotiable. A planning export is useful, but it is not a substitute for navigation.
What the planner is trying to be
Passage Planner is not trying to replace your chartplotter. It is trying to make the shore-side planning stage easier.
It gives you a place to:
plot waypoints;
reorder and adjust them;
add per-waypoint notes;
calculate leg distances and timings;
estimate fuel burn;
check weather and tide links;
export or print the plan.
If that saves you a bit of duplication before a weekend trip, it has done its job.
You can try the planner here:
https://estuaryforecastpassageplanner.co.uk
It is free to use. As always, treat it as a planning aid only: navigate with official charts, current tide tables, notices to mariners, proper pilotage and good seamanship.
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