A simple weekend passage-planning checklist for UK coastal sailors
Published 2026-05-04
A simple weekend passage-planning checklist for UK coastal sailors
A weekend passage does not always need a huge formal document. But it does need a plan that makes sense.
For most coastal sailing, the useful questions are fairly simple:
Where are we going?
How long should it take?
What does the tide do?
What does the weather do?
Where are the awkward bits?
What is the fallback if the plan stops looking sensible?
That is the spirit behind this checklist. It is not a replacement for training, official sources or good seamanship. It is just a practical structure for the kitchen-table planning stage before you get to the boat.
1. Define the passage in plain English
Start with a simple sentence.
For example:
“Leave the marina around 0900, sail east with the fair tide, pass outside the shallow banks, and aim to arrive before the afternoon breeze builds.”
If you cannot describe the plan simply, it probably is not ready to brief to the crew.
2. Sketch the route
Plot the main waypoints first. Do not worry about perfection at the beginning — get the shape of the route down, then refine it.
Check:
departure point;
arrival point;
turning points;
safe water marks;
shallow patches and drying areas;
harbour approaches;
any tidal gates or constrained sections.
In Passage Planner, this is the part where you drop waypoints on the chart and drag them into place.
3. Check distance, speed and timing
Once the route exists, look at the numbers.
Useful checks include:
total distance;
distance per leg;
expected cruising speed;
leg time;
total passage time;
ETA at key waypoints;
fuel estimate if you may motor.
These numbers are estimates, not promises. Wind, tide, sea state, traffic, crew and common sense all get a vote.
4. Check tide and weather together
Tide and weather are not separate decisions.
A fair tide in unpleasant wind-over-tide conditions may not feel fair at all. A route that looks fine in flat water may be less appealing if the gusts build earlier than expected.
At minimum, check:
official tide predictions;
live tide gauge readings where useful;
wind direction and strength;
gusts;
wave height and sea state;
rain or visibility concerns;
pressure trend and forecast changes.
Use official sources as the authority. A planning app can bring useful information together, but the skipper still needs to interpret it.
5. Add notes to the awkward bits
The best passage notes are usually attached to specific places.
For example:
“Watch depth over bar.”
“Call harbour on VHF Ch 14.”
“Do not cut corner near drying bank.”
“Good place to turn back if conditions poor.”
“Check tide before committing to entrance.”
In Passage Planner, waypoint notes are designed for exactly this: hazards, transits, VHF channels, pilotage reminders and fallback options.
6. Brief the crew
A crew briefing does not need to be dramatic. It just needs to make sure everyone understands the outline.
Cover:
destination and expected duration;
weather and tide summary;
lifejackets and safety kit;
who is doing what;
any tricky parts of the route;
what happens if plans change.
A printed or PDF passage plan helps because it gives everyone the same reference point.
7. Decide the “no-go” and “turn-back” points
This is the bit people often skip.
Before you leave, decide what would make you change the plan:
wind stronger than expected;
poor visibility;
late departure;
crew tired or uncomfortable;
engine or equipment concern;
not enough tide for the next stage;
ETA slipping beyond a safe arrival window.
A good fallback is not pessimism. It is just tidy skippering.
8. Export, print, then cross-check
Once the plan looks sensible, export or print it.
A useful pack might include:
route overview;
waypoint table;
bearings and distances;
ETAs;
tide/weather notes;
per-waypoint hazards and pilotage notes;
GPX file for your navigation app or chartplotter.
Then cross-check everything against official charts, current tide tables, notices to mariners and local pilotage information.
Where Passage Planner fits
Estuary Forecast Passage Planner is built for this planning stage.
It helps you sketch the route, add notes, estimate timings, check weather/tide links, and export or print the plan. It is free to use, and it is deliberately positioned as a planning aid — not a primary navigation system.
You can try it here:
https://estuaryforecastpassageplanner.co.uk
If it helps you make a calmer plan before a weekend sail, brilliant. If you already have a workflow you like, keep using it. The aim is simply to make the practical planning bit a little easier.
Always navigate with official charts, current tide tables, notices to mariners, proper pilotage and good seamanship.
More articles on the Estuary Forecast Passage Planner blog →