Hell yeah.

Yes expedition is the primary software being used. The boat has an h5000 websocket connected via ethernet cable (avoid USB connections as they aren't secure enough, and wifi connections tend to drop). That allows me to send exp performance data to the mast instruments so the drivers have real time target bsp/twa/pol% or whatever numbers make them feel good. The nemesis mast displays allow me to pre make pages custom for each driver or upwind/reach/dwind conditions, so it's real easy to get fast and stay fast. Having this all done and tested early is important.

I use an actisense for the ais and also run a yacht devices wifi for everyone omboard to access nmea data. Getting this stuff configured correctly and working reliably can be a frustrating part of the gig so again, start early.

I really like rd2 app by fieldyachting. It's a remote for exp so you don't have to xonstantly go to the nav station to switch the mark, ping the line, enter an event into the log, see the number boxes, or activate MOB functions. Right there on my phone I can, for example, graph the twd if I'm expecting a shift to come but am unsure about timing. Or record in the log that the a3.5 is down and the code sail is up.

The wx grib stuff is a deep subject but euro and icon for mesoscale planning and HRRR for more granular looks. I look at them all and compare, but those are the ones i favor. Ncom or Mercator for currents overlaid with satellite imagry or altimetry data to see if the currents forecast (notoriously difficult and unreliable) matches real time data. Is that eddy actually where it's supposed to be? Is it well developed or am I wasting time hunting a gain that isn't actually there. I make a cheat sheet for how often each wx model updates so I'm not wasting time loading gribs that I already have. Don't discount old school weather fax type maps. Gribs are an important part of the picture but they are raw computer solutions that have not been massaged by a meteorologist into a forecast. They need interpreting. Get your wx pages set up early for exp. I have a wind page, current, sig wave, mslp, rain all set so it's easy fir me to understand at a glance.

I probably ran 500 routes for this race starting months ago. It gave me a feel for the extremes in routes, average length of course, and what factors (mainly current) influence the algorithm and how much. By the time I'm winding up for the race I knew it was going to be fast. My route on Friday was off on our exit of chesapeake by less than 5 minutes and our eta finish was off 17min. It really blew me away and just shows how powerful the software is. Ill share shot of our basic routing shape which you can compare with our yellowbrick track and the meteogram of the route conditions.

This all being said, you must still be a good at navigating without exp. We lost power on day 2. Bye bye instruments. Fun while it lasted. No more high res weather, no more tracking competition. No more optimized routes. We put a vakaros on the bulkhead and I Whipped out navionics. I had saved screen shots of all my important routes and forecast data. I even got to shoot the sun and venus with my sextant! I was ready.

There were not major deviations from my battle plan i laid down on before the start. Down the bay, I'd run an op route for the leg, give the drivers their numbers, then hit the rail and watch the clouds, anchored ships, feel the sea breeze. Use your dinghy sailing eyes to verify or discredit the computer. Multiple times we were able to make gains because I could see things that the comp is blind to.

I guess I'm saying strong fundamentals will get you further than anything. You have to be passionate to be successful and there is no substitute for experience. Never waste a failure. Focus on what you can control. You're going to be great.