Excess Campus – Weather & Health at Sea: Two Essential Training Courses for Safe and Peaceful Sailing

Sailing offshore means entering an environment where everything relies on two pillars: understanding what’s happening around you, and being ready to react when the unexpected occurs.

That’s exactly the purpose of the Excess Campus, which offers a 3-day training program designed to help you sail confidently aboard your catamaran—whether you’re preparing for an Atlantic crossing, a long-distance cruise, or your first offshore adventures.

Alongside modules on ropework, life on board, and onboard electronics, two courses stand out for their importance: Weather and Health at Sea. These two essential skills help you gain autonomy and make the most of your Excess.

Understanding the weather to sail better

Weather influences every decision at sea: route, speed, comfort, and safety. The training begins with the fundamentals:

• major wind patterns (trade winds, prevailing westerlies, polar systems)

• the role of high- and low-pressure systems

• how to read isobaric charts to anticipate strong winds, rough seas, or calm conditions

Participants also learn to recognize weather fronts, understand their effects, and use cloud patterns as reliable indicators of local changes.
Special attention is given to local weather effects: thermal breezes, typical Mediterranean phenomena, and wind accelerations or drops caused by coastal terrain.

The course then moves on to modern forecasting tools: GRIB files (GFS, ECMWF, AROME), specialized websites, VHF weather bulletins, and mobile apps. The goal is to cross-check sources, understand their limitations, and become fully autonomous in interpreting forecasts.

Finally, a substantial part of the training focuses on :weather routing

• speed polars and the boat’s actual performance

• practical use of routing software (QtVlm, PredictWind, SailGrib, Adrena)

• strategic choices between fast routes, comfortable routes, or safe routes

Weather is no longer a constraint: it becomes a true asset for efficient and stress-free sailing.

Health at Sea: prepare, react, stay autonomous

A health issue on board — even something minor on land — can quickly become serious offshore. The Health at Sea training is designed to give sailors the right reflexes, both before and during the voyage.

It begins with crew preparation: health status, ongoing treatments, vaccinations, role distribution, and checking the onboard medical kit (coastal, offshore, or ocean-going).

Participants are then introduced to the fundamentals of the Ocean Medical Training (FMO®):

• recognizing emergencies

• taking immediate action (bleeding, burns, fractures, sprains)

• managing common conditions (abdominal pain, infections, allergies…)

The training also covers the use of essential onboard equipment:

• a medical kit suited to your cruising program

• communication systems (Iridium, VHF, satellite)

• procedures when requesting assistance

Even in the middle of the ocean, medical support is available through the Maritime Medical Consultation Center (CCMM) in Toulouse, reachable 24/7.
In an emergency, the course also explains how to prepare for a helicopter evacuation or diversion with the CROSS or an MRCC: GPS position, securing the deck, managing sails and speed.

Why combine these two courses?

Because at sea, everything is connected:

• Weather affects safety, routing, and crew fatigue.

• Good health management determines your ability to handle weather-related challenges.

Mastering these two domains allows you to sail with confidence, gain autonomy, and make the most of your Excess catamaran. Whether you’re preparing for your first cruise or an Atlantic crossing, the Excess Campus courses are designed to help you build skills, progress, and fully live your adventure.