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Sway Support

AIS and SteerClear AIS

The SWAY Breeze reads the AIS targets from your NMEA 2000 network and keeps track of every vessel around you. The SWAY app shows them on the AIS page in the Breeze tab.

What you need

Section titled “What you need”

If the AIS page says the Breeze needs newer firmware, tap it to update.

AIS map and target list (free)

Section titled “AIS map and target list (free)”

Open the Breeze tab while you are connected to the Breeze and tap AIS. You see every vessel around you on a map centred on your boat, with:

  • a range control
  • a time scrubber to look ahead
  • the vessels that are closing on you, and how close they will pass (CPA) and when (TCPA)

When no vessel is closing, the page tells you so.

SteerClear AIS (with SWAY Plus)

Section titled “SteerClear AIS (with SWAY Plus)”

SteerClear AIS is the AIS assistant for sailors. When a vessel is closing, it suggests a course that clears it.

  • It keeps the wind direction in mind when you’re sailing: it looks for a course outside your no-go angle
  • When no heading outside the no-go zone clears the traffic, it says so
  • Advice expires after 30 seconds or when your course changes

With a connected autopilot you can send the course to the pilot. The app shows the turn first and asks you to confirm. If the pilot is in wind mode, it tells you it will switch to auto before it turns. See Autopilot control.

SteerClear advises. The skipper decides. SWAY is an aid to navigation. It does not replace a proper lookout or your own judgement.

AIS settings

Section titled “AIS settings”

Go to Breeze › Breeze settings › AIS to set:

  • Safe distance for passing ahead of and astern of a vessel
  • Nearby, not converging: vessels closer than this are listed even when there is no collision course
  • how far ahead encounters are projected
  • the wind no-go zone angle: the advice looks for a course outside this sector
  • the range beyond which vessels are not tracked
  • Dead reckoning: advance vessels to now using their course and speed

Tap Save settings. The settings are stored on the Breeze.

No AIS targets?

Section titled “No AIS targets?”

See AIS, GPS and NMEA 2000.