Routing errors
When Orca is unable to calculate a route, you will see the warning Unable to find route. An explanation underneath the warning will usually indicate why the route could not be calculated.
Below are the most common messages and what you can do.
Upgrade your subscription to plan routes up to 1300NM
Error under Unable to find route = Upgrade your subscription to plan routes up to 1300NM
This message means that the planned route exceeds the maximum routing distance available with your current subscription.
The maximum route distances, measured as the crow flies, are:
Free plan
Automatic engine routing: Max distance 50NM
Offline engine routing: Unavailable
Automatic sail routing: Unavailable
Orca Plus subscription
Automatic engine routing: Max distance 520NM
Offline engine routing: Max distance 520NM
Automatic sail routing: Max distance 520NM
Orca Smart Navigation subscription
Automatic engine routing: Max distance 1300NM
Offline engine routing: Max distance 1300NM
Automatic sail routing: Max distance 1300NM
If your planned route exceeds the limit for your subscription, shorten the route or upgrade your subscription.
'Start is outside chart coverage.'
Error under Unable to find route = Start is outside chart coverage
This message can occur for one of two reasons:
The start or end of the route is outside Orca's chart coverage.
The route is in an area where Orca has chart coverage, but routing is not currently supported.
Areas where chart coverage is available but routing capabilities may be limited include, but are not limited to, Cape Verde, Mauritius, the Maldives, the Azores, Seychelles, the UAE and Madagascar.
You can see more information about our chart coverage here: What chart coverage and routing coverage is available in Orca?
'Unable to find route.'
Error under 'Unable to find route' = 'Unable to find route.'
Your boat's routing settings can prevent Orca from finding a viable route. Settings such as Depth Limit, Routing Leewayand Height Limit determine which areas Orca can consider when calculating a route.
To review these settings, go to:
Main Menu > My Boat > Routing Settings
Bridges and powerlines, particularly on inland waterways, may not have a known height in the chart data. Orca takes a conservative approach and may not calculate a route beneath an obstacle when its clearance is unknown.
If appropriate for your boat and the area you are navigating, you can adjust your routing limits and try calculating the route again. Setting Height Limit to 0m allows Orca to consider routes beneath obstacles where the clearance is unknown.
Reducing Depth Limit or Routing Leeway can also make additional routes available.
These settings affect the safety margins used during route calculation. Always make sure they are suitable for your boat and review the calculated route against the chart and local conditions before navigating.
An outdated version of the Orca App may also cause routing issues. Check that you are using the latest available version before trying the route again.
Route is going beyond available 10-day weather forecast. Move destination closer to start or set an earlier departure time
Error under Unable to find route = Route is going beyond available 10-day weather forecast. Move destination closer to start or set an earlier departure time
Sailing routes use forecast weather conditions during route calculation. If the estimated duration of the route extends beyond the available forecast period, Orca may not be able to calculate the route.
The available weather forecast depends on your subscription:
Plus: up to 5 days
Smart Navigation: up to 10 days
If your route extends beyond the available forecast, try:
Moving the destination closer to the start.
Selecting an earlier departure time.
Checking that your boat's expected speeds are correctly configured under Main Menu > My Boat > Routing Settings.
Additional troubleshooting:
"My sailing route has no wind data or looks incorrect."
Sailing routes use weather forecast data when calculating the recommended route.
If the selected weather model does not cover the area through which your route passes, you may see:
Missing wind animation or forecast values.
Nothing to show here messages.
Missing weather information along the route.
A sailing route that cannot be calculated or does not appear as expected.
Check the selected weather model
Open the route and tap Weather.
Open the weather model selector in the lower-left corner of the chart.
Check that the selected weather model covers the area through which your route passes.
If necessary, select another suitable regional or global weather model.
Allow the weather information to load, then recalculate the route.
For example, a regional weather model covering the UK will not provide forecast data for a route in Germany. Selecting a weather model that covers the route area should restore the relevant forecast information.
Orca normally prefers regional weather models where they are available, but you can manually select another model when required.
Viewing weather along your route
When you open Weather from a planned route, Orca displays forecast conditions at estimated positions along the route.
Scroll horizontally through the route forecast to see how the conditions change at different times and positions during your journey.
This is different from opening Weather directly from the chart, where you can move the weather pin to check conditions at a specific location.
If changing the weather model does not help
Check that:
Your device has an internet connection and the forecast has finished loading.
The route's departure date and time are correct.
The correct boat profile is selected.
Your sailing polar is correct.
The route is within the selected weather model's coverage.
The Orca App is updated to the latest available version.
Then try recalculating the sailing route.
The calculated route does not look correct
If Orca successfully calculates a route but the result does not look as expected, first check:
That the start, destination and any waypoints are correctly positioned on navigable water.
That the correct boat is selected under My Boat.
That your Depth Limit, Routing Leeway and Height Limit are appropriate for your boat.
Whether you are calculating a Sail or Engine route.
That the Orca App is updated to the latest available version.
If a waypoint is very close to land or another charted obstruction, try moving it slightly into open water and recalculate the route.
Sail and Engine routing use different information when calculating a route, so the results may differ. If an unexpected result only occurs when using one routing mode, this is useful information to include when contacting Orca Support.
Always review a calculated route before navigating it. Do not follow a calculated route if it conflicts with the chart, local conditions or safe navigation.
Still unable to resolve the routing issue?
If the issue continues after following the steps above, please contact Orca Support.
Where possible, include:
The start and destination of the affected route, or their coordinates.
Whether you are using Sail or Engine routing.
A screenshot showing the affected route or error message.
Your Orca App version.
A description of what happens when you calculate the route and what you expected to happen instead.
This information will help us investigate the routing issue further.