Exploring digital sailing networks and platforms: Engaging with the renowned sailors of Sailing La Vagabonde
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In the world of sailing, modern technology has made waves, transforming the way sailors navigate, communicate, and network. Here's a look at some of the most popular apps that cater to these needs, making sailing more connected, safe, and enjoyable.
SailTies
SailTies, a digital logbook and GPS tracking app, is a favourite among sailors. It allows users to track voyages, record detailed logs including weather, crew, photos, and notes. With live route sharing, friends and family can monitor progress in real-time. SailTies also supports offline use and voyage recovery, ensuring logging even without internet access, enhancing safety and connection while at sea.
Argo - Boating Navigation
Argo - Boating Navigation is a navigation app focused on route planning around North America, complete with NOAA charts, current weather, and captain’s log features. It includes social features for meeting and communicating with other sailors, similar to chat apps like WeChat or Viber. Argo offers both free and premium features like offline charts and extended weather forecasts.
Navionics Boating App
Navionics Boating App is a well-known navigation app with detailed marine charts and GPS route tracking. It is widely used by professionals and recreational sailors for navigation and weather updates. Navionics also supports community aspects like sharing routes, making it a go-to app for sailors seeking guidance from their peers.
Marine Traffic
Marine Traffic provides near-real-time positions of ships worldwide using AIS data. Users can browse vessel locations, wind forecasts, and ports, and manage fleets, facilitating networking especially for commercial or larger sailing operations.
Boating Friendship and Networking Apps
Apps like Boo, Meetup, BoatersMeet, and Crewseekers cater specifically to finding boating buddies, crew, and community networking. These apps focus more on the social aspect, helping sailors connect for trips, advice, and shared experiences on and off water.
Additional noteworthy mentions for social and travel sharing include apps like Travel Boast, which let sailors document and share their voyages online with interactive maps and multimedia, supporting broader social media engagement.
NoForeignLand and SeaPeople
Two apps, NoForeignLand (NFL) and SeaPeople, offer more features than their analogue equivalents. Both apps allow users to receive rapid advice, such as how to approach a new anchorage or whether a little-used harbour is viable. NoForeignLand helps cruisers decide where to visit, with a raft of user-generated pins about what to do ashore.
Users on NoForeignLand can join groups of people who share their interests and see which members are nearby. SeaPeople excels in its detailed understanding of users' profiles, allowing for dating and crew exchange features. Sophie Curran, who crews on a 56ft custom catamaran in Malaysia, owes her job to SeaPeople, having found the app during a backpacking trip in Sri Lanka.
Starlink and Real-time Position Logging
Starlink has brought ultrafast satellite broadband to bluewater sailing, enabling real-time position logging and browsing for information ahead of landfall. This technological advancement has further streamlined the sailing experience, making it more connected and safe.
In summary, sailors use specialized navigation apps like Navionics and Argo combined with social-focused apps like SailTies and boating community platforms (BoatersMeet, Boo) to cover the full spectrum of navigation, communication, and networking needs at sea and during trips. These apps streamline the process of finding and meeting like-minded people, eliminating the haphazardness of yacht club bar or marina encounters.
- The integration of technology in sailing has not only revolutionized navigation but also expanded into education-and-self-development and entertainment, with apps like SailTies, Argo - Boating Navigation, Navionics Boating App, Marine Traffic, and Boo offering networking, learning, and social media opportunities for sailors.
- Online-education and learning resources are accessible on platforms like NoForeignLand and SeaPeople, providing advice on sailing, advice on new destinations, and even facilitating crew exchanges and dating among sailors, enriching the sailing lifestyle.
- In response to the growing need for internet connectivity at sea, Starlink has introduced ultrafast satellite broadband, transforming the sailing experience by enabling real-time position logging, social media engagement, and access to online learning materials, creating a more connected and enhancing the safety of sailors.
