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The Top 5 Free Boating Navigation Apps

Gone are the days of getting hassled using old-school paper maps, inaccurate analog compass, and expensive gps trackers- our smartphones have become a handy all-in-one chart-plotter that makes our boating journey a thousand times more chill.

This article is a comprehensive review of 5 apps based on critical features needed for navigation and our own take on them, plus a comparison of each to help you decide which one to finally install. 

Quick Overview

🥇 Over-all Champion: Navionics 🥈 Most User-Friendly Award: C-MAP 🥉 Best Value for Money Award: iSailor

Top Priority Features

While there can be a number of functions users may find interesting, we carefully identified the top 10 features that can make or break an app. These factors will highly contribute to the usefulness while on an actual trip, ability to provide information that can better prepare the you for your journey, safety, data management and affordability.

• Real time positioning – exactly locate yourself on a chart using GPS. Useful in estimating distance from a point or simply knowing exactly where you are and not get lost.
• Route Tracke r – start and stop record the track taken using GPS and display it on the chart. Gives Course over Ground (COG) and Speed over Ground (SOG). Log, review and export data for record keeping and future use.
• Route Planning – to create a path on a chart that can be followed using GPS, usually calculates distance between two or more points, ETA from point A to B, fuel needed. Useful before (to prepare necessary things) and makes navigation a lot easier. Just follow the arrow!
• Route Planning Incorporating Other Data – Modify cruising speed, ETA and fuel needed based on the live atmospheric/weather data, usually wind speed and direction.
• AIS Live – Use data (from other users or providers) to plot boat traffic and other activities on the chart, think about Waze. Increases situational awareness and safety.
• Download charts and Offline use – store a portion or the entire chart on your phone and use a number of features of the app even while offline, very useful at the middle of the sea where mobile data is unavailable. 
• Chart Options and Data Overlay – Apply one or several layers of charts and data to show on the chart, e.g. depth, satellite, NOAA, wind direction, etc.
• Import/Export Data/ Data Synchronization – Download and upload waypoints, routes, tracks and use in other apps and softwares, sync data purchased to other devices like iPad, tablet and laptop.
• Weather Forecast – View changing wind speed and direction, precipitation, tides, and current data. 
• Interface/User Friendliness – How easy is it to use for recreational boaters or more advanced users.

Many navigation apps can be downloaded for free and a lot of them have features that are accessible without a cost. However, in order to maximize their features such as unlocking AIS Live, weather forecast, downloading charts for offline use, a premium subscription is usually needed.

Some apps would allow users to use their phones’ GPS system to access basic functions such as real-time positioning, route tracking, even route planning at no cost, but these would usually require paying for the chart itself.

In general, these apps are very inexpensive (most of them less than $50 annually!), considering all the benefits we can get from them like saving dollars on unnecessary fuel consumption because of longer routes or the cost of repair in cases of accidents, and of course, our safety is priceless!

What is NMEA and is it really necessary?

NMEA stands for National Marine Electronics Association, this allows us to integrate electronic devices such as GPS, Sonar, radar, VFS radion and even boat speedometer, engine thermometer, oil pressure gauge, weather instruments, etc. In simpler terms, it lets our devices talk to each other.

Now the question is, is NMEA a must-have for boat navigation? While NMEA is undoubtedly useful in managing data we get from these separate devices, many recreational/small boats do not necessarily have a lot of sensors installed in them to the point that it’s unmanageable, so not having NMEA will not be a big issue for recreational boaters.

Some applications listed here do not have the NMEA integration feature but anyhow serve their purpose pretty well. You can still locate yourself, create a route, record your track, access weather forecasts, and most importantly, arrive at your destination safely even without it.

Charts or Maps?

All charts are maps but not all maps are charts . A map is a general term referring to a flat drawing of the Earth, or an area of it, let’s say a country. There are road maps that show networks of roads and passages, or topographic maps that show elevation. Meanwhile, there are also specialized maps that show great details of the bodies of water including depth or the water’s edge or any danger for navigation, these are called charts. Charts are what we need for boating !

Nautical Charts – Key to safe navigation and every boater should be familiar with. Through it, we will know the water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of aids to navigation, anchorages, and other features. Many, if not all, boating apps use this to let boaters plan the best route safely and economically.

Other Charts/Maps – Some apps would have more charts that you can use other than just nautical charts. Examples are satellite maps that show realistic images of the Earth’s surface, or Sonar imagery , which creates  extraordinary bottom contour generated from water soundwaves.

Free vs. Paid? The amount of open-sourced data available helps the number of free charts grow, allowing many boaters to avoid spending extra on charts from big companies that make them, but remember that subscribing to these providers allows us to continuously get updates as well as ensure accuracy and reliability that we might not get from free sources.

Navionics Boating Marine & Lakes

Play/App Store Rating: 4.6⭐ No. of Downloads: 1.5M+

Cost: Free App with a two-week free trial, then subscriptions starting at $14.99 US.

Critical features

• Real time positioning
• Route Tracker
• Route Planning 
• Incorporate Data on Route Planning 
• Download charts and offline use
• Data overlay
• Import/Export Data/ Sync Data
• Weather Forecast
• User Friendly

Bonus Features

• Pan around and seamlessly zoom in and out
• Uses official unaltered NOAA charts
• Nautical and Sonar Charts that can be customized
• Multiple devices synchronization
• Auto-routing with dock-to-dock plans
• Easy-to-interpret, clearer view of bottom structure with Relief Shading and Sonar Imagery
• Marinas, mooring, fuel station, etc.
• More customization features for more advanced boater
• NMEA Integration expanded

Our verdict?

Well-designed and reliable, especially to recreational boaters who prefer simplicity and ease of use, the only downside is there’s not so much room for personalization. For accessing different charts including Sonar and NOAA, plus many advanced features such as auto-routing and data on marinas, mooring, fuel station, etc., the app subscription is relatively cheap.

Play/App Store Rating: 4.5⭐ No. of Downloads: 500K+

Cost: Free App with a two-week free trial and annual premium subscription at $60 US .

• Easy view that 
• Long press to add a waypoint
• Worldwide chart personalization
• Contour customization
• High accuracy weather forecast
• High Resolution Bathymetry
• Auto-routing
• Fuel consumption estimate on plan
• Incorporate boat specs
• NMEA Integration

Very intuitive and easy to use with all the features needed by a boater for navigation. Value for money at US $60 that will let you plan trips more safely by increasing your situational awareness including high accuracy weather, AIS and high resolution bathymetry, and download charts to use offline.

Play/App Store Rating: 3.4⭐

Cost: Free App but other features only accessible with subscription, charts are paid starting at $4 US.

• Route Planning
• Weather Forecast  
• Incorporate Data on Route Planning
• Displays just right amount of information
• Different features can be bought separately (save money)
• Weather forecast is downloadable
• Cheapest app that we’ve tested
• Availability on Google Play
• Simpler route planning
• Integrate weather data in planning routes

Being only available on App Store, Android users can now eliminate this app. Although, it is important to note that this is the cheapest app among all that we’ve tested. As it doesn’t have data integration on route planning, it’s NMEA compatibility is not actually maximized. Its interface is also better for iPad/tablet than smart phones.

Play/App Store Rating: 3⭐ No. of Downloads: 100K+

Cost: Free App with but other features only accessible with premium subscription at $39.99 US and charts are paid separately.

• Easiest creation of waypoints and showing enough information
• NMEA connection available
• Chart customization
• View several routes at a time
• Zooming out 
• Select areas to download to save memory

Comprehensive navigation app providing necessary features for navigation on premium subscription. Making waypoints on this app is the easiest among all that we’ve compared. As it is NMEA compatible, data from the boat can be integrated to the app.

Play/App Store Rating: 4.4⭐ No. of Downloads: 100K+

Cost: Free App with NOAA Chart in the US, but needs to purchase other charts at different prices.

• Import/Export Data 
• Weather Forecast 
• Highly customizable with charts from different providers
• Customizable display
• Variety of charts that can be unavailable on other apps
• NMEA compatibility that provide extensive data
• Friendlier user interface as navigating the app can be challenging
• Synchronize with different devices to use purchased charts

Difficult user interface but highly customizable, recommended to more advanced boaters. Various charts available on purchase, which can be an advantage for those areas where charts are difficult to access, but note that you need to purchase them again whenever using a new device. It is also NMEA compatible with extensive data that can be integrated to the app.

Whether you’re just a beginner or already a seasoned boater, it is now almost impossible to start our engines without installing at least one app on our smartphones (others even couldn’t without a backup!). Are you ready to try these apps? Let us know what you think of them by leaving a comment below!

Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC. Apple logo® and App Store® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Karla Ceguerra

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How To Learn Marine Navigation (Easy In-Depth Guide)

Learning marine navigation can seem difficult, but when you break it up, it's actually pretty simple. Below, I'll go over the exact steps of learning marine navigation quickly.

How to learn marine navigation? In order to learn marine navigation, you need to understand how to locate your position (using bearings, GPS, stars, etc.), how to read nautical charts to determine a course, how to plot a course on a nautical chart or chartplotter, and how to use a compass (in order to monitor the course).

This still might seem like a lot. Don't worry. I have written detailed articles on all of these different steps. Below, I'll summarize the main takeaways for each step, and link to other articles so you can explore in more detail on your own. Ultimately, marine navigation all boils down to the way you get your lines. Let me explain.

On this page:

Fundamentals: how marine navigation works, how to use a boat compass, how to read and use nautical charts, my recommendation for a chart navigation course, my recommendations for navigation gear.

You first have to understand the fundamentals of marine navigation. Marine navigation consists of three very simple steps:

• Locate your position
• Determine a course
• Monitor the course

If you say it like that, it doesn't seem so difficult after all, right? There are all kinds of ways to locate your position, to determine your course, and to monitor the course. That's what makes it seem difficult. But in the end, it's always these three steps. For example:

• You locate your position by using GPS
• You determine a course based on a nautical depth chart and the wind direction
• You monitor the course using a compass or your GPS

Locating your position can be done with any kind of directional line, for example using landmarks, buoys, stars, or satellites (which is GPS).

Your navigation technique is simply the way you choose to get your lines. It is always recommended to have multiple ways of determining your location, just to be safe in case you have some sort of system failure.

Find all types of marine navigation in my in-depth guide here

Using a boat compass may seem straightforward, but many people make mistakes that are easily avoided. Especially if you're just starting out, it's easy to make mistakes that may have large consequences.

The most common compass is the magnetic compass, which will work 99% of the time. There are situations in which a GPS compass may malfunction. Same goes for the magnetic compass. Having at least one extra back up compass is therefore recommended. Most sailors agree that a solid magnetic compass is the default choice for reliable navigation.

So how do you actually use a boat compass?

• The lubber line (a small line on the compass) marks your direction on the compass card.
• The direction is given in degrees.
• You pick a course on a nautical chart.
• Then, you steer the boat so that the lubber line points to the correct degree on the compass card.
• You keep course by making sure the lubber line stays put.

Most important compass lessons:

• Before leaving the marina, always check your compass' alignment
• Remember or record your reciprocal course - the opposite direction of your course current course. The reciprocal course will always get you home.
• A compass is still an important tool, even with GPS, since a compass tells you direction, not just track.
• You should mount your compass away from metals and electronics, otherwise it will deviate
• You should calibrate (swing) your compass after mounting

The compass will always point to magnetic north. However, the position of magnetic north changes all the time (less than 6 meters per year on the surface). The closer you get to the poles, the larger the navigational error margin becomes.

It's important to understand your compass well If you're new to sailing, I highly recommend reading up on the compass and learn how to use it the right way in this article .

We understand our compass and have a sense of the fundamental concepts of marine navigation. Now it's time to take a close look at nautical charts. William has written a very good series of articles on using nautical charts.

Here's the entire series in the recommended reading order:

• Nautical Chart Types Explained
• Ultimate Guide to Nautical Chart Navigation
• How To Plot a Course on a Chart

William is an experienced sailor (he has sailed the world for eight years) so he really knows what he's talking about. After reading this series you will be up to speed on chart navigation. If you're currently just orienting, I will summarize each article and talk about the takeaways below.

Different types of nautical charts

The most common type of nautical charts are navigation charts , which is what most people refer to when they talk about nautical charts. You'll be using navigation charts most of the time, although there are some other types like pilot charts.

A navigation chart is like a road map, with one important distinction: road maps contain roads, nautical charts don't. Nautical charts are more like geographic maps, showing depths, ridges, islands, shallows and similar features. They also contain important landmarks you can use to determine your position.

When using a chart, you want to pay attention to the scale. Typically, you want to use the largest scale charts possible , since those contain the most details. These are called large scale charts, coastal charts, general approach charts, or harbor charts. Smaller-scale charts are only useful for planning long voyages. You have to be careful with those since they won't contain every shallow or reef.

For an illustrated overview of the different nautical chart types , I recommend reading this article on chart types .

How to use nautical charts

Using nautical charts is as easy as pie - if you know what each symbol means and how to interpret the excess of information on there. In William's Ultimate Guide to Nautical Chart Navigation , he walks you through each and every item on there, with examples so it's easy to understand.

What you'll need to know in order to navigate safely:

• Navigation basics - what basic tools we have to navigate
• How to read a chart - interpreting all the information on the chart
• How to use a chart - plotting a course

How to read nautical charts

Generally, you'll find the following information on a good chart:

• Latitude and Longitude Lines
• Scales, Depths, and Notes - tides and currents, navigational marks
• Compass Rose - indicates the orientation of the map
• Depths and Contours - small numbers that state the depth of the bottom
• Symbols, Marks and Lights - things like hazards, landmarks, lighthouses

For a detailed explanation of each of these, go read the full guide on nautical chart navigation .

Coordinates

When navigating using nautical charts, we use coordinates to indicate positions. Coordinates consist of a latitude and longitude line. Charts have a geographic coordination scale which you can use to find these lines. Top and bottom of the map show longitude. The sides of the map show lattitude.

Symbols, Marks and Lights

You can find an overview of all the symbols and marks on the U.S. master list, which you can download here:

Download the US Chart Number 1 here (pdf )

Plotting a course on a nautical chart

Now you have the right chart, next up is plotting a course on it. You can use a chartplotter, which is essentially a GPS with a map underneath which does the plotting for you. However, it's still important to learn how to plot yourself, since electronics can (and will) fail at one point or another.

Getting good at plotting takes a bit of practice and an ordered routine. Once you get it down, however, it becomes a piece of cake.

You need three basic navigation tools: a parallel ruler, dividers, and the chart itself.

How to plot a course on a chart:

• Draw a line from point A to B - using parallel rules, from starting mark to next mark
• Check the line for safety - if not, move end mark until you get a safe leg
• Measure and mark the heading - transfer the leg to compass
• Measure and mark the distance - measure the legs
• Repeat until you get there

For more explanation on these steps, please read our article How To Plot a Course on a Chart (Illustrated Guide ).

When you're ready to master chart navigation, I recommend you check out the Coastal Navigation course at our partner NauticEd. It is quite excellent. They cover chart navigation in-depth and will guide you through multiple quality exercises to make sure you really practice your new skills. It is really affordable as well.

You'll leave Coastal Navigation Clinic with an understanding of:

• The Charts and how to use navigation tools
• True north and magnetic north - and variation and deviation
• Determining your position using various techniques such as dead reckoning, running fixes and triangulation
• What to do with your GPS position to get you to your destination
• Set and drift from wind, tides and current
• How to simply determine your heading based on Set and Drift

Check out NauticEd's Navigation Clinic now .

If you're ready to start navigating but are unsure what kind of equipment you should get, you should check out my recommendations. I have previously recommended a good beginner chartplotter, handheld GPS, and boat compass.

My recommendation for a boat compass

I recommend the Ritchie Navigation Explorer (click to check current price on Amazon ) - This compass is competitively priced, good looking, simple, reliable and rugged. Bracket mount (which I like). Also called the B51, it's the all-round best compass for most people. Best bang for the buck.

If you want to read the whole review, you can read my recommendation for a boat compass here.

My recommendation for a chartplotter

I recommend the Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 54cv (check current price at Amazon ) - This chartplotter is good for both inland and bluewater sailing, and made by the best-known brand for marine navigation in the world.

If you're looking for a budget handheld alternative , I'd consider the Garmin Striker 4 (check current price at Amazon ) - This simple handheld chartplotter offers mostly the same functionalities as the more expensive echoMAP, at a really competitive price. Incredibly, it also comes with a transducer, allowing you to use echo.

If you want to read the whole review, you can read my recommendation here.

Thank You Sir how does it feel when a huge wave is about to unravel you in sea when sailing

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You may also like, best marine compass: going the right way cheaply.

If you're serious about sailing, you know that a reliable compass can make all the difference. I've tested many compasses and read tons of reviews of other sailors, …

Best Marine GPS Chartplotter: My top pick for 2021

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Modern Sailboat Navigation Stations

• By Tim Murphy
• Updated: November 8, 2018

Once upon a time, every seagoing sailboat had a broad table in the saloon with sightlines to the helm, plenty large enough to spread out a big NOAA chart folded in half. Of course, that meant your boat couldn’t offer other things, particularly if it was smaller than 40 feet. Queen-size berths and separate shower stalls? Not likely.

But the times and designs have changed. Cruising World ‘s Boat of the Year judges examined roughly two dozen new sailboats in October 2017, and in so doing, we marked the ways today’s builders either hewed to tradition or ­innovated with their boats’ navigation stations.

The Traditionalists

Big chart tables aren’t entirely gone. Six boats in this year’s fleet of new boats exhibited traditional nav stations with ample room to slide parallel rules and swing a pair of dividers. The smallest of these was the Hallberg-Rassy 412, whose very name evokes traditional design. Situated to starboard just forward of the companionway steps and across from the galley, this forward-facing nav station features a hinged surface that opens into a space large enough to contain a couple of ChartKits and a full suite of plotting tools. It places the navigator in easy reach of the orderly electrical panel. On the boat we sailed, a single-sideband radio was installed in the outboard corner, with a shelf above it for smaller items. Hallberg-Rassy’s always exquisite mahogany joinery incorporates a high fiddle on the table’s inboard edge to catch rolling pencils, and no fiddle on the aft edge to interfere with arms and elbows.

Likewise, the Gunfleet 43 provides storage for charts, and the surface to use them, at its forward-facing station. On a bulkhead angled in at 45 degrees, you can mount a multifunction electronic display, comfortably visible without craning your neck.

Two boats from Jeanneau — the Jeanneau 51 and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 —incorporate forward-facing chart tables into their cabins on the port side. Of these, the table on the 51 was understandably bigger, with a storage space underneath the hinged surface. The fiddles aren’t as high as those on the HR 412, but they’ll still hold a chart (or a pencil that hasn’t gathered up too much speed). The electrical panel on the outboard bulkhead easily shares space with the VHF mic, genset controls and a 4.5-inch Raymarine instrument display. A particularly nice treat here is the autopilot remote, which allows the navigator to make course adjustments while working with the chart.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 won CW’s 2018 award for Most Innovative. Interestingly, while incorporating other bold new ideas with the deck layout, its creators preserved a relatively large forward-facing nav table. As its bigger sister has done, the 440 brings instruments and monitors within easy reach of the navigator.

This year’s new Swan 54 was another boat that blended traditional design with new thinking. Long known as a builder that exemplifies the sweet spot between top performance and true cruising credentials, with its latest models Nautor’s Swan has made a clear distinction along those lines. While the Club Swan 50 is a full-on raceboat, the Swan 54 is committed more clearly to cruising. Its forward-facing nav station sits forward in the main saloon, hard by the main bulkhead. With room for a 12-inch multifunction display, as well as several smaller ones, this provides a position to navigate by analog or digital means with superb ergonomics.

The largest boat in our fleet, the Oyster 745, also features one of the largest nav stations among the monohulls. This aft-facing desk area, on the port side of the companionway, will serve its owners and crew as an ample office space. This station has room for two large multifunction displays, plus smaller instruments. On the boat we sailed, MFDs were also installed in the sleeping cabins.

The Laptop-Style Office Space

Two of the boats from this year’s fleet, at opposing ends of the length scale, devote the area of a full-size traditional nav station to other purposes. The Bavaria Cruiser 34 was the one boat with complete cruising amenities in our Pocket Cruiser category — and, fittingly, it was the winner of that category. To make room for a spacious head and aft cabin in the boat, the designers placed a small table at the aft end of the port settee, and with room under the table to hang your legs. It’s a comfortable place to work on a laptop, but it’s not a place where you’ll be able to spread out a chart. In the context of its design brief, we applauded the choice.

Toward the other end of the length continuum is the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1. For well over a decade now, Beneteau has led the pack in interior styling. Indeed, the company employs the Nauta Design firm exclusively for the interior, distinct from the hull form ­created by Berret Racoupeau. The saloon of the 51.1 is uncommonly open and flooded with light. One contributing detail is a smallish nav table portside and forward at the main bulkhead. The seating for this table is a reclining lounge chair installed athwartships; sitting at 90 degrees facing forward gives access to the table, which provides basic navigation monitors and ­reasonable space for working on a computer.

The Transformers

Every yacht designer reckons with the fact that we expect a boat’s interior to serve us equally well in radically different contexts. We might be sharing laughs with a half-­dozen pals in a calm anchorage, or we might be ­underway, slamming into a nasty chop. Four boats in this year’s fleet offered variable designs that responded individually to each of these situations.

The aluminum-hulled Allures 45.9 features a deck-saloon cabin top and a raised table that affords some visibility under sail through the deck’s forward portlights. Like a high-top table in a restaurant, this platform places you above the level of those seated at the dinette, and it has seats both forward-facing and aft-facing. Facing aft affords good sightlines to the helm.

The Hanse 588 addresses the design tension of a boat’s different uses with an elegantly simple solution: The nav station and the dinette share a single settee. By articulating the backrest forward or aft, you can use that single seat for either use.

The Elan GT5 — winner of its Midsize Cruiser category — is a boat filled with innovative touches. One of these is a nav table forward and to starboard that slides up to create a smallish nav table or slides down to accept cushions and become part of a longer settee.

The boat most deserving of the transformer name is the Dufour 520. The starboard-side nav table slides forward, for a forward-facing nav station at sea, or aft, for a longer settee when the boat is in entertainment mode. Not only that, but its inboard leg can be raised or lowered to provide a flat writing surface when the boat is heeled.

The Pilothouses

The word “pilothouse” might conjure images of old-school, heavy-displacement motorsailers. The 2018 fleet shows us how far off base that stereotype can be — and how far yacht designers have come in the past several years. The boats in this roundup are some of the lightest on the water, and provide some of the best combinations of visibility and shelter that have ever been available in a cruising boat.

Three light cats stand out. The Maine Cat 38 is a speedy boat that can be sailed almost entirely from inside the enclosed bridgedeck. Not just the nav station but the boat’s entire workstation (halyards, sheets and winches, as well as the helm) is installed behind tempered-glass windows at the forward end of the coachroof. All electronic nav instruments are within easy view of the helm.

Two performance catamarans from one builder — the HH 55 and the HH 66 — exhibit similar near-360-degree visibility from the inside helm station. In these boats, you step outside through a gasketed door for sailhandling tasks, but the visual connection between the virtual world of electronic charts and the physical world of wind and water exhibited in these contemporary ­catamarans can’t be beaten.

The Fountaine-Pajot Saona 47 presents a nav station that adroitly connects the physical and virtual worlds better than all the previous categories. But in a distinction from the previous three cats, this nav station is separated from the outside helm and sailhandling station at the aft end of the cabin house. With a high-cut headsail, the navigator has superb visibility through the forward 225 degrees, better than the visibility from the raised helm.

Three monohulls offered three very different iterations of the pilothouse concept. The Discovery 58 is a Ron Holland design of robust displacement with a full-size nav station that provides visibility through forward windows in the deckhouse, even when the boat is at rest. Similar to the Jeanneau 51, the Discovery we sailed had an autopilot remote installed beside the nav seat, but no engine controls. Finally, this boat’s layout features a large countertop, big enough for an entire chart, forward of the nav station.

In the Southerly 540, ­winner of the big Full-Size Cruiser category, we have a true pilothouse arrangement, with both autopilot and electronic engine controls. Not only that, but this boat’s swing keel opens access to deep water and shallow.

The overall Boat of the Year winner of 2018 also featured one of the most interesting pilothouse arrangements. The Boreal 47, built in France of aluminum, brings together a hard dodger that encompasses both doghouse-style protection in the cockpit and a fully enclosed pilothouse behind a gasketed door. Once inside, the pilothouse is at the level of the cockpit sole; to enter the cabin, you descend several steps from there. This design impressively answers the boat’s go-anywhere promise.

Tim Murphy, a CW editor at large and a longtime Boat of the Year judge, is sailing his 1988 Passport 40 Billy Pilgrim on the U.S. East Coast, and fitting her out for longer distances.

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How to navigate using waves

• Katy Stickland
• February 18, 2021

Developing a thorough understanding of what the waves are telling you can provide you with a 'sixth sense' when it comes to navigation, says Dag Pike

Paying attention to the waves helps build your situational awareness to back up what the plotter is telling you. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

When voyages of discovery were being made 500 years ago and navigators had to make landfalls without any charts, being able to navigate using waves was a valuable technique, writes Dag Pike .

Indeed many of the ancient sea-going cultures also relied on waves for navigation.

The waves breaking on the rocks or reefs of an island would often be the first sign of land, but there are also more subtle and varied ways of reading the waves too.

Learning to interpret them is an art rather than a science, but is one that will give you an invaluable sense of your surroundings, and will alert you to danger when something doesn’t feel right.

Electronic navigation has taken over our lives as navigators, even before GPS in the days of Loran C and Decca.

Satellite navigation is more accurate than ever, and with the advent of satellite receivers that can derive a position from several separate satellite constellations, they also have redundancy built in.

A chartplotter screen gives the impression of indubitable accuracy, but datum shifts or, more likely, inaccurate or out-of-date chart data can throw a spanner in the works.

Add in shifting coastlines, river mouths and sandbanks, and it would be foolish to rely solely on what the little glowing screen tells you about your location.

This is why learning to navigate using waves is such a vital skill to have in your armoury.

Spotting shoal patches

If there is shallow water and there is a swell running then you will almost certainly see the waves breaking on the shallow patches.

The problem of course is, what comprises a shallow patch?

The entrance to the River Deben is notorious for its dangerous bar. When you navigate using winds, remember sandbanks and shoals move frequently, so charts are rarely correct. Credit: Clynt Garnham/Alamy

Much will depend on the size of the waves but you can be fairly sure that there will be breaking waves in any depth of less than 2.5m (8ft) when there are ocean waves rolling into the shore and these will allow you to identify the shallows.

Think about making an approach to a shallow entrance with a shifting seabed in an onshore wind, such as the Deben on the East Coast, Chichester Harbour bar, or Caernarfon Bar in North Wales.

The charts and buoys may tell you one thing, but if there is breaking water across the entrance ahead, it would be foolish to plough on regardless, and better to stand off.

Patches of broken water, however, may confirm where the shallows are and reveal where the channel has shifted to.

Finding deeper channels

You can use the same technique in narrow channels where there are shoal patches or rocks that can be a danger.

Trying to sail through the narrow Jack Sound on the west coast of Wales can shorten the distance when heading north or south but the deep water channel between the rocks is just 200m wide and the rocks are mainly underwater.

SatNav positions should be accurate enough to position you in the middle of the channel but you can supplement this by actually being able to ‘see’ the rocks by the disturbance on the surface.

Following the charts here may land you in trouble, so pay close attention when you navigate using waves. Credit: Angela Chalmers/Alamy

The current runs strongly through the channel and this creates patches of white water around the rock areas so you aim between the breaking waves to find the deeper water.

It can be an exciting trip but being able to ‘see’ the rocks helps to give you confidence.

You can use a similar technique to pick out the inside passage around Portland Bill, even in poor visibility.

Jack Sound in Pembrokeshire has a safe channel but with submerged rocks either side

The first visible warning you are likely to get is when you start seeing breaking waves ahead.

Now you know that you are entering the area where the converging tides are meeting and you will need to take steps to counteract the drift in order to follow a course close into the headland.

Once you are in that inside passage you can see the safe areas because they are the ones without breaking waves.

Approaching land

There are a number of wave characteristics that may denote proximity to land.

Wave reflections, where incoming waves hit a vertical or near vertical face and get reflected back, can create quite dangerous clapotic waves.

On Orkney’s west coast, the cliffs reflect waves which can be felt a mile out to sea. Credit: UK City Images/Alamy

You can get this phenomenon on the west coasts of the Orkney Islands where the cliffs go straight down into the depths so the cliffs reflect the incoming Atlantic swells for up to a mile offshore and they are a good warning about your distance off in poor visibility.

You can get the same type of reflected waves off the breakwaters of Dover harbour where there can be a nasty bit of sea on the west side as you approach the Western Entrance.

Much as with spotting shoal patches or rocks by breaking water, waves will often become shorter and steeper the closer to shore you are.

Continues below…

How to interpret wave patterns for comfortable sailing

Ken Endean explains how to read the water to find fair tides and avoid rough water

Understanding sea state for better passage planning

Consider sea state - wind and waves - when planning and, as Norman Kean explains, you'll be able to predict…

Sailing through overfalls: how to sail safely through them

Overfalls should be respected but they don’t always have to be avoided. Ken Endean explains how to handle them

There are two factors that may give rise to this.

There tend to be stronger tides closer to land, along coastlines and the waves these create – either breaking crests and short waves wind over tide, or flattening the sea off when wind with tide – can be sign of land.

Secondly, shallow water slows the underside of the wave, shortening the wave length and making the wave faces steeper.

Anyone who has sailed in the North Sea will know how uncomfortable this chop can be, but it is a good indication that the seabed isn’t far away.

As you move into deeper water the motion should ease, though the change can be very gradual.

Working the tide

More dramatic can be the changes in the waves that you see when the tide turns.

When the wind is with the tide the wavelength is increased and there is less tendency for them to break in fresh winds.

Being able to navigate using waves can guide you out of the worst of wind-over-tide conditions. Credit: Matthew Diggle

You are much more likely to see breaking seas when the wind is against the tide and in places where the tide runs strongly.

The change can be significant, making you think that it might be time to run for shelter.

You certainly need to be aware of the cause and effect of wind against the tide when planning a cruise.

Of course it can also make life more difficult because if you are using a favourable wind the tide will be setting you back and to a certain extent you can judge this by the format of the waves you can see and perhaps seek a weaker tidal stream closer inshore.

Again the stronger and weaker tide areas should be visible by the steepness and anger of the waves.

Using radar to navigate using waves

Reading the waves is a valid way of navigating in the daytime but at night there are still possibilities if you have a radar.

Waves tend to start breaking when they have a gradient of around 18° and the more vertical face of these breaking waves will make them a better radar target.

You may be able to detect wave clutter on radar as a sign of shallow water

This means that areas of breaking waves should show up on the radar display.

This is a technique that those ancient explorers did not have but it may help you to get a better ride if you know where the breaking seas are, though be aware that radar will more easily ‘see’ wave faces heading directly for your boat.

Steering by the waves

As anyone who has steered a yacht by hand for any length of time will know, holding a course when not heading towards a fixed object can be tricky, as the compass card swings and wobbles around the lubber line.

Using the wave pattern to judge your course can give you a useful reference point outside the boat.

Using your angle to the waves can help you hold a consistent course. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

Whilst not enormously accurate, waves offer a visual representation of the wind direction, and keeping the boat at roughly the same angle to each wave ridge can help you orientate yourself within your environment, and get your head out of the boat rather than staring only at the instruments.

Changing course

Sailors of old would reckon that every seventh wave in a wave train was always the biggest.

If you need to manoeuvre the boat, such as tacking or gybing, and it will take more than one wave to complete, watch the waves until you have an idea of the pattern of larger and smaller waves coming towards you, then wait until the ‘seventh’ wave has passed, then take your chance in the smaller waves that follow.

Predicting weather

It isn’t easy to predict the weather from reading the waves, but knowing what the weather is doing can help inform what waves to expect.

Most notably, as a low pressure system approaches, it will bring a front with it.

As the front passes, the wind will veer by 30° or more.

The time between waves, and the boat’s motion are good indicators of a changing sea state that you need to pay attention to. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

Two separate wave patterns will then collide, leaving you with confused seas and potential for much higher than average peaks.

You may also get some warning of a storm approaching by the arrival of a long, fast-moving swell ahead of the wind picking up.

This is caused by the large waves created at the centre of the storm overtaking the smaller waves ahead of them and travelling faster than the weather system.

If this is the case then the chances are it’s time for you and your crew to hurriedly seek shelter.

Problems reading waves

There are two caveats to all of this.

Dag Pike is one of the UK’s best-known nautical journalists and authors, covering both sailing and motor boating for many years.

Firstly, there is no easy way to measure waves, other than the time period between peaks and a guesstimation of their height.

Wave height can also vary within the same train, and you will often have more than one wave pattern interacting at the same time, giving rise to waves much higher than the average.

Any changes in wave pattern can be difficult to identify when you navigate using waves.

There are also a large number of variables affecting the surface of the water, so attributing any change to one cause is not a precise science.

Secondly, you can see very little of the seastate at night, and without visual clues it can be hard to make sense of the boat’s motion.

However, a good sailor will have an eye for what a big wave is and it is this ‘sense’ that is vital to good seamanship.

Enjoyed reading How to navigate using waves?

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• Mapping the waters: how to use nautical charts

Sailing on a yacht is an adventure that combines freedom with technical precision. At the heart of this is the ability to read nautical charts and plot a course through the vast ocean and along picturesque coasts. Whether you're just starting out or have years of sailing under your belt, our tips will enhance your navigation skills for a safe and enjoyable voyage.

Chart reading on a yacht: a voyage through time

Sailing across the vast oceans has been an age-old craft mastered by seafarers for countless generations. The intricate blend of art and science in chart reading and voyage planning enables yachts to venture into unknown waters with confidence. Although today's sailors have tools like GPS, AIS, and various apps at their disposal, the legacy of yacht chart navigation has deep roots, tracing back to ancient civilizations.

Ancient civilizations and the dawn of nautical maps

Long before the age of digital tools, ancient societies began crafting maps to better understand their world. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, among others, relied on these early charts not only for seafaring adventures but also to streamline their vital trade routes. These maps marked humanity's initial efforts to illustrate geographical formations and waterways.

The Middle Ages: an age of great discovery

During the Middle Ages, the development of maritime maps took on new significance, driven by a growing interest in trade and global exploration. By the 15th and 16th centuries — often dubbed the age of discovery — maps became indispensable for venturing into uncharted lands. This epoch saw the birth of the first global maps that aimed to depict the entire Earth. Mariners of that era commonly used a variety of tools, such as rulers, protractors, compasses, and dividers to gauge bearings from these maps, helping to set the course for their vessel.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Find out what navigation aids you'll find on your yacht.

The Renaissance and the scientific approach to maps

In the period of the Renaissance, the synergy of science and cartography brought about a revolution in the accuracy of maps. A noteworthy figure of this era, the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, introduced the Mercator projection. This groundbreaking method enabled vast regions to be depicted with unprecedented precision, albeit with some distortion near the poles. Such advancements became pivotal for navigators embarking on lengthy oceanic voyages.

The 20th century and modern navigation technology

Fast forward to the 20th century, and the maritime world witnessed a seismic shift with the advent of modern technology. The introduction of the GPS (Global Positioning System) transformed the way sailors navigate. With the ability to determine their exact location with pinpoint accuracy, sailing became simpler, faster, and vastly more reliable, enhancing both recreational boating and competitive races.

Modern electronic navigation

Modern meets traditional: navigating in the digital age

In today's world, sailors enjoy the best of both worlds by integrating time-honoured chart reading techniques with cutting-edge digital navigation tools. Thanks to electronic nautical charts that sync seamlessly with GPS, modern-day mariners can plot their courses with an accuracy and ease that sailors of yesteryears could only dream of.

Chart reading and navigation: a guide for modern mariners

The history of chart reading on a yacht is a story of human ingenuity and courage. From the primitive sketches of ancient civilisations to modern electronic nautical charts, it is clear that the need to navigate the high seas has always been essential.

Today's mariners have at their disposal a wide range of tools and technologies that greatly aid navigation. However, the basic principles of chart reading and voyage planning remain essential skills for anyone who chooses to explore the waterways. So what should you know before you take your yacht out on the high seas and offshore?

1. Basic navigational tools

Having the right tools is essential before you start sailing. A nautical chart, often simply referred to as a chart, is indispensable for sailors. Designed explicitly for sea navigation, these charts provide crucial data including water depths, the location of ports, buoys, lighthouses, prevalent currents, among other details. A compass is another fundamental tool, giving you a clear sense of direction. While traditional tools remain essential, contemporary navigational systems like GPS, AIS, and various mobile applications have revolutionized and streamlined voyage planning and route tracking.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Do you know what AIS is and how it works ? Let us guide you through it!

2. Deciphering chart symbols

Nautical charts are full of symbols and information that provide important details. Learn to identify the different symbols that mark harbours, shoals, reefs, shipping and other relevant information. Water depths are often represented by contours similar to temperature charts. Understanding these visual cues will allow you to plan your voyage efficiently and safely.

3. Charting your course

Route planning on a nautical chart is all about selecting the most suitable path between desired points. This means considering factors such as water depth, tidal movements, prevailing currents, and wind directions. Aim for a path that not only avoids hazards but also ensures a comfortable and safe experience for all on board.

Online and offline navigation

4. Calculating course and speed

After finalizing your chosen path, you should determine both the course (the direction you intend to head in) and your expected speed. By combining these two, you can approximate your arrival time at your designated endpoint.

5. Adjustments while underway

It's essential to remember that yacht navigation is a dynamic activity. Conditions such as weather, wind speed, ocean currents, and other variable factors may shift as you proceed. Consequently, you should periodically revise your navigation plan and be ready to change course to adapt to evolving circumstances.

YACHTING.COM: Check out our definitive list of the 10 best mobile apps for sailors . 

6. Backup for navigational systems

While modern sailors benefit from an array of electronic tools, it's always wise to have a physical nautical chart on board as backup. This ensures that vital navigational information remains accessible, even when modern systems encounter issues.

Choose a yacht to hone your navigation skills:

How to choose a nautical chart.

Choosing the right nautical chart is a key step for successful and safe sailing. Here are some factors to consider when selecting one:

1. Determine your sailing area: Start by identifying your intended sailing route. With charts segmented into different zones or regions, ensure the chart covers your voyage area.

2. Chart scale: Scale matters. For a closer, detailed look, go for a higher scale like 1:10,000. For a broader overview, a lower scale like 1:100,000 is enough.

3. Chart varieties: Different voyages call for different charts — harbour, coastal, or open sea. Choose based on your sailing proximity to the shore and the expanse of your journey. If you will be sailing close to the coast, detailed coastal charts may be important. For long open sea voyages, you will need charts that cover larger areas.

Planning a sailing route

4. Up-to-date information: The sea isn’t static. Ensure your chart reflects the latest changes and conditions beneath and above the water surface.

5. Markings and symbols: Check that the selected chart contains clear markings and symbols. Each map manufacturer may use their own markings, so make sure you understand what is shown on the map.

6. Digital vs. paper charts: While the digital era offers electronic charts, the timeless reliability of paper charts cannot be overlooked. Many sailors opt for a combination of both.

7. Cater to skill levels:  If you're just setting sail in the world of marine navigation, lean towards detailed and intuitive charts.

8. Trust the sailing community: Reviews and testimonials from fellow sailors can offer valuable insights into a chart’s practicality and accuracy.

9. Consult the experts: If you are unsure, turn to sailors with years of experience or recommended skippers and instructors for advice. Feel free to contact us .

Take into account these factors and try to find the nautical charts that best suit your needs and planned route. The right chart will allow you to plan and sail with confidence and safely.

Navigating with charts on a yacht is an invaluable skill that's been developed over time. The preparedness and capability to understand and interpret nautical charts, combined with the use of navigation tools, are crucial for a safe sailing experience. Remember that mastering this skill doesn't come overnight — consistent practice is key. By actively applying what you've learned during actual sea voyages, you'll become a more proficient sailor and navigator.

Want to know more about reading charts? Contact us.

Denisa Nguyenová

Faqs: how to read nautical charts.

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Divers find 5 bodies during search of yacht wreckage off Sicily

The Associated Press

Italian firefighter divers bring ashore in a green bag the body of one of the victims of the U.K.-flag vessel Bayesian on Wednesday. The luxury sail yacht was hit by a violent sudden storm and sunk early Monday, while at anchor off the Sicilian village of Porticello near Palermo, in southern Italy. Salvatore Cavalli/AP hide caption

PORTICELLO, Sicily — Divers searching the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily found the bodies of five passengers Wednesday and searched for one more as questions intensified about why the vessel sank so quickly when a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Rescue crews unloaded three body bags from rescue vessels that pulled into port at Porticello. Salvatore Cocina, head of the Sicily civil protection agency, said two other bodies had also been found in the wreckage for a total of five.

Who are Mike Lynch and the other people missing after a yacht sank in Sicily?

The discovery made clear the operation to search the hull on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) underwater had quickly turned into a recovery one, not a rescue, given the amount of time that had passed and that no signs of life had emerged over three days of searching, maritime experts said.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (a half-mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, and sank quickly.

Fifteen people escaped in a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby sailboat. One body was recovered Monday — that of the ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, of Antigua.

Thomas was born in Canada, according to his cousin David Isaac, but would visit his parents’ homeland of Antigua as a child, moving permanently to the tiny eastern Caribbean island in his early 20s. Italian officials previously listed Antigua as the nationality of someone on board.

The fate of six missing passengers had driven the search effort, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch , his 18-year-old daughter and associates who had successfully defended him in a recent U.S. federal fraud trial.

Lynch’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy, on Tuesday. Salvatore Cavalli/AP hide caption

What caused the ship to sink so quickly?

Meanwhile, investigators from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office were acquiring evidence for their criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy even though no formal suspects have been publicly identified.

Questions abound about what caused the superyacht, built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, to sink so quickly, when the nearby Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat was largely spared and managed to rescue the survivors.

Was it merely the case of a freak waterspout that knocked the ship to its side and allowed water to pour in through open hatches? What was the position of the keel, which on a large sailboat such as the Bayesian might have been retractable, to allow it to enter shallower ports?

“There’s a lot of uncertainty as to whether it had a lifting keel and whether it might have been up,” said Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the editor of the Journal of Sailing Technology. “But if it had, then that would reduce the amount of stability that the vessel had, and therefore made it easier for it to roll over on its side,” he said in an interview.

The captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat, which came to the Bayesian’s rescue, said his craft had sustained minimal damage — the frame of a sun awning broke — even with winds that he estimated reached 12 on the Beaufort wind scale, which is the highest, hurricane-strength force on the scale.

He said he had remained anchored with his engines running to try to maintain the ship’s position as the storm, which was forecast, rolled in.

Search teams scour waters along Italy’s southwestern shore, where a luxury yacht sank

“Another possibility is to heave anchor before the storm and to run downwind at open sea,” Karsten Bornersaid in a text message. But he said that might not have been a viable option for the Bayesian, given its trademark 75-meter (246-foot) tall mast.

“If there was a stability problem, caused by the extremely tall mast, it would not have been better at open sea,” he said.

Yachts like the Bayesian are required to have watertight, sub-compartments that are specifically designed to prevent a rapid, catastrophic sinking even when some parts fill with water.

“So for the vessel to sink, especially this fast, you are really looking at taking water on board very quickly, but also in a number of locations along the length of the vessel, which again indicates that it might have been rolled over on its side,” Souppez said.

Italian coast guard and fire rescue divers continued the underwater search in dangerous and time-consuming conditions. Because of the wreck’s depth, which requires special precautions, divers working in tag teams could only spend about 12 minutes at a time searching.

The limited dive time is designed in part to avoid decompression sickness, also known as the “bends,” which can occur when divers stay underwater for long periods and ascend too quickly, allowing nitrogen gas dissolved in the blood to form bubbles.

“The longer you stay, the slower your ascent has to be,” said Simon Rogerson, the editor of SCUBA magazine. He said the tight turnaround time suggests the operation's managers are trying to limit the risks and recovery time after each dive.

“It sounds like they’re operating essentially on no decompression or very tight decompression, or they’re being extremely conservative,” he said.

Additionally, the divers were working in extremely tight spaces, with debris floating around them, limited visibility and oxygen tanks on their backs.

Search resumes for British tech magnate and 5 others after yacht sinks off Sicily

“We are trying to advance in tight spaces, but any single thing slows us down,” said Luca Cari, spokesman for the fire rescue service. “An electric panel could set us back for five hours. These aren’t normal conditions. We’re at the limit of possibility.”

“It’s not a question of entering the cabin to inspect it,” he added. “They’ve arrived at the level of the cabins, but it’s not like you can open the door,” he said.

The Italian coast guard said they had reinforced their dive teams and were using underwater remote-controlled robots, which can stay out for six or seven hours at a time and record the surroundings.

The lack of any signs of life and the recovery of bodies led outside experts to conclude that the search was now a recovery effort and investigation to determine how the tragedy had unfolded.

“I think the fact that there’s been quite a lot of diving presence around the vessel and that they haven’t been able to pick up any signs of life inside the vessel, is, is unfortunately, not a particularly good sign,” said Souppez.

How did the superyacht carrying tech tycoon Mike Lynch sink off Sicily?

Lynch’s was among five bodies retrieved by divers on Wednesday after the Bayesian sank, according to reports.

Five bodies were retrieved on Wednesday, and a sixth on Friday , by divers searching for those missing from the superyacht which sank off the Sicilian coast in the Mediterranean. The bodies found include British tech tycoon Mike Lynch , the UK’s Telegraph reported. The bodies have not been formally identified by the authorities yet.

It is understood that they were retrieved from inside the sunken yacht, which is reported to be lying on its side on the sea bed at a depth of 50 metres

Keep reading

One dead, six missing after luxury superyacht capsizes off sicily coast, luxury yacht sinks off sicilian coast, uk extradites autonomy co-founder mike lynch to us, how serious are the wildfires near athens, greece.

This brings the total death toll to seven; one person, reported to be the chef from the yacht, was confirmed dead on Monday.

The yacht capsized on Monday at about 5am (03:00 GMT) after it was hit by stormy weather caused by a “waterspout” – or mini tornado – according to Italian authorities.

The cruise had reportedly been undertaken to celebrate the acquittal of Lynch in a fraud trial in the United States in June.

His co-defendant in the trial, Steve Chamberlain, who was also acquitted in June, was killed after being hit by a car on Saturday.

Here’s what is known so far about the yacht, those on board and who died or were still missing after it sank.

Who was on the superyacht which sank?

According to the Italian coastguard, the 56-metre-long (184 feet) British-flagged yacht, called the Bayesian, was carrying 22 people, including 10 crew members.

One person has been confirmed dead after rescuers located a body on Monday at a depth of about 50 metres (164 feet), the AFP news agency reported. Officials have not yet given the name of the deceased but Italian media reported that he was the yacht’s chef.

AFP reported on Tuesday that divers had spotted a second body inside the sunk boat, quoting a source close to the search operation. Authorities have not confirmed it yet, though.

While not all the names of the six missing passengers were not made public officially, they were understood to include:

• Mike Lynch, 59, a British-Irish technology businessman who co-founded British tech company Autonomy in 1996 and was once likened to Microsoft founder Bill Gates; he earned a PhD from Cambridge University
• Hannah Lynch, 18, Mike’s daughter, who had just completed her final school exams and was due to begin a degree in English at the University of Oxford this September
• Jonathan Bloomer, the 70-year-old British chairman of Morgan Stanley bank and the Hiscox insurance company, was confirmed as missing by Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain
• Judy Bloomer, Jonathan’s wife, was also confirmed as missing by Hussain
• Chris Morvillo, from British international law firm Clifford Chance, was confirmed to be missing by Salvatore Cocina, head of the Civil Protection in Sicily

Fifteen people, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Among others rescued were Charlotte Golunski, 36, a board director at Luminance, a software startup founded by Lynch; her husband, James; and their one-year-old daughter, Sophie. Golunski is understood to have kept her daughter alive by holding her above her head while she was in the water.

All those rescued are in stable condition, although eight of them have been hospitalised, according to Italian news agency Adnkronos.

What do we know about the Bayesian?

Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi constructed the superyacht in 2008 and refitted it in 2020, according to the company’s website.

The yacht’s owner is listed as Revtom Limited, a firm solely owned by Lynch’s wife, Bacares, according to company documents seen by the Reuters news agency.

It was formerly called Salute but was renamed Bayesian after Lynch’s PhD thesis and his software that earned him a fortune. Both of these were based on the statistical Bayesian theory, championed by mathematician Thomas Bayes.

Where was the Bayesian last seen and where was it going?

The Bayesian was last located on Sunday evening in the Tyrrhenian Sea, east of the harbour at Porticello, according to ship tracking websites Vessel Finder and Marine Traffic.

Porticello is a port city located near the Sicilian capital, Palermo.

The yacht had departed on August 14 from the Sicilian port of Milazzo. Its destination was reported to be the Italian city of Bagheria by the tracking websites.

Did a waterspout cause the yacht to sink?

Italian authorities reported that the stormy conditions that caused the yacht to sink were triggered by a waterspout.

A waterspout is a rotating column of whirling air and water mist – sometimes referred to as a mini tornado – according to the website of the US National Ocean Service.

The website adds that a tornadic waterspout is a tornado that forms over water or moves from land to water. They are similar to land tornadoes and can occur during thunderstorms.

Who is Stephen Chamberlain and how is he connected to this case?

Chamberlain, 52, was Lynch’s co-defendant in a fraud trial in San Francisco, which saw both men acquitted in June.

Chamberlain died in a hospital from injuries sustained when he was hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, on Saturday. His death was confirmed by his lawyer Gary Lincenberg in a statement on Monday.

The fraud case related to Hewlett Packard’s $11bn acquisition of Autonomy, the firm Lynch grew into the UK’s leading tech company before it spectacularly unravelled after being bought by HP in 2011.

Lynch was extradited to the US in May 2023 and he spent more than a year under house arrest before his acquittal. Chamberlain was the former vice president of finance at Autonomy.

The yacht trip was supposedly a celebration of Lynch’s acquittal.

How did the rescue operation unfold?

Specialist divers began a search anew for the six missing people on Tuesday. Three divers, equipped with oxygen cylinders, descended beneath the surface to examine the wreck.

They initially faced difficulty accessing the yacht’s chambers because they were constricted by furniture.

An investigation into the wreck has been opened by prosecutors in the nearby Sicilian town of Termini Imerese.

What have survivors and witnesses said about the incident?

“It was terrible. The boat was hit by really strong wind and shortly after it went down,” survivor Golunski told the ANSA news agency.

She added that she had lost hold of her one-year-old daughter in the water for “two seconds”, but then managed to grab her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety. She reported that people were screaming.

Karsten Borner, a captain of a nearby yacht who witnessed the sinking, said he had turned on the engine of his ship to prevent collision with the Bayesian. “We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone,” he told reporters.

Bloomer’s wife, Judy, is a trustee of the Eve Appeal, a UK-based gynaecological cancer research charity. Athena Lamnisos, the CEO of the Eve Appeal, was quoted by the BBC saying she was “deeply shocked to hear the news that our very dear friend and her husband Jonathan, are among those missing”.

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A Waterspout Was Seen When a Luxury Yacht Sank. What Is It?

Witnesses reported seeing the tornado-like phenomenon hit the Bayesian, a sailing yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

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By Eve Sampson

What caused the sinking on Monday of a sailing yacht carrying the British billionaire Mike Lynch and 21 other people off the coast of Sicily is still unknown. But some attention has focused on observations by witnesses, who described seeing a small tornado-like column known as a waterspout forming over the water during an abrupt and violent storm as the vessel sank.

Fifteen passengers on the 180-foot yacht, the Bayesian, escaped on a raft before being rescued by a neighboring cruise ship. The body of the ship’s cook was recovered on Monday and six people remain unaccounted for , including Mr. Lynch and his daughter Hannah, according to officials with Sicily’s civil protection agency.

Prosecutors in the nearby city of Termini Imerese have opened an inquiry into the cause of the sinking.

Here is what to know about waterspouts, a surprisingly common weather phenomenon that may have helped sink the luxury yacht.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts are columns of spinning air and moisture — similar to tornadoes over water, according to the National Weather Service .

While some form in fair weather, and are aptly called fair weather waterspouts, another more dangerous variety called tornadic waterspouts develops downward from a thunderstorm. These tornadic waterspouts can either form as regular tornadoes over land and move out to sea, or form in a storm already over a large body of water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association .

Fair weather waterspouts are weak, often dissipate quickly and do not cause major damage, according to the agencies, but tornadic waterspouts are more often associated with high winds, dangerous and frequent lightning, and hail. The Italian authorities recorded strong winds and intense lightning activity at the time the yacht went down.

How common are waterspouts?

Experts say waterspouts may be more common than tornadoes, but because oceans are so vast, they are more difficult to track — and as difficult to predict.

“The Mediterranean is possibly one of the places where waterspouts are most likely around the world due to the warm ocean surface and a climate that is very susceptible to thunderstorms throughout the summer and autumn,” according to a statement by Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Inness pointed to a 2022 study by scientists from University of Barcelona , which found that waterspouts occurred more frequently over warmer sea surfaces. The North Atlantic ocean has been unusually hot for over a year, repeatedly reaching record highs for the time of year , according to data from the oceanic association.

The International Centre for Waterspout Research on Monday said on X , the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it had confirmed 18 waterspouts near Italy in recent days, and several fishermen in the area of the accident told Italian media that they had witnessed a waterspout near the yacht.

What may have happened?

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby boat that rescued the 15 passengers, said in an interview that he saw the Bayesian about 490 feet away before the wind and lightning picked up.

While it was difficult to see what happened amid the storm, “my theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” he said.

Towering over 237 feet tall, the Bayesian mast was one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world and it also had a special keel that could be raised or lowered, according to its manufacturer, Perini Navi. A keel is the downward-extending centerline underneath a boat that can help stabilize the vessel.

“In this case, having a tall aluminum mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology the Politecnico di Milano.

He added that “a lot of questions will remain until we have other elements at our disposal.”

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.

Eve Sampson is a reporter covering international news and a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Eve Sampson

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• Digital Edition

Navigation apps: all about user-generated guides

• Sam Fortescue
• February 28, 2022

Sam Fortescue takes a look at some of the most popular user-generated navigation guides for boaters, which are fast replacing the traditional pilot guide book

Pilot books used to be how we explored new destinations. Cruisers and charter sailors alike will have spent many hours poring over sketch maps and grainy photos in a hardback book that may not have been updated for many moons to identify where might offer good holding, a mini-mart, or a worthy snorkelling spot.

Nowadays we’re all used to having information at our fingertips, literally, through a smartphone. Naturally, a crop of boating apps and websites have developed to service the appetite for good quality information about sailing locations.

Cruising social media groups are bursting with personal recommendations or impressions, but this information is often uncategorised or hard to verify. Now, a number of more ‘official’ online sites and apps have been launched that combine user-generated up to date information with the backing of a reputable organisation or publisher.

Explore with Imray

It has long been a complaint in my family that pilot guides contain little useful information on the reasons to visit a specific harbour or anchorage. There is plenty on getting there safely and confidently, but precious little about the best pub, or the walk with views to die for. Well, no longer.

Nautical publisher Imray has launched an all-new app which aims to combine the best of both worlds. Explore with Imray is a blend of the critical navigational information associated with some 6,000 ports or anchorages, and the photos and posts of sailors who have been there.

In a way, it’s nothing new, according to Imray’s Lucy Wilson. “Crowdsourcing is what Imray has done for years and years – we’ve always been collecting this information,” she says. “We have about 100 books in our catalogue and we’ve only digitised 12 so far. That’s taken three months, but it’ll definitely speed up now.”

She walks me through the beta version of the app, which runs on phones, tablets and computers. It’s a neat interface that uses a Google-style map showing clusters of pins to navigate to the port you want information on. As you zoom in, pins marking each entry disaggregate until you can click through to the data. It’s quite a treasure trove.

Each pane opens with a chartlet, an overview image of the location and a series of expandable titles such as ‘contact’, ‘facilities’ and ‘approach’. Frequently used ports or harbours can be bookmarked for quicker access.

“One of the key things in our data is all of the approach information – anyone can get the contact details and facilities,” says Wilson. “Getting you there safely – that is our key tool.”

In my book, this alone would be worth the £49.99 annual subscription cost (or £8.99 per month). As Wilson points out, the charge is similar to the cost of a single printed pilot guide, yet gives you access to every location on the system. “You’re not buying a book, you’re buying everything that we’ve digitised,” she says.

There is an additional dimension: click the ‘community’ tab and you can access reports that subscribers have made for that location, offering anything from opening times of the local fish and chip shop to a favourite beach. It’s moderated – usually by the authors of the pilot guide.

“The social layer allows you to create your own profile and make blog posts – it’s a sort of ‘tell your story’; a way of sharing memories,” says Wilson. “You can also follow other people.” It will soon be possible for subscribers to post comments on existing entries, and to add their own locations – a neap-tide reef anchorage, perhaps, or a place to land on a deserted islet.

An easy link on screen allows you to purchase the relevant pilot guide – Imray doesn’t want Explore with Imray to cannibalise book sales. For instance, you’ll need the paper version for the introductory information contained in each chapter. And there is not yet tidal data available via the app. Plus, the system currently requires a live internet connection to function.

“We’re thinking about the best way to provide offline capabilities next year – perhaps through the web app (Imray Navigator),” says Wilson. “It could be like Spotify and their albums. The subscription would give access to everything, but then you can download for offline use.”

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Captain’s mate.

Coming from the other end of the spectrum is a newly relaunched version of the Cruising Association’s popular Captain’s Mate app. This used to be entirely based around club members’ reports and, while this element remains the mainstay, there is now a more businesslike introduction to every location detailing all the key factual data.

Just as with the Imray product, you navigate using the map. The system is smart enough not to try downloading every pin simultaneously, which used to lead to long rendering times.

When you select your location, you are presented with a page giving an overview of factual information, including approach notes. Click on the ‘info’ tab and you can see detail on the facilities available – something you can also specify as search criteria, allowing you to identify the nearest port with fuel or fresh water, for instance.

“We’ve sucked out all the factual information from the reports,” says CA general manager Lucy Gray. “It changes from location to location.”

There is not yet any tidal information available, and the detailed chartlets contained in the revered Cruising Almanac are also absent. “We’ve left a lot of doors open for the next revision,” says Gray. “Tides might be included later on, and we’re thinking of adding charts.”

But it is the reports that members value most, and the reports are the key to the app, which also works on smartphones, tablets and computers. They appear under a third tab, and allow you to scroll back through in date order, adding comments as you please. Of course, the CA wants members to leave their own reports too, and this is very easily done by clicking on the ‘add further report’ button.

All posts are moderated by a group of 44 editors, and software automatically checks that any uploaded photos are free of copyright. “The images we ask for are things that would help your approach or entry, layout of the marina and also things of local interest,” says Gray.

Coverage is as global as the adventurous members of the CA themselves. “There are 20,000 member contributions and 6,500 locations,” says Gray. “Some 77 countries are covered, although we’re trying to populate more places in the Caribbean and America.”

Another nice touch is the ability to see other members who are close at hand. As long as your own device is set to ‘share location’, a little CA burgee on the map is positioned to show fellow club members. As anyone who has ever sailed into an unknown anchorage and been heartened to spot a familiar burgee can attest, this is a popular feature.

The new app is designed to handle the much larger amount of data being generated by members. In its first year, 2015, Captain’s Mate saw 600 reports filed. But just a year later, that had mushroomed to 10,000 reports. “It was a victim of its own success,” says Gray. “It wasn’t able to cope. Now it’s more user-friendly, members will use it more than they have been.”

The app is free to use for CA members, who pay from £137 per year to be part of the club.

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From Spitzbergen to South Georgia, Sierra Leone to Tasmania, Noonsite publishes reports from the farthest-flung cruising grounds in the world. Owned and maintained by the World Cruising Club, which organises the ARC rallies , this is a well-used tool for bluewater cruisers .

Editor Sue Richards tells me there are more than 2,700 reports online, and thousands more comments posted by users. The content can now be browsed using a map view.

This is your first stop for information on entry formalities, main ports, costs and bureaucracy. User comments are pinned to the bottom of each page, providing key updates, notices to mariners or advice about who offers the best service. Reports, on the other hand, tend to be narrative, relating the story of a cruise or an incident.

A new membership model will be launched next year, with costs running at $2 or $6 per month. Free access will be limited to three country views per month, but the real spur will be the offline content available to members.

“We know that many of our worldwide users rely on Noonsite as a trusted source of information about the countries and ports they visit,” says Jeremy Wyatt, WCC director. “Now, as part of our new premium features, users can download formatted Noonsite pages, just like a pilot book, to keep and use locally.”

Get it now from Noonsite

It may lack the global reach of Noonsite, but for advice about good local anchorages, the free-to-use Navily app is excellent. Coverage runs to 20,000 locations, mainly in Europe and the Caribbean, and comments provide advice on anchoring, walks, pubs and restaurants.

Navily is based around Google satellite mapping, providing custom location pins to denote anchorages, featured ports and marinas. There is a useful traffic light system assessing the quality of an anchorage, and users have uploaded thousands of photos.

A premium version costing €19.99 per year allows you to download regions for offline use. It also adds in 72-hour weather forecasts and distance measuring tools. The weather tool feeds into an algorithm which gives you a ‘protection score’ out of 100 for any chosen anchorage.

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