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Digital weather at sea: the apps that can change your sailing holiday for the better

From general forecasts to safer anchorages: here’s how to use weather apps on board to sail with greater awareness and enjoy your cruise with more peace of mind.

You know that moment when you’re holding a glass of wine, the sunset is setting the bay on fire, and suddenly you feel a cold gust of wind you were not expecting?

Knowing it was coming, or discovering it in the moment, can be the difference between enjoying the evening and tap-dancing around the tableware while the boat swings around its anchor, with most of the other boats in the bay doing exactly the same.

Today, that risk can be reduced quite easily. After all, sailing with a smartphone in your hand has become completely normal.

And you do not only need it to photograph the perfect bay or post that like-catching Instagram shot. In the phone of a skipper who does not want unpleasant surprises, there should be a few specific tools. At least one weather app, for example.

First, however, it helps to understand how these apps work “under the hood”, and which analysis engine they use.

Mathematical models: what a weather app is really reading

Weather apps are not all the same, because they read different “scores” and, as a result, produce different music.

These scores are called mathematical models, and knowing them helps you avoid blindly trusting the first colourful chart that appears on your screen.

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The weather apps to have on board

There is an app for every taste and need: from free to very expensive, from extremely simple to highly advanced.

For a complete overview, we recommend downloading the guide we have prepared. Inside, you will find the main online weather apps, including basic features, advanced options, pros and cons, costs, user feedback and how to use them during a sailing holiday.

In the meantime, to give you an idea of the most popular ones, all with a free version or at least a trial, here is what is useful to know.

Which app should you choose?

There is no single right app: there is the right combination.

For a charter cruise in the Mediterranean, the minimum sensible setup is Windy.com for general forecasts and Navily for anchorage management.

Everything else is optimisation, depending on how deeply you want to analyse the conditions, the type of itinerary, the length of your cruise and your level of experience.

The one thing no app can replace is your own eye, together with your ability to interpret what is happening outside the phone.

Digital weather is a valuable ally, but it remains a tool. Conscious sailing always comes from combining data, experience and real attention to what is happening around the boat.

But that will be the topic of the next article.

Ready to set sail with greater confidence?

From the most sheltered bays to the best seasonal itineraries, Sailogy helps you choose the right boat for a more relaxed holiday at sea.

Article by Giacomo Giulietti of LLiquida - Marketing and Communication for the Nautical Industry.