Willy Weather
I normally use this for localised activities around Australia. Not so much for long-distance travels. It is quite easy and accurate for current weather and an indication of forecasts.

Predictwind
When I’m on the move, I love this app. My preference is to use the tables view (as opposed to the map view) as I can see the forecast variations from 6 different weather models.

Windy
Haven’t used Windy much, but I know a lot of people who swear by it.

Ventusky
I only stumbled upon this website recently and have been amazed with it from the outset! Yes, like a bunch of other sites, it shows wind, heat and so many other amazing overlays, but what I liked about Ventusky was being able to go back to specific dates in certain areas. For example, I’m sailing from Australia to Thailand soon and I’m keen to know what the patterns have been like for a specific period in a specific area. Very impressed. Take a look for yourself. Enjoy.

Tahiti

Croatia

Whitsundays

Ionian, Greece

Australia

Thailand

United States

Europe

New Zealand

South Pacific

England

Earth Nullschool
You’ve got to check out this interactive site. Amazing!!!

Navionics
This would have to be my most favourite and most used app I have on my boat. Not only can I use it on my iPad, iPhone and laptop for navigation, I can also check tides and weather (when I have an internet connection) along with sourcing a wealth of other useful info.
One of the key beautys of this app is that, once your maps are downloaded, you can use it from almost anywhere, any time – no internet needed.
You can zoom in on locations, grab helpful info somebody else has left about an anchorage, you can set an auto course (and be very sure it’s a workable, safe and usable route before you charge off!).

Click here to see a great navigation apps review by discover boating.com

AIS System
Possibly one of the most advanced and safety-based platforms since the invention of radar. If you’re going to be on the water, you really need to seriously consider AIS. CLick the link to read the IMO’s (International Maritime Organization’s) article about AIS.

Marine Traffic
Might keep you safe (but not as safe as you should be). Still a handy app to help identify ships around you.

Vesselink
Another helpful app to assist in identifying ships around you. Like most of these apps, this one also sources information from the AIS system.

Vessel Finder
Vessel Finder is a FREE AIS vessel tracking website. VesselFinder displays real-time ship positions and marine traffic detected by the global AIS network. I’ve found this to be a very easy-to-use platform and makes seeing all the ocean’s movements at a glance very easy (albeit sometimes a little frightening when you consider the volume of ships on the water).

SE Asia Pilot Guide
From Cairns to Thailand & the Andaman Sea…and everything in between. 300 pages with over 600 stunning locations. Also available digitally for ease of use on a tablet or computer. The region’s favourite cruising guide. Now in its 6th edition (17th year).

Thai Cruising Guide
Some great Thai reference material on this site. And if you’re so inclined, you can charter a monster white boat.

100 Magic Miles
The ultimate guide to cruising the Whitsundays Islands. I’ve been using this book for over 25 years – it’s a priceless addition to the cockpit, even when you think you know all the cool spots.

Cruising the Coral Coast
Alan Lucas’ Cruising the Coral Coast has long been considered the bible for cruising the Queensland coast.
Covers the Queensland coast from Point Danger to Cape York, with new sections on the Gulf, NT Coast and Coral Sea reefs in detail.

Print the Colregs
Direct access to the most recent Collision Regulations in PDF form.

Colregs Apple App
Download the app for your Apple device here.

Colregs Android
Download the app for Android from this link.

4 Pillars of Maritime Law
This is a great read if you want to get a clearer picture of the structure of maritime law.

Beaufort Wind Scale
From time to time you might hear people referring to the wind force, or the Beaufort Scale wind. The Beaufort Scale was named after Sir Francis Beaufort (a hydrographer with the Royal Navy) and lists the effects of increasing wind speeds. The scale was originally designed to show the effects the wind on a battleship at sea.

Anchor Pro app
Anchor Pro tracks your location and alerts you if your anchored boat starts drifting. Relax while anchored and sleep better! You can also be alerted on a secondary phone.

Lin & Larry Pardey
If you’re looking for some inspirational reading, here’s a writer you’d do well to follow. Lin Pardey (born 1944) and Larry Pardey (1939-2020) are sailors and writers, known for their small boat sailing. They coined the phrase, “Go Small, Go Simple, but Go Now, and have been called the “Enablers” as their example encouraged many others to set sail despite their limited incomes. If it’s inspiration you’re looking for, this is a good place to start.

Code and Alphabet Flags
Take a look at this detailed list of the nautical flags and their meanings. You will note that many flags have multiple meanings, depending on the situation they’re being used in. They can also mean a whole lot more when you fly 2 of them together.

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With these first, four knots, you could quite possibly see out a lifetime of sailing and boating using just these four knots. They would have to be the key knots you’ll need around a boat. Then there’s a few variations on the bowlines.

Sourced from Animated Knots – an awesome reference site.

Clove hitch

Bow line

Cleat hitch

Reef knot

One-handed bowline

Bowline on a bight

Water bowline

Spanish bowline

Monkey Fist

#8923

#8780

#7991

#7479

#7352

#7157

#7010

#6772

#6711

#6625

#5113

#5105

#3720

#2856

#2523

#2487

#0622

#0169