CAptain's Mate App

Cruising information for people like you, by people like you

CAptain’s Mate awarded ‘Equipment Innovation of the Year’ at 2022 British Yachting Awards

The British Yachting Awards, hosted by Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting, reward the very best examples of excellence and celebrate the leading marine products, services, yachts, destinations and achievements across eleven cruising and racing categories.

CAptain’s Mate was voted as the winner from seven nominees in the ‘Equipment Innovation of the Year’ category, as shortlisted by Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting and voted for by their worldwide readership and the public.

Since its initial launch in 2012, CAptain’s Mate has evolved to set a standard in digital cruising information and remains a leading platform. The CA is proud of what has been achieved and what is still to come.

 

What is CAptain’s Mate?

CAptain’s Mate is a unique app providing an invaluable and intuitive toolbox of knowledge, designed to empower yacht and motor cruisers. Putting thousands of cruising reports at your fingertips, CAptain’s Mate is packed with innovative features and provides an unrivalled breadth of cruising content in one interface, covering over 7,500 locations in more than 100 countries around the world.

Available on iOS and Android, once downloaded the app works even when you have no internet connection or phone signal. If you prefer using a keyboard and larger screen, the app is also integrated on the CA website.

Book your CAptain’s Mate Insight session now

 

CAptain's Mate app - your digitial cruising guide to marinas, ports, harbours and anchorages worldwide

CAptain’s Mate – digital Cruising information

CAptain’s Mate provides accurate, up to date and streamlined information on all types of cruising location - anchorage, marina, port, harbour, boatyard and quay.

Developed with the yacht and motor cruiser in control, the app is packed with useful features, search and filter functions. Each location displays an ‘Overview’, ‘Info’ and ‘Report’ tab, enabling users to easily swipe between summary content and more detailed reports.

Packed with useful features

The filter and search options show availability of and access to key facilities, such as water and fuel, and, if available, supermarket, restaurant and other amenities and boat services like crane and repair options. You can find discount partners close to each location, CA Honorary Local Representatives and interact with nearby members via the friends function.

At the core of CAptain’s Mate is a database of over 20,000 members’ contributions linked to over 7,500 locations, which can be viewed in summary and expanded displays. The contributions detail first-hand, factual and accurate location information, as well as practical tips, approach considerations and personal experiences. The photo galleries capture visual references on each location, from pilotage to berthing to shore side facilities.

CAptain’s Mate is renowned by our members as a trusted app, with content reviewed by our team of forty editors who ensure location information and reports are reliable, factual, accurate and free from commercial influence.

CAptain's Mate app - details on facilities available at marinas, ports, harbours and anchorages around the world

 

CAptain's Mate app - images of marinas, ports, harbours and anchorages as a visual guide for your cruising plans

 

CAptain's Mate app - facilities in Amsterdam among the information on marinas, ports, harbours and anchorages worldwide as a guide for your cruising plans

 

CAptain's Mate - Quick Facts

  • Worldwide - covering 7,500+ locations in more than 100 countries
  • Locations - information covers anchorage, marina, port, harbour, boatyard and quay, with new locations added regularly
  • Information - 20,000+ member contributions provide accurate and practical location advice and insights
  • Platform - iOS, Android and web
  • Search and Filter - by name, location or facility/service
  • Map - OpenSeaMap data available online and can be saved for offline use
  • Community - find and contact other CA members and local CA representatives
  • Up to date - information and photos updated almost daily by members
  • Discounts - view by location, list or search
  • Membership - digital membership card
  • Accurate - content is reviewed by editors and free from commercial influence

Book your CAptain’s Mate Insight session now

The Cruising Association is running CAptain’s Mate Insight sessions, which will be in the form of a one-to-one online via Zoom with a CA staff member to showcase the app functionality and answer your questions. Each session will be approximately 30 minutes and can be booked on our Zoom One-to-One Chats booking page.

The CA team looks forward to introducing CAptain’s Mate to you and please share the link with your friends.

CAptain's Mate app - insight session

CAptain’s Mate – be part of it

CAptain’s Mate app is exclusive to CA members and one of the valuable benefits of being a member.

By joining the CA, members receive unparalleled support in their cruising journey. As well as access to CAptain’s Mate app, members benefit from our vast information resources, events, lectures, online forums, rallies, quarterly Cruising magazine, monthly newsletter, Crewing Service, prize draws and a worldwide network of representatives.

CA members can take advantage of offers and discounts from our selected marine partners, covering everything from boat insurance to sail repairs, restaurants to training courses, charter holidays to chandlery. CA House, our members’ club house in London, boasts bar, restaurant, accommodation and meeting rooms, and is also home to one of the world’s most significant nautical libraries. Our Regulatory & Technical Services group (RATS) provide invaluable expertise and advice on legislative issues impacting cruising.

Discover more about the extensive CA member benefits and easily join the CA online.

Satellite view of location clusters – Ionian and Aegean


Map view of location clusters - Plymouth


Map view of location clusters filtered by type and facility – North-western Europe


Location info tab - Port Hamble Marina


 

CAptain's Mate app

CAptain’s Mate – a History

Originally launched in 2012 to meet the need for up to date, accurate and informative data on cruising locations, the upgraded and new look CAptain’s Mate app has been an ambitious project.

The CA sought our members’ feedback, listened, utilised the latest technology and delivered the upgraded app, which puts comprehensive information within a few taps. The upgraded CAptain’s Mate app is another milestone in the CA’s ongoing investment in its member services and digital offering.

CAptain's Mate of the Month

The CA's amazing app CAptain's Mate is available exclusively and free to CA members. However, we're keen to share some of its attributes and first-hand knowledge and some 'as live' reports with all of our followers - members and non-members alike. We're delighted to bring you a new line-up of...CAptain's Mate of the Month! These are just examples of the hundreds of new reports submitted every month.

 

March 2024:

Porto Santo, Portugal: There are limited pontoon mooring for visitors and a few swinging moorings in the harbour within an area marked by yellow buoys delimiting the manoeuvring area for the Porto Santo Ferry which arrives most days at 10am. The exceptions are Friday and Sunday when it arrives and departs later to allow for the weekenders and commuters from Madeira.

At anchor the holding is good in a mix of mud and sand which was a great relief as after we arrived there was a significant storm which struck Madeira with solid gusts well in excess of 30 knots in the harbour.

Ashore the friendly and helpful harbour authority is located in the white building next to the slipway and open 9 -1200 and 14-1700. They will request your ships papers and your passports as usual. The port cafe is an excellent meeting place with menu del dia consisting of a simple but cost-effective dish. The town is a one-mile walk / taxi to the west and has a number of simple if touristy restaurants.

There is a good supermarket Pingo Doce on the way into town and other little shops dotted around town slightly inland from the main road. To see the island, the sight-seeing bus leaves from the roundabout bus/taxi parking at 1400 each day and takes a couple of hours to visit several viewpoints around the island. The island has many sandy beaches and just behind the harbour wall to the west is a fine example with good protection and excellent swimming.

Cruising information for people like you, by people like you

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