How long have you been using Navily
We loaded the application at the very beginning. But given the few anchorages referenced, we quickly abandoned it. But two years ago, we came back and now we don't make a stopover without first consulting Navily.
What do you use the application for?
When you arrive at an anchorage, there are two main types of information in Navily: protection according to wind direction and the nature of the bottom. Indeed, depending on the weather forecast, we can see if the anchorage will be well protected. Then we complete our vision with the photos.
How do you rate the information?
The information is very reliable. We have never had to question them. This is probably due to the mass of data and the number of participants in the application that ensures good reliability. Instead of having only one person come by to write a nautical guide, with Navily, the nautical guide is constantly updated, and at all times, in all weather conditions!
We also like the different colors of the anchorages in the application. On the map, they are red, yellow or green depending on their grade. When you don't know the area, you can have a very quick judgment.
Are the comments useful to you?
We always read the comments on the creek we're approaching. Machine translations sometimes make us smile, but they have the advantage of always being understandable.
We also leave comments and photos at each of our stops. This is how a community site can live. It is always a pity that some people use the application, but do not share their impressions.
As we sail most of the year, we are looking for comments on the site and its interest. We are less interested in information about the good restaurant with a view of the bay, even if we like to read it.
What features do you particularly like?
For some time now, the application has been integrating filters. It is always used, especially the wind filter. This allows you to display only those anchorages that will be protected from the next weather. It's really simple and so practical. Thank you, Navily.
And you book your ports with Navily?
Along the Italian coast, we used the reservation via Navily. Today we are in Greece and there are fewer ports accessible by the application.
We loved the function that allows us to make a reservation request in 6 different ports. As soon as the first reservation is confirmed, the other 5 are automatically cancelled. It's really convenient.
We also like the fact that we can cancel up to 14 hours before the scheduled arrival with no charge. This leaves a lot of room for manoeuvre in the event of a breakdown or bad weather.
Of course, booking with Navily has a small cost (10% of the price of the place), but being sure to have a place and enjoy your day to the full until sunset is well worth this small financial sacrifice.
What would you like to find as an improvement of this application?
Our first wish is to be able to consult Navily offline, without having a network. For the time being, it is mandatory to be connected to access information, and this is not always the case at sea.
And of course to have more and more anchorages and ports referenced. But this is up to the boaters to participate..
Today, would you sail without Navily?
In the Mediterranean waters we frequent, Navily really replaces the navigation guide. We still have one on board, but it is true that we open it less and less often. The reflex is to turn on the iPad to open Navily!
Navily In 2 words
Created in 2014 by 2 friends from the Nice region, Navily now has 57,000 registered users. These people have already referenced more than 10,000 anchorages with 20,000 recorded comments. For the moment these anchorages are concentrated in the Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain, Croatia and Greece), but the Atlantic and England are beginning to collect information.
If 1300 ports are listed, 300 ports are now partners (120 in France, 80 in Italy and 80 in Spain plus a few in Tunisia, Morocco and England). In these ports, it is possible to book your place in advance via the application and be sure to be welcomed.
The application is fully translated (Google translation), even the comments. Thus users read in their own language, the opinions of local people who share their experience. Port advisories are also widely used.
Navily has just completed a fundraising campaign that will give it the opportunity to accelerate its development, particularly to canvass new ports.
Navily is also working on a web version, accessible from her desktop computer to prepare her season and stopovers from home. This web version is expected to be released in the summer of 2018.
