The Waypoint Blog

I’ve Missed the Sea – Our Playlist

James - The Waypoint — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:01:24 +0000

Sometimes it seems that Sailing Music can only mean ol’ Sea Shanties or Jimmy Buffet, now I know there are a few gems in the oldies, such as the Beach Boys and the amazing Bob Dylan. I just wanted to give you guys an idea of what’s playing in The Waypoint office when we are missing the water and are pining for the season (any excuse! – read sunny weather) to start.

We’ve tried to keep the Playlist fresh and modern, however if you think we’re missing any gems or you want to suggest your own playlists for lazy summers on the boat, feel free to comment below. Just click the image or follow the link.

Play now – I’ve Missed the Sea, A Waypoint Playlist

If you’re having trouble getting this link to play,you probably need to download Spotify -It’s free and will change your life.

Boat Behind – Kings of Convenience

If I Had a Boat – James Vincent McMorrow

Wind In My Sails – Chase Coy

Crooked Mast – Vandaveer

The Boat – Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Sea Legs – The Shins

The Ship – Folks

Sailors – Foxes!

To The Sea – Jack Johnson

Ship Out On The Sea – The Be Good Tanyas

The Sea – Morcheeba

Sea Change – Turin Brakes

When the Ship Comes In – Bob Dylan

Waves, Waves, Waves – M83

Interesting new app – A review of Saild

JohnW - The Waypoint — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:43:27 +0000

Here at The Waypoint we’re always excited to discover other companies who are striving to challenge the great, but sometimes outdated traditions associated with boating. The Saild App is an online logbook which automatically stores and shares all of your boating trips through your smartphone. It avoids the timely and outdated routine of writing out paper logbooks and because it is stored electronically, makes it impossible to lose!

The new Saild App

Saild logs the distance and exact track of where you’ve been. It records the GPS path along with any photos, the wind speed range and any notes added and uploads them to your own online logbook – keeping the details and memories of your trip safe.

A Screenshot from Saild

An added bonus is the fact it will run in the background to any of your other sailing apps meaning that you can still look at charts, tides and book your marina online using The Waypoint. Saild is currently free to download from the app store and will be available on android phones in the very near future. Check out Saild.com and start logging your trips electronically today.

Online Marketing – Marinas read this before you spend another penny!

James - The Waypoint — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:31:50 +0000

We’re really shocked by how much money marinas waste on ineffectual online marketing. One marina we know of was paying a consultant £50 a month for a website report that is available from Google for free. Another was spending £800 per month ensuring they were top listed on a search engine when they would have been at the top without paying a penny anyway. We’re even aware of some marinas paying people who know nothing about their marina, or indeed the marine industry, to maintain a Facebook page. We recommend marinas exploit Social media, but it has to be maintained by someone very close to the operation of the marina.

Of course, these marinas aren’t deliberately wasting money it’s just that they’ve not been told how online advertising works. They’ve gone to experts who have chosen not to tell them how it works for their own commercial advantage. We’re not so naive to think that everyone has the same business ethics, but we think using a customer’s naivety or inexperience to milk them for all they’re worth is unacceptable – particularly at this very difficult time. So what can marinas do to protect themselves? We think the starting point is to do some basic research before speaking to anyone. Simply by having some background knowledge of online advertising they will find it easier to spot the people trying to baffle them with science and find an expert who wants to work with them to achieve their goals. To help marinas we’re letting them into the secret of email marketing here.

This award winning advert for BoatSales.com.au shows Online Marine Marketing done right.

Email marketing is free, easy and very effective.

In our experience marinas tend to be good at traditional one-to-one communication, but really struggle to grasp how the world has moved on in the last twenty years or so. For example, many people rarely send a letter now preferring the obvious convenience of an email. Regardless of age people are now using their computer to do just about everything from taxing their car to paying their bills. The trick here is to remember that online marketing is just another form of communication that people have to get used to – just as letter writers had to get used to the invention of the telephone.

It’s always been very difficult to access the cost effectiveness of traditional paper based advertising because you simply never really know how many people who might be interested in your services have seen your advert and how many of them are interested in what you have to say. In contrast an email advertising campaign can be far more focused. By using an email marketing tool such as Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com) or Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com) you can easily construct a professional email, see how many times your email was opened and by whom. You can even see if your email was forwarded on or mentioned on social media sites. If you’re saying something relevant to your target audience you won’t be accused of ‘spamming’ and if people don’t want to hear from you they can easily unsubscribe. We’ve found Mailchimp to be particularly good as it offers lots of useful tools and is free to join (providing you send less than 12,000 emails per month). It’s very easy to use, but they offer comprehensive training. Email marketing is very powerful as 74% of Internet users prefer emails over other forms of communication. It offers a great return on your investment. Think of it in terms of changing your advertising from a scatter gun approach to professional marksman.

So why should we let you in on the secret of effective email marketing when we could keep it to ourselves and charge you for boosting your business? Well, we want you to enjoy the Internet as much as we do! This is something Waypoint’s partners marinas are very aware of. They use us as both a sounding board and trusted partner. Our friendly down to earth advice is provided free to our partners. So if you have any questions or need to chat with a ‘Geek’, just give us a call:

Tel: 02380 488 744

Email: info@thewaypoint.com

The Waypoint are now on Google Plus!

JohnW - The Waypoint — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:53:19 +0000

We are now on the newly completed Google+. It’s simple, clear interface is a refreshing change from the clutter of other social media sites. Why not join us on our google plus page today? If your not yet on Google plus, you can always like us on our Facebook page. Both offer regular updates on what we’re up to, as well as our exclusive Waypoint discounts, the lastest sailing news, funny stories and photo’s!

Silvers Marine signs up!

JohnW - The Waypoint — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:39:21 +0000

We are very pleased to announce that Silvers Marine has become one of our latest marina partners. The second in Scotland and also one of the most historic.

The Marina is located on the Rosneath Peninsula and situated at the picturesque and sheltered Stroul Bay on the west shore of the Gareloch, Scotland. The marina boasts a comprehensive range of Marine services including GRP repairs, Carpentry, Rigging and Engineering workshops.

Now that they have signed up to The Waypoint, Why not explore Scotland on your next cruising holiday, now you can book online in advance!

10% Off at Chatham Marine

JohnW - The Waypoint — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:27:12 +0000

Use voucher code WP10 for 10% off your next Chatham Marine order.

One of our industry partners, Chatham Marine, are offering Waypoint members and our loyal Facebook/Google+ fans 10% off any full price product when bought online – via their website at www.chatham-marine.co.uk!

In the last few years they have grown into one of the country’s leading marine clothing and footwear brands. Quality, durability, marine aesthetics and performance all form an integral part of the Chatham product line.

Win a Berth at Sutton Harbour Marina!

JohnW - The Waypoint — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:26:17 +0000

Sutton Harbour Marina have created a competition to win free berthing for a year at their Marina for the 2012/2013 season! Starting in April 2012, the prize includes berthing fees for one year and full access to all of the marina’s newly completed facilities!

The competition is open to owners of mono-hull sailing or motor boats of up to 13 metres in length. The closing date for the competition is the 15th December 2011, head to their website and enter you details to be in with a change of winning!

All About – Portavadie Marina

JohnW - The Waypoint — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:00:05 +0000

This week Portavadie Marina became our latest partner to join us at The Waypoint. Located on the eastern shores of Loch Fyne, Scotland – this 230 berth marina is secluded in the Highlands of Argyll. With state of the art facilities and award winning quality this marina offers fantastic services with breathtaking views over the Loch.

Portavadie Marina’s facilities are second to none and you will find everything you’ll ever need on-site. 24-hour toilets and showers, including a luxurious bath and family showering facilities are available, as well as Wi-Fi, fuel, gas, water and electricity supplied to every non-tidal berth.

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If you fancy a break from boating the award winning restaurant and bar with panoramic views over the loch is the place to be. The food served is all sourced locally and is as fresh as possible, with deliveries to the kitchen daily.

Here’s what EatScotland had to say:

“Set in a beautiful part of the Cowal Peninsula, this striking building houses a welcoming bar and restaurant, overlooking the adjacent marina. The delicious menu incorporates much locally sourced produce, freshly prepared and presented in interesting yet recognisable form. Portions are hearty and children are encouraged to sample from the main selection.”

Facilities & Services:

230 fully serviced pontoon berths with 240v power, water and lighting. Electricity supplies are controlled by a metered system on a pay as you go basis.

Wi-Fi is available marina-wide. You can check emails, upload holiday snaps, book your next berth on The Waypoint and browse the web from the comfort of your boat.

The Marina maintains stocks of calor gas for resale.

Portavadie has a 12 tonne lift (max 4.5m beam) and a telehandler available for masts etc. There is an area for storage ashore with cradle rental also available. Power and water is available throughout the yard.

The Marina has 24hr access to the toilets and showers. There is a family bathroom available for families with younger children or those simply wishing to relax in the large bath. The laundry room is located within the toilet and shower block and the machines are token operated.

For the visiting boat owner there is a wide range of basic provisions including fresh milk, bread and daily newspapers. There is also a well stocked chandlery offering everything from waterproof and shore wear garments to specialist items such as fittings and charts.

TransEurope Marinas

James - The Waypoint — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:02:44 +0000

We keep hearing great things about TransEurope Marinas from boat owners and marinas alike. And a little digging around shows that 6 of our partner marinas are TransEurope members also. So ‘what is TransEurope Marinas?’, I hear you ask and ‘what’s in it for me?’ Good question, let’s take a look…

TransEurope Marinas is the largest network of marinas in Europe, consisting of 47 outstanding members, from the Scottish highlands, through to the Channel and right down to the Mediterranean. Each marina prides itself on high levels of customer care and attention to detail. However, the real reason we have made a special feature of the group in this month’s newsletter is to let you know about the great deal on offer to boatowners.

If you are an annual berth holder at a TransEurope Marina you are automatically a member of the scheme for free, and will receive a 50% berthing discount at any member marina for up to 5 consecutive nights in a year*. In fact, one wily sailor decided to make the most of his membership one year and spent a whopping 120 days at sea in one go only ever stopping at TransEurope locations paying only half the usual visitors’ mooring fees.

If you are interested in finding out more about this offer, why not call or email us and we can put you in touch with one of our partners listed below

To see who else is a TransEurope Marina member click here or get their latest PDF newsletter here

Sailing Almanac – The free portable alternative

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:48:57 +0000

Imagine having a complete yachting solution that can be kept in your pocket and viewed in the palm of your hand at any time. Well, here it is in the form of SailingAlmanac.com – a portable Almanac for all touch screen mobile phones and notepads and available across all platforms – including iphone and Android. Furthermore, its absolutely FREE! SailingAlmanac is not an App, it’s a micro-web site which looks and behaves like an App and it uses the mobile’s own web browsing software. This means there’re no downloads, no updates to chase after and the Almanac wont take up any valuable storage space on your mobile. All you need to access the Almanac is a WiFi or mobile data roaming network, like 3G. This guarantees that you have the latest and most up-to-date information the moment you access the service.

SailingAlmanac.com has three key components; An Almanac covering the coastal waters of the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Europe from Ushant to the Hook of Holland, A comprehensive Marina Guide for visiting yachtsmen, and a Nautical Events Diary.

The Almanac features a 4 day weather forecast, a seven day window of local tides and the top 50 passage plans around the UK coast with charts, waypoints, courses to steer, distances to run, and buoyage plans. More importantly SailingAlmanac is in tune with every National Maritime Agency and Local Harbour Authority to provide the very latest Navigation News. If a light is being downgraded, or if there’s a defective Nav Aid somewhere, or if a buoy has been moved, or if a survey has revealed some recent shoal water, then SailingAlmanac will bring the latest information to Yachtsmen as it happens. Additional features includes an online First Aid Guide, an Engine Fault Finder, VHF Radio Guide, NavTex, CEVNI Regs, List of Port Radio Stations, Coastal Weather Reports from Coast Guard Stations, and much more.

The visitor’s Marina Guide covers all 387 marinas in the UK. The guide includes detailed marina plans which locates the visitor’s berths all the facilities on the marina campus. In addition it features the overnight berthing charges and the pilotage notes into the marina. Each marina has a detailed narrative, which covers where to eat, what to do and what to see and If the marina appeals to you, then booking your berth is a mere touch of the button away with an instant hot-key access to the marina office by email or by phone.

The Events Diary covers all nautical events like; National and International Boat Shows, Used Boat Shows, Boat Jumbles, Cruising Rallies and the major Regattas across the country.