- Sailor: Tim (“Skidoozer”)
- Region: British Virgin Islands
- Sailing Frequency: Primarily during the sailing season
- Favourite SailTies Feature: “Having all of my training and experience in one place.”
- Plan: SailTies Plus (Voyage recording & advanced stats)
A New Sailor With Big Ambitions
When Tim began his journey into sailing, he knew he wanted more than just occasional days on the water. He was investing in formal training, working through RYA courses, completing NauticEd’s Bareboat Charter Master program, and steadily building the experience needed to become a confident, independent skipper.
But like so many new sailors, Tim faced a challenge:
“How do I keep all my training, logged miles, and experience in one place — in a way that’s easy to share and recognised by charter companies?”
That question ultimately led him to SailTies.
Challenge: Organising Experience & Proving Competence
Sailors know that proving competence is more than just having a certificate. Charter companies want to see:
- Logged miles
- Varied weather conditions
- Night passages
- Skipper experience
- Training history
Tim needed a single place where all of this could live and be taken seriously.
Before SailTies, this meant piecing together screenshots, paper logbooks, emails, and course certificates. It was messy and unreliable.
Solution: A Seamless Digital Sailing Resume
SailTies gave Tim exactly what he needed.
“For the convenience of having all of my training and experience in one place and easy to bring up and print.”
Every voyage logged in SailTies automatically added to his sailing resume, complete with:
- GPS tracks
- Weather & conditions
- Distances
- Speed profiles
- Vessel type
- Crew
- Skipper role
This wasn’t just a logbook.
It was credible evidence of competency and charter companies noticed.
The Breakthrough Moment: Chartering a Catamaran in the BVIs
Summer 2025 became the turning point.
Tim chartered a catamaran from The Moorings in the British Virgin Islands — an iconic cruising ground.
When the charter company reviewed his sailing resume, they were impressed.
“They accepted my resume which I pulled up from SailTies and said I was proficient enough to do a bareboat charter.”
For a relatively new sailor, this was a huge achievement.
SailTies didn’t just track his sailing.
It unlocked a life goal.
Impact: Confidence, Safety & Smarter Decision-Making
Tim uses SailTies not just for logging, but for personal growth:
- Understanding past weather and conditions
- Seeing where he’s sailed
- Knowing his limits
- Planning future routes
- Reflecting on progress
“I can refer back to my voyages to know what my limitations are at this point.”
He tracks every voyage because it makes him a safer, more thoughtful skipper.
And even when he’s not sailing?
“I depend on it almost on a daily basis just to look back at past experience.”
Time Saved, Confidence Gained
As a student sailor working hard toward certification, recording everything manually would be overwhelming.
SailTies gives him hours back:
“Its ease of use is fantastic, recording a track is fantastic and saves me a lot of time at the end of the day.”
Everything is automatic.
Everything is saved.
Everything counts toward his experience.
Proof of Value: A Future Catamaran Owner
Tim has a long-term dream:
owning his own catamaran.
And SailTies supports that dream too:
“Someday I hope to own my own catamaran, and I am told that with my resume all in one place my insurance will be a lot cheaper.”
This is one of the most powerful outcomes we’ve ever seen:
SailTies doesn’t just track voyages, it can literally reduce the cost of boat ownership.
Loyalty: A User Who Never Wants to Lose the App
Some of the most moving feedback came when we asked how Chris would feel if SailTies disappeared:
“Very disappointed. I depend on it almost daily…
It would be horrible to have to search around to find another app.”
He recently upgraded to SailTies Premium because the app has become essential to his sailing journey.
Looking Ahead
Chris may still describe himself as “new at this,” but his ambitions are big — and SailTies will continue to grow with him.
“SailTies meets all of my needs. It’s up to you guys to let me know about improvements from people with a lot more experience than myself.”
From student sailor
→ to charter skipper
→ to future catamaran owner
→ all supported by SailTies.
Tim’s story perfectly captures what SailTies is built for:
✔ helping sailors grow
✔ building confidence and competence
✔ opening doors to chartering
✔ organising experience into a recognised resume
✔ making sailing safer, easier, and more meaningful
Tim’s journey is proof that SailTies doesn’t just log voyages, it unlocks opportunities.
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