Ibiza Sunset Experience - Creating Memories.

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is located The Spanish island of Ibiza, which belongs to the Balearic Islands.

Although the island is best known for its non-stop nightlife, bars and clubs, Ibiza has much more to offer than discos and alcoholic drinks! One of the best ways to discover the other side of Ibiza is by boat!

A (sustainable) boat trip, should definitely be on your list when visiting Ibiza.

The "We are on a Boat" team had the opportunity to experience in person a magical sunset boat experience hosted by La Bella Verde.

The catamarans of La Bella Verde are truly eco-friendly. The main benefits of these solar/electric boats using a Torqedo battery are the lack of smell of gasoline and a silent calm experience.

Allowing to rest our brain, hearing only the sound of the blue transparent water at our feets, without disturb the natural environment, neither our inner peace. Enjoyable, the charm of slowlyness.

The friendly Captain Luis managed the boat elegantly, moving it using the simple natural resources Mother Nature has to offer, wind and Sun, providing an hybrid experience.

From San Antonio we navigated along the coast of Cala Salada towards Platja de Sa Galera.

A spectacular piece of nature, located between San Antonio and Cala Salada: a bay formed by high cliffs with large, flat rock formations below. A lovely spot because of the breathtaking view and… the sunset .

From the boat you could see the small houses previously used by fishermen and beautiful rocks forming a magic hole, revealing the sky on the other side of the mountain.

This is also where ( Alex the caveman ) lives in a cave. He normally welcomes his guests with tea and beer.

The Boat tour finished with the sunset ritual where we could hear and see from the water everyone clapping at cafe Del Mar. The great sound system on board added an extra layer of melody.

Truly wonderful, watching the sun sink into the sea.

If you want to experience it by your yourself you can simply book the boat on our sustainable boating platform

Amsterdam Light Festival on a Boat

Every year the beautiful canals of Amsterdam light up for a brightening event when the nights get longer and the cold starts to settle in our days. It is then time for the Amsterdam Light Festival - a long route across the city full of art pieces and installations where light is the primary material. Its lack of materiality though, that of light that is, makes the challenge even more interesting for the artists participating. The solutions presented are often awe inspiring and talented at capturing such immaterial nature. 

In old pagan Northern Europe many traditions used fire in different ways during the dark and long months of the year as a reminder of the dorment life to be birth by the Winter, with the coming of Spring. The most obvious survivor of such traditions are city decorations during Christmas time. The Amsterdam Light Festival can be thought of as a contemporary take on it that mixes tradition, contemporary art and lightening techniques inviting us out of our winter burrows into the illuminated night.

Even though the route can be taken afoot there is no comparison to enjoying it during a boat ride. This is most certainly where you will have an immersive experience of the art installations as you pass them by and feel the light around you. It has become a tradition for us at “We are on a Boat” to organize a sustainable tour during this event, but this year we are even more invested in it as the festival theme, “Disrupt!” calls attention to the issues at the heart of our mission. It invites us to think not only about the dangerous aspects of sudden disturbances to our environment but also about ways of disrupting the status quo and changing ways of doing things. 

We are very excited to see what all the different artists have come up with inspired by this years’ theme and would love to welcome you on board to share the moment and reflect together. So come along on the 7th of December, 5pm and bring your friends and family! Tickets are available here and will have a surge in price soon, so be quick!  

Bring your gloves and Gluhwein and get on board!

Interested to list or book
a sustainable boat?

We are on a Boat organises an AI Design Sprint networking event on a boat during Amsterdam's World Summit AI

Artificial Intelligence is the word on the street. For good or for bad, it is here to stay. At We are on a Boat we believe that keeping up with technology advancement is half way walked towards making sure innovation serves humanity’s sustainable and fair development, as well as the future of the planet.

That’s why we didn’t want to miss this growing event happening at our step door. The World Summit AI Amsterdam is a young conference but already an established one in the field. In its third year, it presents itself as the world’s leading summit and offers a world class programme covering all the major and most interesting issues in the field. From education to space exploration you will definitely exponentially grow your AI knowledge during next week’s many events. Check the full menu here!

And because we are immensely excited and curious about the possible applications of AI for the sustainable boating and sustainable mobility fields, we are not only attending the summit but also promoting a networking event on a boat, that will transport participants from the location of the summit in Zaandam to the centre of Amsterdam.

During the ride there will also be a short introduction by the Human Future Design team to AI Design Sprints and the AI Card Deck Tool - developed by AI design firm 33A (33A.ai).

So don’t miss this opportunity to connect, pump up your sustainable travelling, and get acquainted with this innovative design tool.

There are limited places available. Book your ticket now!

Disclaimer: This is not an official event of World Summit AI.

Interested to list or book
a sustainable boat?

Greta’s Atlantic crossover - an example of courage and commitment

Greta Thunberg is one of our personal heroes. How can we all but admire her efforts to bring climate change issues to the foreground and put pressure on world leaders and governments? That is exactly what she intends to do on the next UN Climate Action Summit on the 23rd of September in New York. And to be consistent with her fight for a cleaner environment, she did not cross the ocean on a plane, but on a Sailing Boat. 

The crew of the Malizia II, a high-tech Yacht capable of also generating energy through solar panels and underwater turbines, has offered to transport Greta across the Atlantic that was estimated to take around two weeks. As winds were favourable, they made it in 14 days. They departed from Plymouth - UK on the 14th of August and arrived in New York yesterday, the 28th. From here Greta will later travel through other means of low-carbon transportation, to the Climate Change Conference in Santiago, Chile, in December.

On a Facebook post announcing her trip she reminded us of the urgency of acts like these: 

“The science is clear. We must start bending the emissions curve steeply downwards no later than 2020, if we still are to have a chance of staying below a 1,5 degrees of global temperature rise. We still have a window of time when things are in our own hands. But that window is closing fast. That is why I have decided to make this trip now. During the past year, millions of young people have raised their voice to make world leaders wake up to the climate and ecological crisis. Over the next months, the events in New York and Santiago de Chile will show if they have listened. Together with many other young people across the Americas and the world, I will be there, even if the journey will be long and challenging. We will make our voices heard. It is our future on the line, and we must at least have a say in it. The science is clear and all we children are doing is communicating and acting on that united science. And our demand is for the world to unite behind the science.”

And she is so right, the time to act, change habits and find new ways of living in harmony with the planet is now. Lets all try and do our part.

For now we salute all the crew for their amazing trip and safe arrival, and Greta in particular on her incredible work, courage and commitment on protecting our future. Wishing her all the luck for the coming challenges! 

Interested to list or book a sustainable boat? Please visit: www.weareonaboat.com

Join We are on a Boat for our closing summer, poetry boating event in the canals of Amsterdam! →

Lounging around on boats in the sun: relaxing.

Being read poetry on a Summer’s day: also very relaxing.

Combine the two and we’ve got ourselves a dreamscape of a day!

If you love poetry and the environment, join us on September 1st (Sunday), 4pm as we cruise the historic Amsterdam canals and read selected works of poetry spanning the last 200 years.

Poems being read will include works by: Shakespeare, Byron, Edgar Allen Poe, Carol Ann Duffy, Wiliam Blake, Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Seamus Heaney, Sylvia Plath, and Maya Angelou.

This will all take place on an eco boat provided by weareonaboat.com. Reserve your ticket here.

Our poetry reader, Carmen Guillen, is a local writer and poet, originally from London. Having crossed the North sea on her houseboat four years ago, Carmen is fond of nautical works and poems that explore the natural world. Having worked for two national newspapers across three continents, she is interested in how literature is changing as globalisation blends cultures, languages, and geographical boundaries. In the daylight hours, Carmen is Editor in Chief for Unfold, an online magazine for professional communicators.

We look forward to seeing you there, poetry lovers!
For precise location and further details check We are on a Boat Facebook page.

And for a chance to win a free ride, get your inspiration juices going and show us your poems! You have until midnight on the 30th of August and you need to post them on the comments section of this promo post on the We are on a Boat Facebook page. The best two poems will get a free ticket!

Interested to list or book a sustainable boat? Please visit: www.weareonaboat.com

Dreaming of a late summer trip to the Algarve? Explore its waters on an eco-friendly boat!

Are you getting nostalgic about the approaching end of Summer? Already looking back on the endless afternoons and golden scents of warmth? Or maybe you (like me) live in the north of Europe and did not even have a proper Summer as such? Even if you are reading this from the other side of the globe and just want to cut your Winter short; You should definitely visit this southern european gem of a region - the Algarve.  

We are on a Boat, on its mission to help you enjoy our oceans on a sustainable way, provides you with a platform where you can book eco-friendly boats and experiences in different locations of those beautiful southern-Atlantic waters. As a born and raised “Algarvia” myself, let me introduce them to you:

In Portimão, to the western side of the region and where you can find golden cliffs and transparent blue waters, you should definitely take some time to also check the beautiful river “Arade”. Home for hundreds of diverse flora and fauna species, this marshland ecosystem has always held an important role for the local populations, entangling its beautiful landscape in the region’s history and identity. Departing from the “Marina de Portimão” you can yourself experience it without intruding on the natural balance, by booking one of Algarve Sun Boat Trips rental options. This local company, with a fleet of solar boats made in Algarve, is invested in providing you with an unforgettable and zero polluting impact experience. You can choose from their three listings: a sunset party tour, a private half day trip, or a one hour tour;

More to the center of the Algarve, departing from the famous fishermen town of Albufeira, you can book the luxurious catamaran Lagoon 42

for an entire week of sailing along the coast with your family or group of friends. This spacious vessel hosts up to 16 people in its 3 cabins and has all the commodities you could wish for. If you are lucky enough you can maybe even be visited by one of the groups of dolphins who are often spotted playing in these waters. The Lagoon 42 is the perfect option for the sailing aficionados who want to visit the Algarve from coast to coast while minimizing their CO2 impact! 

If on the other hand you are heading for a short trip and choose to visit the Sotavento - the eastern side of Algarve - Tavira is then the place to rent your eco-boat. Another estuary city, it is also one of the several municipalities in the region where the Ria Formosa - a vast wetland and protected natural park - spreads into. Considered a paradise for birdwatchers, it is an important stop for many species en route on their Europe-Africa annual migration flights. And what better way to explore such rich diversity than with Solar Moves? This strongly environmentally conscious company uses solar powered boats (yes! The same made in Algarve ones!) to guide you through the natural and cultural history of the Ria Formosa and offers six different rental options for interesting and informative tours around Tavira, but can also accommodate to your own preferences.   

So you are set! Just choose your preferred eco-friendly boat trip on www.weareonaboat.com and treat yourself to an endless summer experience in warm Algarve, knowing that you will not be disturbing its important natural ecosystems and sustainably get involved with the magic of its culture and people!
(And yes, I am shamelessly biased here 😉) 

Interested to list or book a sustainable boat? Please visit: www.weareonaboat.com

We are on a Boat speaking at HISWA about Sustainable Boating

By Hiswa Amsterdam Boat Show
Donderdag 7 maart was het tijd voor de HISWA Young Professionals Day. Een geslaagde dag met zo'n 100 studenten, interessante insights, toffe challenges en natuurlijk goede gesprekken! 👍Bedankt De Voogt Naval Architects/Feadship, Young Maritime Representative, Sea Going Green, 

 Searious Business, We are on a boat en onze moderators van de dag Kalle Coster & Gunnar Larsen! En natuurlijk alle studenten voor jullie aanwezigheid en enthousiasme. 

PS. Meer weten over het programma van afgelopen editie? Ga naar www.hiswarai.nl/ypd

Watch the video recap. 👇

Interested to list or book a sustainable boat? Please visit: www.weareonaboat.com

Sustainable Tourism through Sustainable Boating

Meet Ally, Sea Going Green's Founder: https://www.seagoinggreen.org

The Importance of Sustainable Tourism?

I have two quotes that describe the importance of sustainable tourism in my opinion which are “ The future will either be green or not at all - Bob Brown”, and one that we always say which is that a destination ultimately loses its profitability when it loses its beauty.

What is sustainable tourism?

Imagine diving in the great barrier reef.. Without the reef. Unfortunately, this is the path that we are on as 75% of the world’s coral reefs are projected to die by 2050. The tourism industry is one of the factors contributing to the degradation of the marine environment by overcrowding and polluting the environment. This is why sustainable tourism is the direction that the tourism industry needs to adjust its aim to. Having tourists visit a destination only leaving behind a positive impact on the society, economy and environment without an environmentally harmful footprint is the mission of sustainable tourism.

The United Nations World Travel Organization named “2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism For Development” and subsequently promoted the role of tourism  in the following five key areas:

(1) Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
(2) Social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction
(3) Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change
(4) Cultural values, diversity and heritage
(5) Mutual understanding, peace and security.

Sea Going Green is committed to the environmental impact of the tourism industry by  promoting sustainable tourism through protecting the integrity of the oceans using the power of the tourism industry. We are empowering tourism operators that are dependent on the marine environment and its biodiversity to take action and protect the natural assets and resources that attract visitors.

The tourism industry has the power to be a catalyst for sustainable use of the natural environment. It is also a rapidly growing industry, with international tourist arrivals reaching 1,184 million in 2015. This figure is predicted to reach 1.8 billion by 2030.

The tourism industry already accounts for 10% of the world's GDP; the business volume equals that of oil exports or ‎food products. It is responsible for 2,000,000 jobs: one in every eleven jobs on the planet as well as representing one of the main income ‎sources for many developing countries.

What does SGG do? 

Sea Going Green promotes sustainable tourism through sustainable business. Our mission is to alleviate the negative impacts tourism has on marine environments by offering consulting services to implement sustainable practices into their operations without hindering customer experience. As research shows, 73% of Millennials and generation Z travelers are more likely to pay for sustainability and actually expect companies to take action to improve environmental factors. Tourism can cause harm, but doesn’t necessarily have to. It is in the tourism industry’s best interest to conserve the environment as a destination ultimately loses its profitability when it loses its beauty.  

Sea Going Green develops and implements Green Transition Strategies for tourism operators that want to #GoGreenForTheBigBlue.Within the Green Transition Strategy is an environmental impact assessment, sustainable marine tourism plan, and best practices report. We develop strategies for tourism operators to qualify for relevant green awards and certificates which is a way for their achievements to be recognised. We also provide training and capacity development to promote ecological awareness and the value of responsible marine tourism throughout the tourism companies. This helps to strengthen and maintain knowledge, skills and experience set to achieve more sustainable tourism. We encourage tourism operators to contribute to the local economies of the countries they visit and to incorporate local communities.

Why did you start SGG?

As I have been travelling since I was 1 years old I have seen the negative impact of the tourism industry on the marine environment and was searching for a way to face this challenge head on. After working in the tourism industry for 5 years and while studying and working in the marine biology field over 5 years I wanted to find a way to marry my two passions together. Upon the announcement of 2017 being the United Nations World Travel Organization’s Year for Sustainable Tourism, I began to think about how I would promote sustainable tourism. This is how Sea Going Green was founded. I wanted to consult in an environment that I was familiar with and had the desire to make an environmental impact on the marine environment. Diving off of the coasts of Curacao, Thailand, Indonesia and the Netherlands and working as destination staff for one of the largest group tourism companies in Canada coupled with my marine biologist expertise is what drives my commitment towards #sustainabletourism.

Can you describe a typical work day for you @ SGG?

Truthfully every day is different in a start up , but our team is growing so we have a bit more of a routine now. We are based at Merkspace in the center of Amsterdam so we start our work week with a team meeting to set the intentions of the week and then I focus on customer acquisition and proposals in the morning which means a lot of emails, and in the afternoons I focus on current projects we are doing and meeting with potential partners and clients. At the end of the week we always have a debrief meeting with the team to talk about how the week went and end our friday afternoon with a typical dutch vrijmibo!

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

Going from a marine biologist to entrepreneur was definitely a difficult learning curve, but with the help of the ACE (Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship) accelerator program I have been able to make the transition. Additionally, building a team around me with different skills and backgrounds who still share the same mission to #GoGreenForTheBigBlue has been a major contributor to all of our current traction. A challenge that I have had to overcome is selectively picking the right people for our team as the right team member can accelerate your growth, but the opposite can really slow you down especially at the beginning of a startup - being an entrepreneur is not for everyone. Another challenge is working completely bootstrapped without external funding, thankfully this only lasted the first 9 months!  We have also recently launched our blog platform as we also want to advocate for ocean conservation as well as consult tourism companies to get 1 million tourists to #GoGreenForTheBigBlue by 2020.

Check out Ally's interview of We are on a Boat's Founder Tiago Varandas on their blog https://www.seagoinggreen.org/blog/seagoinggreenxweareonaboat

Soel Yachts - The Tesla of Solar electric boats launches SoelCat12

The future of coastal water boating is electric

Looking at the global trends and developments towards clean and environment friendly innovations, alternatives like solar electric propelled vessels could have the biggest growth potential in the near future! Although there seems to be enough awareness for electric alternatives in the automotive industry, the market of electric propelled vessels seems very much in its infancy.

The lack of real working alternatives for saltwater operations might have been the main reason why cities like Sydney, so far, have refrained from changing towards solar electric boats and ferries. For islands like Fiji, where boat transportation is the largest energy consumer with 58% compared to cars, buses and airplanes, sustainable alternatives on the water could have an enormous impact in the future. (Becken 2004)

A sustainable solution born in New Zealand

The Dutch company Soel Yachts is determined to change the boating industry by addressing sustainable sea transportation. Together with their partner Naval DC, Soel Yachts puts their 11 years of solar electric naval architecture experience into the SoelCat 12, a fully sustainable vessel proven for saltwater operations.

This week the solar electric 16-person catamaran, built in New Zealand, will be launched in Auckland. Energy autonomous and ready for all water taxi services, dive operations and reef excursions, “the SoelCat 12 reduces all disturbing sound and CO2 emissions in our harbours, lagoons and oceans”, proudly emphasises Joep Koster, co-founder of Soel Yachts.

Smart integration for higher performances

Soel Yachts believes that a solar electric boat needs to be an equally workable solution, addressing efficiency and performance. The SoelCat 12 therefore fits its purpose, or better said: it is designed for it in every single aspect. From the highly efficient hull lines to the matched and turnkey integrated solar electric propulsion system. It is basically the same approach Tesla is using for its cars: “one cannot just take any existing hull shape, add an electric motor and hope that it achieves a range of 150nm.” David Czap, the system integrator explains: “efficient electric propulsion requires an entirely different approach from nowadays technologies and practices. Therefore, all our vessels are integrally designed from start to finish for and with electric propulsion and the specific duty cycle in mind.”

With an installed battery capacity of 2 x 60 kWh, the SoelCat 12 standard operational profile is set to a cruising speed of 8 knots with a range of 6 hours solely running on battery power and a maximum speed of 14 knots. Once the sun starts to shine the vessel’s cruising speed of 8 knots is prolonged to 7.5 hours. Lowering the speed to the so-called ‘break-even speed’ at 6 knots results in a 24-hour range and this is even throughout the night when there is no energy harvest from the solar array.

Power your house with the SoelCat 12

During downtime, the vessel turns into a mobile power station, which is able to supply up to 15kVA for land based facilities. This means that solar catamaran is capable of providing energy for up to five households, even at the most remote places. For the first time communities in the Pacific, nature reserves and water bound resort can turn into self-sufficient eco-destinations, producing their own clean energy on the water and even use it on the land.

Monitor the SoelCat 12 with your iPad

Providing the passengers with a simple and easy to understand real time insight into the SoelCat 12’s systems is very important to Soel Yachts and Naval DC. The Naval UI monitoring, alarm & control system keeps all passengers on board informed about the most important system data, which makes the energy flows on board really easy to understand (just like in a Tesla) and thus educates people to drive the vessel more energy aware. All it takes is to connect your smart device (iPhone, iPad) to the SoelCat 12’s guest Wi-Fi. And while the captain can control the lights and various other systems via the Naval UI, guests on board are invited to connect with their smartphone to the vessel’s sound system and play their favourite music, wirelessly. The Naval UI also provides remote monitoring capabilities, so Naval DC can assist in providing system services, remotely.

Transportation made easy

The SoelCat 12 is the first viable solution for solar electric sailing available for a worldwide market. Engineered and designed as a smart modular vessel, the solar electric yacht can be disassembled and transported to any location at very low rates via two 40ft containers. This vessel not only allows for quieter, more pleasant rides and tours, it also provides comfort and higher speeds, without having to make any compromises on board!

Free test drives in Auckland

Join the experience and register now with Soel Yachts for test drives in Auckland. On Sunday, June 25th the SoelCat 12 will be open for the public to come on board in the Viaduct Harbour to join the crew for a free solar electric cruise between 11am and 2pm! 

More information can be found on www.soelyachts.com or on the Facebook event page.

If you are not in Auckland NZ or cannot make it on June 25th, don't worry, you can always rent an eco-friendly boat or yacht through our newish boat rental platform: weareonaboat.com

Rent eco-friendly boats. Electric, wind or solar-powered.

4 years ago we naively launched our boat sharing app to match people who would like to be on a boat with people who are willing to share their boat. Since then we have been building a community of boating enthusiasts. We have been relying on Social Captains that occasionally shared their boats in exchange of a simple smile, a draw, a hug, drinks and snacks, a good story, a new friend, a bottle of wine, etc.

It all started in Amsterdam, but the app is being used all over the world, with more then 10 000 app downloads from 100 different countries. We saw boats being shared in Amsterdam, Denmark, Italy, Toronto, U.S., New Zealand, Japan and counting..

With the rise of the collaborative economy became easier then ever to get on a boat. Any boat. In some way is great to see our canals, rivers and oceans full of boats. But at the same time, the more motor boats we have on the water, more polluted it becomes. 

Luckily, there are alternatives to motor boats, but for some reason they are not having the attention they deserve.

Therefore, we are on a mission to promote the rental of eco-friendly boats & yachts. Electric, wind or solar-powered, with our new marketplace.
And also promote ecotourism experiences such as Dolphins & Bird watching, etc.

Triggered by the issue of global warming we want to contribute towards a healthier and eco-friendly planet.

By renting 100% green boats, we aim to eliminate fuel costs/noise/smell and exhaust fumes. 
We want to give people the opportunity to experience sustainable technology hands on. 
We can all have fun without harming the environment. Calmness, that’s what we all need.

Furthermore, if all the boats on Amsterdam canals would have a solar panel, they could generate enough energy for all the city and respective homes. We can do this.

We also want to keep motivating people to share their boats with our boat sharing app, iOS & Android. Making new friends while reducing the boat rental costs.

We dream a future where we can swim everywhere. Dive in from the boat whenever we feel like, without healthy concerns due to a polluted water.

We dream a future where we empower independent solar boat makers to rent their own solar boats, allowing these independent creators to have funds to invest in more and better eco boats, creating at the same time awareness to this matter. Would also motivate people to buy solar boats, or help the ones who have motor boats to convert them into electric.

We dream a future where the people who rent solar boats, can also share the empty places they might have through a simple app, reducing the rental costs, reducing the number of boats in the canals, and at the same time meeting other people outside their social circle, maybe people with different cultures, different believes, etc.

These human interaction would naturally spark new personal relations, new innovative ideas, etc. 
All in all a better understanding between a diverse community, and a better understanding towards environmental issues.

Finally, we will contribute with part of our funds to organisations we admire and have a meaningful purpose of keeping our waters safe and clean such as Ocean Cleanup, Plastic Whale, Boat refugee foundation, and others..

Here, to a sustainable future. Let’s make the world great again.

List your eco boat. Rent an eco boat. Share your boat. iOS & Android.
 

Amsterdam Light Festival

Brighten up the darkest days
Winter in Amsterdam. It probably makes you think of early sunsets and cold nights. The perfect time to stay inside and snuggle up on the couch. We hear you. But what a shame it would be to miss out on this year’s Amsterdam Light Festival! This event is the best reason to get out the house and into the city. Take our word for it. More than 35  breathtaking installations of light will illuminate the city for over 50 days in a row. This spectacle of art and light will put the entire city under a cozy spell once again. Come and see for yourself.

Get on a boat
The best way to enjoy the illuminated scenes is from the water. No doubt about it. All the mesmerizing lights are magnified by the water’s reflection. Float through the Amsterdam canals while gazing at the illuminated artworks all around you. The Water Colors Cruise allows  you to soak up  the sights from up close.

Water Colors Cruises
* The Water Colors Cruise, takes you past, underneath and even through numerous  works of art. An unforgettable experience for young and old!
* Don’t feel like waiting in line? Make a reservation for the Water Colors – Fast Track on your preferred date and time. You’ll enjoy the same beautiful cruise, without having to queue up!
* The Water Colors – Premium combines cruising through the Amsterdam Light Festival with a delicious wintery drink and a warm snack.
* Looking for a more intimate experience? Reserve a spot on the Water Colors - Open Boat. This tour also allows you to take the best pictures!

Festival dates
You can experience the Amsterdam Light Festival from December 1st to January 22nd. So save the date, order your tickets and get off the couch! There will be frequent cruise departures every day, with the exception of New Year’s Eve.

Ocean Cleanup Prototype

For those who don’t know Ocean Cleanup is a genius idea of removing all the plastic from the ocean using natural currents, by a Young Dutch Entrepreneur named Boyan Slat. 

Why move through the ocean, if the ocean can move through you? 

Ocean garbage patches are vast but dispersed. By acting like an artificial coastline, their array passively concentrates the plastic by orders of magnitude, 100% powered by natural ocean currents.

The Ocean Cleanup has deployed a 100 meter-long barrier segment in the North Sea, 23 km off the coast of The Netherlands, where it will remain for one year. Is the first time their barrier design is being put to the test in open waters.

OBJECTIVE
The prototype will show how The Ocean Cleanup’s floating barrier fares in extreme weather at sea – the kind of conditions the system will eventually face when deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The Ocean Cleanup’s technology makes use of long floating barriers which act as an artificial coastline, passively catching and concentrating ocean debris, powered by the ocean’s natural currents. Because the barriers are at the surface of the ocean, it will be subjected to the most extreme conditions, and hence it’s of paramount importance to test the barriers in those conditions.  

THE PROTOTYPE
To investigate the survivability of the design, they deployed a full-scale barrier segment in the North Sea.

At this test site, conditions during a minor storm are more severe than those in exceptionally heavy storms (occurring once every 100 years) in the Pacific Ocean.

Sensors will track every motion of the prototype and the loads it is subjected to. The data gathered will enable engineers to develop a system fully resistant to severe conditions during the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

ITERATING TOWARDS EXECUTION
When they discover something on the prototype has malfunctioned or is broken, the part would be adjusted. If that new design solves the problem, the design has advanced, and if not, something else will be tested.

This is how they will iteratively get to a design they believe is suitable for the 2017 Pilot installation, and ultimately, for the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 2020.

Learn more here: www.theoceancleanup.com

Web Summit Dublin

We were selected for the Startup Alpha Program at Web Summit, with our boat sharing app. If you are one of the amazing 

attendees say Ahoy! beforehand, so we can have some human interaction in Dublin. 

Endless Sumer. App now available on Google Play

Endless Summer. Yes, is always summer somewhere in the world, therefore we launched the Android version for your download on Google Play

Let's keep enjoying boat rides while making new friends. Ahoy. Have fun.

Ahoy, support us on Kickstarter.

Ahoy, it’s time for an overview. Amazing things happened since the launch.

We were honoured with a FWA Mobile, covered by media like Het Parool and Amsterdam FM and featured on a few important blogs like Swiss Miss, 36KR, Euroman.dk, City is Yours, Pop up City, and Wired saying: “This P2P boat sharing app is rudely brilliant”.

Most recently we were selected for the Startup Alpha Program at Summit Dublin in November.

But most important, dozens of boats were already shared in Amsterdam, and some others in Denmark, Toronto and U.S.
 

We discovered good people out there willing to share their boat with new friends. They are the pioneers. For that we thank you, social captains.

We are still in the very beginning of our journey. We are on a mission to make this pleasant experience a bit more accessible. We truly believe boating could be enjoyed by everybody living in this Blue Planet.

If you like this initiative and want to contribute to the development of the iOS app and the upcoming Android version, support us on kickstarter. Great rewards for your choice. Good karma always pays off.

The travel continues…

Travelling soon? You will need "City is Yours"

After a boat ride what better thing to do then explore your city.
“City is yours” is the perfect app for that. 

Deciding to go to a new city is one thing, but bundling all information about the places you’d like to go to, is another. How do you easily collect all the information you find on the web combined with tips from friends via Facebook, Email or Whatsapp? You still jot them down on paper?

“City is yours” is your list with buckets of amazing places.

Next of collecting places for your travels, they also make it easy for locals as in the most exciting cities around the world, to discover new restaurants, bars etc open up daily. 

They make it easy for you to keep track of them all.

They rely on local influencers, experts and travel & lifestyle bloggers to collect information about accommodations, areas, cultural tips, underground life and transportation on their website and app.

You can collect these in your own buckets, follow the buckets of your friends and others and share them with the rest of the world.

Ultimately they inspire you with stories, personal experiences, photos and videos on their curated blog.

Now, it’s time for your holidays. Get out there. 

We're on a boat App available on the App Store

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We are delighted to announce that "We are on a boat", a boat sharing app is now available to download on the app store.

We aspire to create a community of truly Boating enthusiasts whether you have a boat or not.  

We want to match people who would like to be on a boat with people who are willing to share their boat.
Calling all Boat owners ( aka social Captains ) out there to be the first ones to try this app. A social app.

Open your boat. Let's get together.