Live marine weather: which boat trip today?

This page brings together live marine weather and maritime traffic for any place on the Mediterranean coast. Type the name of a port, an island or a calanque, choose a shortcut or use your position: the map zooms in on the place, the wind measured by the nearest station is animated on it, and the Windy and AIS maps re-centre automatically.

It is the tool our skippers open every morning before suggesting a programme: a swimming trip if the sea is flat, a sail if the breeze is established, sheltered waters if the mistral picks up. Further down, we explain how to read these figures and which trip to choose depending on the day’s wind.

Three figures are enough to get an idea of the sea: the mean wind, the gusts and the direction. You still need to know how to interpret them.

The mean wind, in knots

At sea, wind speed is measured in knots: one knot is one nautical mile per hour, i.e. 1.852 km/h. So 10 knots is about 18.5 km/h. It is the average value over a few minutes, the one that drives a sailboat and raises the waves.

Gusts, what really matters

Gusts are the peaks of wind. When they exceed the mean wind by more than 50%, the sea becomes irregular and sailing requires more attention, especially near cliffs and at the mouths of the calanques, where the relief accelerates the wind. In a mistral, it is not unusual to see a 15-knot mean and 30-knot gusts.

Direction: where the wind comes from

In marine weather, the direction is always the one the wind comes from. A “north-westerly” blows from the north-west towards the south-east. This is essential for choosing an anchorage: you look for a coast that gives protection on the side the wind comes from. In Provence, an offshore wind like the mistral leaves a flat sea near the shore, whereas an onshore wind raises a swell that enters the bays.

The Beaufort scale

Beaufort force translates wind speed into visible effects on the sea, from 0 (glassy sea) to 12 (hurricane). Up to force 4, the sea remains pleasant; at force 5, white horses become widespread; at force 6, it is a strong breeze and most leisure trips are adapted or postponed. Our Beaufort scale shows each force on an animated simulator.

Wind is not swell

Swell is a wave created by a distant wind. It can reach a calm coast after a gale offshore and make an anchorage uncomfortable even when the local wind is light. On the Windy map, show the “Waves” or “Swell” layer to see it coming.

The traffic map shows vessels that broadcast an AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal: their name, position, heading and speed, updated in real time. It re-centres automatically on the place chosen in the tool.

Who appears on the AIS map?

AIS is compulsory for merchant ships, passenger ships and large fishing vessels. For pleasure craft, it remains optional: many sailboats and motorboats do not transmit and so do not appear. The map never replaces a visual lookout.

What is live traffic for?

Near large ports such as Marseille, Toulon or Ajaccio, it lets you anticipate the arrival of a ferry or the departure of a cruise liner, spot busy channels and choose the right moment to cross a traffic area. For someone at sea, it helps follow an equipped vessel; for our boats, we also use our GPS fleet tracking, independent of AIS.

Basic rules near ports

Keep clear of channels and harbour entrances, never cross ahead of a vessel manoeuvring, signal your presence on the VHF if necessary and remember that a large ship takes several miles to stop.