In a bold move that’s set to revolutionise the boating community, a new social media platform, Sea People, has hit the waves, promising to connect seafarers like never before. Designed specifically for the boating and cruising community, this app brings together an array of essential tools and communication methods in one seamless platform.
The brainchild of adventurers and sailors Riley and Elena, an Australian couple made famous by YouTube on their ‘Sailing La Vagabonde’ channel, Sea People has been in the making for over two years, inspired by a glaring need for better communication tools within the global boating community. Traditionally, sailors have relied on outdated equipment such as VHF, AIS, and satellite phones that are slow to use and difficult to maintain. Furthermore, the community has been fragmented across disparate social platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp groups, making coordination difficult.
– See your friends live locations
– See the fun stuff AIS can’t show you
– Hail nearby boaters based on your filters
– Start and receive group hails with nearby boaters.
– Converse about impending weather.
– Ask for a helping hand.
This frustration was echoed by many in the boating world, including Riley and Elena, who realised that the industry was sorely lacking a dedicated platform for boaters to communicate, track trips, and share experiences. “We saw that people needed to find each other, and there needed to be better communication,” Riley explains. And with that, the vision for Sea People was born.
At the heart of Sea People is bringing the maritime community together—whether you’re a seasoned sailor, a fisherman, or simply someone who enjoys life on the water. The app allows users to track their trips, hail nearby boats, and engage in a social feed where you can see who’s nearby. It’s a one-stop shop for boaters to stay connected, plan voyages, and share their experiences.
Riley and Elena’s journey to bring Sea People to life wasn’t smooth sailing, though. After partnering with fellow sailors Logan, Brian, and Caroline, they initially took the cost-saving route by outsourcing development to India. Unfortunately, the first version of the app was far from the quality they had envisioned. “We were pretty fired up that we could do this ourselves in India, but it was a huge risk. Most apps fail, and we had a lot to learn,” Riley recalls.
Despite the challenges, their persistence paid off when a breakthrough came in the form of Jean-Michel Lemieux, the former CTO of Shopify. A sailor himself, Jean-Michel reached out, intrigued by the project, and soon became the tech wizard the team desperately needed. Under his guidance, the app underwent a complete overhaul, with a dedicated global development team now working around the clock to deliver a world-class product.
With version one of Sea People now live and already in the hands of beta users, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Users are praising the platform’s ability to bring together previously fragmented tools into one user-friendly experience. And while the journey to get here has been far from easy, the team behind Sea People is confident they’ve created something that will truly change the way boaters connect and communicate.
For anyone passionate about the sea, Sea People offers more than just another social platform. It’s a place where boaters can stay in touch, plan their next adventure, and form real connections with others who share the same love for life on the water. As the app continues to grow and evolve, it’s clear that the tides are turning in favour of a more connected, modern boating community.
To stay updated on the latest features and join this growing community, download Sea People today and start seeing the world through the eyes of a boater.
BNZ Editor note: I have beta tested this app, its well worth a download!
Download here: https://seapeopleapp.com/slv
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