The Virtual Marina Vision
The boating community, for cruising and day trips, needs information about harbors, facilities, navigation, and overall “people-friendliness” of chosen destinations. This information should be up-to-date, complete, unbiased, easily accessible,inexpensive, and non-commercial. Currently, boaters plan trips by talking to others at marinas and yacht clubs, by reading boating publications, and by browsing the Internet. However, none of these sources fulfills the combined essential needs. In particular, boaters generally are not fully aware of the range of potential online sources of knowledge, nor do they have the time to research these sources thoroughly. The Virtual Marina harnesses the Internet to meet the destination information needs of the boating community.
Initially, the service focused on making it easier to find Internet friendly marinas. The starting point was a directory that allowed boaters to search for marina-based wireless Internet access by city, state, and cruising area. The intention is to expand this service to encompass all types of Internet access facilities, including Internet cafés in or near ports and harbors. Gradually, The Virtual Marina will make available a full destination knowledge engine on a region-by-region basis.
The founders and developers of The Virtual Marina have many years of boating and cruising experience in the U.S. and Europe. They are also experts in creating and facilitating the growth of online knowledge networks. For further information, please contact us at: info@TheVirtualMarina.com.