Publication date: 10.07.2026
Kustväder
The Swedish Sea Rescue Society’s weather app Kustväder is a natural starting point before every trip. Forecasts are based on SMHI and YR and updated six times a day with local weather from the Skagerrak and Kattegat all the way to the Northern Gulf of Bothnia. What sets this app apart from a standard weather app is that it shows images of what the sea actually looks like under different conditions, not just numbers and arrows. Water levels, thunderstorm risk, wind gusts and the maritime weather report broadcast by Sveriges Radio on VHF are all gathered in a single view. Free to download.
➡️ Download Kustväder:
Windy
A useful complement when planning longer passages out towards the open sea or crossing exposed water. Windy displays weather data as animated heatmaps and particle flows on a map view, covering everything you need to assess conditions in depth: wind strength and direction, wave height and swell, precipitation, thunderstorms, cloud cover, visibility and air pressure. You can switch freely between parameters and choose from around ten weather models, including ECMWF and GFS, to compare forecasts against each other. More advanced than Kustväder, and more useful the further from shore you are.
Sjöfartsverket ViVa
The Swedish Maritime Administration’s ViVa shows what conditions are actually like right now, in real time, at specific points along the Swedish coast. Originally a tool for harbour pilots, it is now open to everyone. You can follow wind strength, water levels, water temperature, air pressure and visibility from sensors along the coast and in the archipelago’s fairways, search for individual measuring stations, bookmark your regular routes and view graphs showing how conditions have developed over time. Particularly useful when the forecast says one thing and you want to know what is actually happening at the passage you are about to round in an hour. Since 2025, ViVa has been available as a web app at viva.sjofartsverket.se.
Once you know what the weather is doing and have decided to head out, it is time to think about navigation.
Skippo
Skippo is a Swedish app built for Nordic waters, with charts covering Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the Baltic states. The charts are based on Swedish Maritime Administration standards and are supplemented by Hydrographica’s own surveys where they are needed most, including natural harbours in the Stockholm archipelago. The charts are updated continuously and remain current.
You can search and filter for restaurants by the water, guest harbours, natural anchorages, fuel stations and pump-out stations directly on the chart, find natural anchorages sheltered from the wind based on the current weather forecast, and read reviews from other boat owners in the harbour information.
What makes the app especially useful in the Stockholm archipelago is that nature reserves, protected fishing areas and sensitive underwater environments such as seagrass meadows are plotted directly on the map, exactly where you need them. You can also view wind arrows and weather forecast heatmaps directly on the chart, and in a combined list view compare forecasts from different sources without having to switch between apps.
Hamnguiden, published by Skagerrak Förlag, is integrated into Skippo and can be purchased as an add-on directly within the app. It provides detailed harbour information and approach descriptions for harbours along the entire coast.
Hjälp – Båtlivets grundskola
If you are new to the water, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society’s educational app Hjälp – Båtlivets grundskola is an excellent place to start. The app is divided into eight chapters and covers the basics: right-of-way rules, how to read a nautical chart, how to come alongside a jetty and how to tie the most important knots, all with clear illustrations. This is a great starting point for new boat owners and good preparation for the Operator Certificate. Free to download and just as useful on the sofa at home as it is on board when someone in the crew wonders what a green buoy actually means.
➡️ Download Hjälp:
Frequently asked questions
👉 What is the difference between Kustväder and Windy?
Kustväder is designed for Swedish coastal waters with SMHI-based forecasts, and shows images of what the sea looks like under different conditions, including water levels, thunderstorm risk and wind gusts. Windy is more advanced, with heatmaps and particle flows, and is better suited to longer-range planning or when you leave Swedish waters.
👉 What is the difference between Windy and the weather in Skippo?
Skippo shows wind direction and strength directly on the chart so you don’t need to switch apps during navigation. Wind data comes from DWD and is based on the ICON model, while temperature, precipitation and cloud cover are sourced from local national weather providers. In the table view, you can compare forecasts from Nordic sources, SMHI, MET, DMI and FMI, side by side, making it easier to navigate Nordic waters without jumping between apps.
Windy is a tool for those who want to analyse weather conditions in depth. The app brings together over 15 weather models, including ECMWF and GFS, and allows you to compare them against each other. You get access to real-time radar, satellite imagery, wave height, swell, currents and sea temperature.
👉 Do I need to pay for the weather apps?
Kustväder and ViVa are completely free. Windy has a free version with most features, and a premium version for those who want more weather models and more detailed forecasts.
👉 Is Skippo free?
The basic version is free and gives access to an overview chart and basic functions and harbour information. Navigation, AIS, route planning and detailed harbour and approach information require a subscription.
👉 Can I use the apps without mobile coverage?
Mobile coverage in the Stockholm archipelago is generally good, but it deteriorates further out. Skippo allows you to download charts for offline use, which is worth bearing in mind before longer passages. Kustväder and Windy require a connection to fetch current forecasts, and ViVa is a web app that also requires internet. A good rule of thumb is to view all forecasts and download charts before you cast off.
👉 Do digital charts use the same data as paper charts?
Most digital charts for Swedish waters, including Skippo, are based on cartographic data from the Swedish Maritime Administration, the same source data that underpins the official paper charts. The Maritime Administration updates its database continuously, with approximately 2,000 changes made in Swedish waters each year. It is therefore the same underlying data, but each app applies its own design and cartography on top of it. A paper chart is always recommended as a backup on board, regardless of the digital solution you use.
Set out from Stockholm
Svinninge Marina in Åkersberga and Gåshaga Marina on Lidingö are both strategically located for anyone wanting to explore the Stockholm archipelago, with quick access to the northern and central archipelago respectively. With the right apps on board and a good home marina as your base, most of the preparation for the season is in place.
If you only need part of the season, Summerdeal is available, a 3-month contract where you choose which months suit you best. Read more about finding the right berth:
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