Whether it’s a river entrance, a panoramic harbour view or a hidden gem from your anchorage, your photos on CAptain’s Mate bring reports and locations to life - making it the award-winning app we all rely on.
As you set off on your cruising adventures this season, do not forget to upload your photos to help other members? Launched in 2023, the CAptain’s Mate photo competition has encouraged members to upload more photos to the app.
"Every photo not only adds character to CAptain’s Mate but also enhances its value as a trusted resource - particularly for cruisers exploring new waters or returning after time away. Thank you to all members who have shared their photos," said Ian Wilson, Chair of the Cruising Information Development Group (CIDG) who oversee the app’s ongoing development.
Your photos - whether added to an existing location or used to create a new one - are an invaluable resource for the CA community. They do not need to be perfectly composed; what matters is how they capture the essence of a place, tell a story or offer practical information to help others plan their journeys.
Win a CA Goody Bag
To say thank you, we are offering a goody bag for the best photos in the following categories:
- Informative aerial photos
- Informative photos taken from the ground
- Essence of a place
How to upload photos
It is quick and easy for members to upload photos directly to CAptain’s Mate via the app, on a mobile device or via CAptain’s Mate web, and only takes a couple of minutes.
All photos added to CAptain’s Mate this year are automatically considered for the competition. Submit your photos by 31 December 2025 to have your photos featured and for a chance to win a goody bag.
Photo categories explained
Photos uploaded to CAptain’s Mate will be considered for the following categories:
- Informative aerial photos - these may be taken using a drone, which is useful to assist with pilotage into or out of a location. They should provide helpful information for visitors at the location or those considering a visit. It is helpful if the photos are accompanied by informative titles, descriptive text or annotations, as the emphasis is on the usefulness of the information conveyed, rather than artistic merit.
- Informative photos from the ground - these are photos taken with handheld devices from the land, on your boat, at the top of the mast, up a church tower etc. Like aerial photos, the purpose is to provide valuable information to assist with pilotage into or out of a location or to inform visitors about the location. Captions, descriptions or annotations are useful to support the photo. As with aerial photos, usefulness of the information is more important than artistic merit.
- Essence - these photos should capture the essence and vibe of a place. Photos should give a visual sense of what to expect and a feel of the location that may help inform decisions about visiting or exploring on land. Both aerial and ground photos can be considered for this category, and artistic merit is given higher priority.
Judging
The first round of selection is by the members of the Cruising Information Development Group (CIDG) who each shortlist three photos per category, resulting in a pool of 24 photos per category. A final judge (to be announced) with relevant expertise, will assess the photos and choose the first, second and third placed photos in each category. Judging will take place in January/February 2026 with the winners announced in March 2026.
The winning and runner-up photos will be showcased online, in the monthly newsletter and in Cruising magazine.
So, go cruising, snap away and share your most informative photos with the Captain’s Mate community!
25 April 2025