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We are Commodores in the SSCA, a loose collection of cruising people. The SSCA website www.ssca.org provides on-line access to issues of its monthly “Commodores’ Bulletins” which has a wealth of information submitted by members around the world. The site also has forums and other features of value to cruisers. We recommend becoming members of this international organization.
A site which gathers all sorts of information for cruising sailors is Noonsite. This started from Jimmy Cornell's books and cruising rallies and is now updated by cruisers everywhere. Of particular interest are descriptions of official procedures and facilities available in many ports, and letters about piracy and burglary.
Sailmail provides our email service via SSB (Single Sideband) radio. This is too slow to permit web browsing but allows email to be sent and received at any time and at any place on earth. There are Sailmail radio stations at several places on land which provide the interfaces between radio signals and the Internet. Subscribers pay an annual fee and then are allowed to use the service for up to 90 minutes per week. We have found this to be fairly reliable and extremely valuable.
Our catamaran was designed by John Gross and built by his Fastback company located just south of Brisbane, Australia. Only eight of the Fastback 43 models were ever produced but many smaller (30 and 32 feet long) Fastbacks have been built. There is a Yahoo group site with photos and other information about these boats.
There are many Internet sites providing weather information. Of special interest to mariners are the sites which provide information about winds and waves. One which we use fairly often is Buoyweather which can generate forecasts for practically any location on the oceans. We also rely on GRIB files sent via Sailmail from Saildocs.com (information available on the Sailmail site.)