Onboard energy: solar and batteries
Flexible panels on the coachroof or bimini and a lithium battery bank power the boat at anchor.
- Flexible Solar Panel Kit (200 Wp)2.4 kg · ≈ £272
- LiFePO4 Battery Bank (200 Ah)22.0 kg · ≈ £442
Free · no account · 2 minutes
Sailboat autonomy: onboard energy, fresh water and food
At anchor, every watt and every litre counts. The Azimut Nomad score rates the four pillars of your cruise — energy, water, food and safety — for your destination and the season, so you know where to focus before casting off.
Figures checked on
Your reference needs, per day
The values the calculation uses for this activity, before adjusting for the month of travel.
- Electricity, for the group
- 2,000 Wh/day
- Drinking and cooking water, per person
- 3 L/day
- Food energy, per person
- 2,800 kcal/day
- Average distance
- 40 km/day
The month of travel adjusts these values: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2 and the electricity need by 0.85; in winter, water by 0.8 and electricity by 1.3.
What the score measures
On board, the electricity need is the highest of the five activities: 2,000 Wh a day for the crew — instruments, autopilot or refrigeration, for example. The safety pillar includes the risk inherent to sailing, also the highest of the five activities.
Energy
The output of a 100 W portable panel under your destination's sunshine, adjusted for the season, against the activity's 2,000 Wh a day.
Water
Natural water to filter, estimated from the destination's annual rainfall; summer heat raises the need.
Food
How easily food can be carried and restocked, depending on the activity, the latitude and the length of the trip.
Safety
How harsh the climate is — latitude and winter — and the risk inherent to the activity.
Overall score: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%; each pillar is rated from 5 to 95.
The gear that matters
Three families of gear make the difference for this activity. Examples from the nomad catalogue, indicative prices:
Fresh water: watermaker and purification
A 12 V watermaker makes drinking water from seawater; a UV purifier secures the water carried on board.
- Portable Watermaker 1.5 L/h (Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40E)2.3 kg · ≈ £757
- UV Water Purifier Pen (SteriPen)74 g · ≈ £72
Safety and communication
A VHF radio for coastal safety and a satellite communicator to reach land beyond radio range.
- Portable Marine VHF (Standard Horizon HX210)290 g · ≈ £101
- Satellite Communicator (Garmin inReach Mini 2)100 g · ≈ £297
Our guides to go further
Practical info & regulations
Frequently asked questions
Is the score free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free. It takes two minutes, with no account and no credit card. A free account then lets you save your trips and come back to your dashboard.
How is the score calculated?
Four pillars are rated from 5 to 95 — energy, water, food and safety — based on your destination, your activity and, if you provide them, the month, trip length and group size. The overall score weights them: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%. It is an indicative estimate, not a guarantee.
Where do the daily needs on this page come from?
They are the calculation's reference values for this activity: 2,000 Wh of electricity per day for the group, 3 L of drinking and cooking water and 2,800 kcal per person, and about 40 km a day. The month of travel adjusts them: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2.
Does the score replace passage planning?
No. It is an indicative estimate of your autonomy in energy, water, food and safety. It does not replace marine weather forecasts, your boat's mandatory safety equipment or professional advice.
Calculate your autonomy before you leave
Tell us your activity and destination: your four ratings and the pillar to strengthen appear straight away.
Calculate my autonomy scoreThe score is an indicative estimate based on averages: it does not replace preparing your trip.