How SailToo is building the first community-powered map for sailors

Guillaume Rimbaud Taunay Charon, CEO of SailToo, shares how a sailing journey aboard Reborn inspired a community platform helping sailors connect, share local knowledge and support one another. Meet SailToo in Lorient at the Interceltic Business Forum this August.

The idea for SailToo began at sea.

While sailing aboard Reborn, a classic sailboat he restored himself over two years, Guillaume Rimbaud Taunay Charon experienced something familiar to many sailors: the generosity and connection that can happen when people meet in a harbour.

In Portugal’s Algarve region, he met sailors from South Africa, Denmark and the Czech Republic. They exchanged advice, shared local knowledge, helped one another and quickly connected through a shared passion for the sea.

But those encounters happened almost by chance.

SailToo was created to make those moments easier to find, wherever sailors are. The platform brings the spirit of the pontoon into a digital community, helping sailors connect, share trusted local information and navigate together.

We spoke with Guillaume ahead of SailToo’s appearance at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient this August, where the company will represent Brittany in the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2026.

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What inspired you to start SailToo?

The idea for SailToo was born during my own sailing journey aboard Reborn, a classic sailboat that I personally restored over two years.

While cruising in Portugal’s Algarve region, I experienced something that many sailors know well. In a single harbour, I met a South African sailor, a Danish sailor and a Czech sailor. Despite coming from different countries and backgrounds, we quickly connected through a shared passion for the sea.

We exchanged advice, helped each other, shared local knowledge and spent memorable moments together.

What struck me was that these encounters happened almost by chance. Yet every harbour is full of people willing to help, share their experience or simply connect with fellow sailors.

I started SailToo with a simple question: what if we could make those connections easier, wherever you are?

Our ambition is to bring the spirit of the pontoon and the sailing community into a digital platform that helps sailors find each other, help each other and navigate together.

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Tell us what your startup does. What problem are you solving?

SailToo is a community platform for sailors that combines local assistance, navigation and real-time information sharing through an interactive map.

We help boat owners find nearby sailors, local ambassadors, marine professionals and trusted recommendations. Community members can also report hazards, useful locations, weather observations and local information directly on the map.

Today, valuable boating information is often fragmented across forums, social media groups, messaging apps and personal networks.

SailToo brings all of this together into a single collaborative platform designed specifically for life at sea and in marinas.

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Who benefits most from your solution?

SailToo is designed for recreational sailors, cruising boat owners and boating enthusiasts.

It is especially useful for sailors visiting unfamiliar destinations, newcomers seeking guidance, and boat owners looking for trusted local support.

Marine professionals, local businesses and harbour communities also benefit by becoming more visible and better connected to the sailors around them.

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What makes your approach different?

Most marine applications focus on navigation, weather forecasts or harbour directories.

SailToo focuses on people and local communities.We are building the first community-powered map for sailors, where information is enriched directly by the people who are on the water every day.

A key part of our model is our network of local ambassadors. These experienced sailors help welcome newcomers, animate their local communities and contribute valuable local knowledge about their harbours and cruising areas.

By combining real-time community contributions, local ambassadors, trusted recommendations and navigation-related information, SailToo creates a living map that evolves with the boating community itself.

What does it mean to represent your region at the Interceltic Business Forum?

Representing Brittany is both an honour and a responsibility.

Brittany is one of Europe’s great maritime regions, with a strong culture of sailing, innovation and entrepreneurship. The sea is deeply rooted in our identity, our economy and our way of life.

The values that inspire SailToo — solidarity, mutual support and a spirit of adventure — are also values that are deeply embedded in Brittany’s maritime heritage.

We are proud to represent Brittany and contribute to its vibrant ecosystem of maritime innovation.

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What are you hoping to gain from the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient?

The Interceltic Business Forum offers a unique opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and maritime stakeholders from across the Celtic world.

We hope to create new partnerships, gain international visibility and learn from other entrepreneurs building innovative solutions within coastal and maritime communities.

As SailToo grows, we believe there is significant potential to connect sailors beyond France and to build a truly international community powered by local knowledge and mutual support.

Winning the Brittany Interceltic Startup Challenge is already an incredible encouragement for our young company, and we are excited to share our vision with the wider Celtic business community.

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Join Guillaume and SailToo in Lorient

Guillaume Rimbaud Taunay Charon and SailToo will be one of six startups presenting at the Interceltic Business Forum on 3 August in Lorient, France.

Come discover how Celtic startups like SailToo are using technology and community to support maritime life, connect coastal regions and create new opportunities across the Celtic world.

Get your ticket today

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