A free inter-active digital online nautical almanac, covering from the Thames Estuary to the English Channel and the European coast, from Flushing to L’Aber’wrac’h, is to be launched in May.

Wiley Nautical, one the UK’s two biggest publishers of sailing books, competing with long-established Adlard Coles Nautical, today announced its free almanac will be available to download from May 11.

Unlike the ill-fated online Reed’s Nautical Almanac, which cost 35 pounds and went ‘bust’, there will be no hard copy of Wiley’s almanac. But all data can be printed for personal use.

The digital almanac has been in development for 15 months under the editorial control of Neville Featherstone, who co-edited Reeds Nautical Almanac from 1992-1999 and 2003-2009. Neville was also one the writers of the Yachting Monthly-branded Cruising Companion Series of yachtsmen’s guides, which Wiley bought from Nautical Data two years ago.

You’ll be able to see a demonstration of the digital almanac from March 31 at www.wileyalmanac.com and also request a download link ready for when it goes live on 11 May.

Meanwhile, Reeds Nautical Online Almanac Ltd, which ceased trading last month, has withdrawn the subscription service to its online version of the almanac. The website Reedsonline.com has a stark four word message: ‘New website coming soon…’

A ‘Creditors’ Meeting’ is due to take place at 11am on the 12th March, at Bridge Business Recovery, 3rd Floor, 39-45 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LA. Many of the creditors, some from the marine leisure industry, are reported to be chasing some £500,000 of debt.