• The 10 best smartphone apps for sailors: proven through experience

Technology is evolving. Gone are the days when sailors relied purely on the basic equipment on board their boat — a chartplotter, GPS navigation and a pilot of the region. Nowadays, almost every modern sailor has a bunch of apps installed on their smartphone. So, we've asked our skippers which are their favourite apps they use the most. Here is our list of the top 10 sailing  apps  tried and tested over hundreds of logged miles.

Navionics app logo

1. Navionics: Boating Marine & Lakes

In our opinion, this is the best app for navigating your boat (but also for diving, fishing or other water sports). You'll find an incredible amount of information in it, from conventional GPS navigation to bay depths, harbour data, and contacts . Plus, it allows you to share your live location so your friends or family can follow your route online. We at yachting.com consider Navionics to be a basic part of any smartphone sailing kit ! The only downside is that it is a paid app, but it's worth every penny.

  • Purchase Navionics at  www.navionics.com

Windy app logo

2. Windy.com app

The Windy app and the windy.com website are one of the most well-known sources for boaters to check the weather forecast. In addition to wind direction and strength, you can find forecasts for temperature, waves, rain and cloud cover. Just like with any forecast model, it can't be relied upon 100%, so you should always pay attention to the actual conditions around you as well. Windy Premium, the paid version provides a more accurate forecast and more regular updates without ads.

  • Download the Windy app at  windy.app
YACHTING.COM TIP :  Clouds  have been a source of fascination since the dawn of time. However, you don't need to be an expert meteorologist to know what to expect from looking at the clouds. In fact, this knowledge is practically essential for sailors. So, how do you read the clouds? Check out our article to find out —  Sailing: how to predict the weather by reading the clouds .

Anchor alarm logo

3. Anchor Watch / Alarm

An anchor drag alarm  or anchor watch basically does exactly what the name suggests — it emits a signal (alarm) when your boat drifts outside your designated security zone when at anchor . There are many apps available with this function, but Anchor Alarm is the one that works best for us. When you drop anchor, simply press the position button and adjust the perimeter you don't want to leave — for example, after taking into account the surrounding rocks and your proximity to shore, you might decide that you want to set the perimeter so that your anchor won't drag more than 15 metres. The app will remember where your anchor is located and will keep an eye on your position throughout the night. Should your boat move outside the set boundaries, it will trigger an alarm on your phone.

  • Get the app on the App Store or Google Play.
YACHTING.COM TIP:  Review the basic rules of anchoring in our  complete guide to anchoring and moorings . We've covered two specific scenarios where you might need a little extra help. The first is on  how to prepare your boat for a stormy night at anchor and the second one is a guide to the Mediterranean Mooring technique, a combination of anchor and mooring lines often used in Greece —  How to moor stern-to: a step-by-step guide .

Navily app logo

Navily is more of an app for recreational sailors where you'll find more than 14,000 anchorages and 6,000 marinas with photos and reviews from the community. There are also more than 700 partner marinas where you can book a berth directly via the app. The premiums version unlocks core features, such as automatic itineraries and distance calculation at sea. Navily claims to be the most innovative cruising guide.

  • The app is available at navily.com

Logo apps How to tie knots

5. How to Tie Knots

Every skipper should have a masterful knowledge of sailing knots for every situation and should ideally be able to teach the crew. But, at the very least, you could install an app on their phones and get them to learn themselves. For this, we recommend the app How to Tie Knots which uses 3D animation to provide a realistic experience of tying knots using a virtual rope. There are countless apps out there for learning to tie knots so if you find something more suited to you, there are plenty of options. After all, they all have the same goal: to teach you how to tie knots.

  • Find this app and similar ones on the App Store or Google Play.
YACHTING.COM TIP: Ropes or lines are one of the most important things on board any yacht and you simply can’t do without their ability to fasten, join and connect. Mastering at least a few basic sailing knots is essential for sailing, anchoring and moorings. It's not just beginner sailors who make mistakes , so we've prepared a guide to  9 essential sailing knots   for all your boating needs.

More sailing tips and tricks:

The ultimate yacht cleaning kit

New year's resolution: let's sail more eco, how to sail a yacht on a tailwind, skippered boats: how to pack for a yachting holiday, don’t panic: handling maritime emergencies, sextant and navigation: survival without gps.

Seahelp app logo

This is one of the best-known  breakdown assistance services for sailors. SeaHelp is a 24/7 rescue service that includes insurance and reliable assistance at sea should you break down or have an emergency. There are three types of membership available online and the app can then help you with things like towing your boat, starting, bringing fuel, fetching parts, freeing lines from the propeller and weather advice. The SOS button  can also be used by non-members  of this service and sends out a distress SMS with your current location and mobile number. After receiving the message, SeaHelp immediately calls back to verify there is a problem and if there is a real emergency, sends a rescue boat. If you sail frequently or are planning a more challenging voyage, we highly recommend setting up this service.

  • Find the app and purchase a membership at sea-help.eu .
YACHTING.COM TIP: In the event of an accident or mishap during your voyage at sea, deposit insurance will save your nerves as well as money. Are you hesitating whether it is worth taking out? In our experience, it definitely is! Check out our article on  the most common reasons for losing your boat rental deposit  and if you would like advice on deposit experience, feel free to get in contact with one of our representatives .

MySea app logo

MySea is a free interactive guide to marinas, harbours, jetties, buoy fields and restaurants in Croatia, Greece and Turkey . For each marina, it provides information on the type of mooring, safety regarding the direction of winds, services (showers, toilets, petrol pumps, supermarkets, etc.), entertainment and dining options on-site. There is also a current weather forecast for the area with a bird's eye view. The app includes thousands of user reviews on individual marinas and berths can be booked directly via the app. Even admission to Croatian national parks can be paid for via MySea.

  • Find it at my-sea.com .

Marine Traffic app logo

8. Marine Traffic

Marine Traffic comes in especially useful if you are sailing in areas where there are a lot of cargo ships. This platform provides real-time information on marine traffic, live port arrivals and departures, as well as gross tonnage and registration number of the cargo ships moving in your area. If you are heading to the English Channel, the Baltic Sea or are planning a voyage further offshore, the risk of collision with a cargo ship is much higher. Bear in mind that the captain of a large tanker cannot see small sailing vessels, so it is best to give them a wide berth.

  • Take a look at the live map of cargo ships at www.marinetraffic.com

VesselFinder logo

9. VesselFinder

Similar to Marine Traffic, VesselFinder provides a live map, on their website and app, of the network ships using the AIS system — over 200,000 ships a day! In addition, it allows you to search for a specific ship and find its current location and more information on the vessel itself. View the ships and their position on the map in real-time or look at their previous routes, sailing history and, where applicable, marina reservations. It is also possible to create your own fleet of friends and track the individual boats of the whole group.

  • Find out more about the app at www.vesselfinder.com

Map of Vesselfinder

The VesselFinder app displays current marine traffic on a map, but you can also search for a specific ship, and view its current location and sailing history

Tide Alert app logo

10. Tide Alert (NOAA)

Recommended for all those who sail in tidal waters (France, the Baltic, Scotland...), it provides all the information you need so you don't get caught out by the tide, such as predicted tide height, the moon phase, etc. The whole Tide Alert (NOAA) environment is user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use. Plus, there is an alarm feature to alert you to a low or high tide. And best of all, the app even works offline if your signal drops out.

  • Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

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Faq handy apps for sailors.

Windy.com app

Anchor Watch / Alarm

How to Tie Knots

Marine Traffic

VesselFinder

Tide Alert (NOAA)

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best sailboat racing apps

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THE NEXT GENERATION IN PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE FOR SAILBOAT RACING

The Tactiqs® Performance System was designed by a team of sail boat racers from the US and Europe as the ultimate comprehensive boat performance system. It will substantially improve your understanding of the conditions and the race course, and help you make better decisions and win more races. Post-race analysis tools give you the details on your performance and let you review your races by numbers as well as track individual sail usage and cross-overs to make optimum use of your inventory. The system was built from the ground up with simplicity of use in mind - the smarts are hidden behind an intuitive user interface.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION FROM SMALL BOAT TO YACHT RACING

The system utilizes your boat's sensor data via a wireless NMEA interface connected to the Tactiqs® application, allowing the crew to use any number of iOS devices as customizable displays for 62 different performance metrics and an additional 25 foiling metrics. For smaller boats without instruments the system uses the iOS devices' built-in sensors and basic wind input controls combined with smart tracking algorithms. For perfect wind data on dinghies and small keel boats, we also support Calypso Instrument's Ultrasonic Bluetooth wind sensor. Additional wearables in the form of the Tactiqs® augmented-reality glasses and smart watches (Android WearOS 2.1+) make the perfect fit for all boat sizes and crew positions.

CONFIGURE MY BOAT

I sail ...

For dinghy sailors the best use model is to velcro an iPhone in a waterproof case to the area right behind the mast. We use the internal sensors and GPS of your phone to collect track information, heading, and boat attitude.

The Tactiqs® application provides a wind input function in the user interface when no external wind data is available. You can mark the wind direction based on a wind shot, or a specific point of sail. From there, the app tracks your point of sail and wind shifts. Alternatively, we support the Ultrasonic Portable Wind Sensor from Calypso Instruments, which provides full wind data on all courses during your training sessions.

For group or one-on-one coaching, the Tactiqs® system provides an option to record wind information on a coach boat or at a nearby club house using our SailHub™ weather station. The SailHub™ system broadcasts the wind data live to all Tactiqs® users in the class over an area of up to one kilometer.

For boat classes that limit the use of electronics the user interface can be set to a restricted mode that only shows the magnetic heading and a start timer, or additionally the distance to the starting line. Independent of the UI mode the system always records the track and available boat data for analysis afterwards.

For foiling boats we specifically recommend to connect our augmented reality glasses to your iPhone in hotspot mode as they are very well-suited as display in high-speed dinghies.

For small keel boat sailors the best use model is to mount an iPhone or an iPad Mini in a waterproof case in the area right behind the mast. We use the internal sensors and GPS of your phone to collect track information, heading, and boat attitude. If you have limited instruments such as a speed sensor the Tactiqs® app can use such data in combination with the internal iOS sensors. Several companies (e.g. Yacht Devices) provide small low-power gateways that can read NMEA-183 serial data from your instruments and broadcast the information via Wifi.

For classes that limit the use of electronics the user interface can be set to a restricted mode that only shows the magnetic heading and a start timer, or additionally the distance to the starting line. Independent of the UI mode the system always records the track and available boat data for analysis afterwards.

For club racers with boats of 30' and longer the best use model is to mount an iPad in the cockpit or down below and provide a charging supply for longer races. If your instruments do not supply heel and pitch information you can use the iOS internal sensors instead. In this case please mount the iPad perpendicular to the boat's centerline for the heel and pitch measurement to be correct.

Your instrument data is used by the Tactiqs® app via Wifi. If your boat system already has a Wifi access point you directly configure your NMEA server address and port in the Tactiqs® app settings. If you do not have a Wifi interface you can use an NMEA-to-Wifi gateway (e.g. from Yacht Devices) that can read NMEA-183 and NMEA-2000 data, and transmit the information as NMEA-183 over Wifi. For boats with a B&G H5000 system, the Tactiqs® app can also retrieve the instrument data via the B&G WebSocket interface.

The Tactiqs® system allows you to use multiple iOS devices in parallel. The first device you connect will operate as the master device to calculate all metrics and generate the race log. Any subsequent device you connect to your boat's network will allow to repeat any data from the master device, and also provide remote control functions to set the starting line and timer, and select/create race courses.

In addition to the iOS devices we recommend the Tactiqs® augmented reality glasses for the helmsman as they provide the ideal combination of focusing on tell tales and waves while knowing exactly your boat performance and ideal course.

Key mectrics calculated by the Tactiqs® app can be transmitted back to on-deck marine displays as transducer values (XDR over NMEA-183) as custom data over the B&G WebSocket interface, or via a Yacht Devices NMEA-2000 Wifi adapter to Garmin GNX displays. We also support display of target speed performance, start timing, and layline information to B&G H2000 and H3000 systems.

For grand prix racers with full electronics such as a WTP3 system the best use model is to mount an iPad in the nav station and provide a charging supply for longer races. As part of your boat's setup on the tactiqs.io web portal you can set up custom transducers, load cells, and manual trim inputs e.g. for daggerboards to fully integrate with custom instrument systems. The system also allows you to send Tactiqs® metrics back to your marine displays on deck.

Your instrument data is used by the Tactiqs® app via Wifi. The app can read NMEA-183 data as well as data provided via the Expedition protocol. For boats with a B&G H5000 or WTP3 system, the Tactiqs® app can also retrieve the instrument data via the B&G WebSocket interface.

Key mectrics calculated by the Tactiqs® app can be transmitted back to on-deck marine displays as transducer values (XDR over NMEA-183), as custom data over the B&G WebSocket interface, and via a Yacht Devices NMEA-2000 Wifi adapter to Garmin GNX displays. Both H5000 and WTP3 systems can map these to custom display values on your cockpit or mast displays.

In addition to the iOS devices we recommend the Tactiqs® augmented reality glasses for the helmsman and tactician. On boats over 50 feet the trimmers and bow person also substantially benefit from personal displays with performance and start data.

Additionally, the system provides a visual messaging service between the master device and any Tactiqs® augmented reality glasses. This function allows the tactician to very effectively communicate sail changes and mark maneuvers including countdowns on larger yachts.

The Calypso Instruments Ulrasonic Portable wind sensor connects via Bluetooth directly to the Tactiqs® app to provide you a complete set of performance data on boats without instruments. Enable the sensor as a data source under the Tactiqs® wind settings, and you are good to go.

Powered by a built-in solar panel module, and with a diameter of 70mm the sensor can be easliy installed on any small boat including dinghies without any wiring. It is fully waterproof, so you don't have to worry about it if you capsize.

For more information including pricing, please visit Calypso Intrument's website for the Ultrasonic Portable.

START PERFECTLY BY THE NUMBERS EVERY TIME

During the pre-start period the system continuously calculates distance and direction to the starting line. Based on your boat's VPP we determine how many seconds you are from the line, and how much time you have to burn for a perfect start. The 3D bird's eye view lets you see yourself in the box and know exactly where you are in relation to the starting line. The system also continuously updates the starting line bias so you always know the preferred side. The wind graph shows you oscillating and persistent patters and helps you decide which side of the course to go first. See the START module in action.

KEEP TRACK OF THE COURSE AND LAY LINES

Once in the race, master the course and the windshifts by knowing exacty where you are and whether you are on the favored tack. The 3D bird's eye view shows you the next mark and its laylines so you can focus on your competitors instead of running numbers in your head. A separate course overview shows you the complete picture including wind angles for all legs, so you can plan your sail choice well ahead of the next rounding.

INTEGRATED WEATHER FOR THE BEST ROUTE TO THE FINISH

Use the chart view on your iPad to plan out the best route for your next offshore, coastal, or inshore regatta. Based on pre-configured or manually created courses Tactiqs® provides you with the forecasted wind conditions for each leg. For longer races compare weather routing solutions for your preferred wind sources and find the fastest route to the finish. Sail angles and wind statistics help you find the optimum sail selection for the race. Tactiqs® supports Navionics charts (requires active Navionics subscription), and raster charts (BSB or GeoTIFF). See the Navigator module in action.

FULL INTEGRATION WITH POPULAR INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS

The Tactiqs® iOS app is fully integrated with B&G H5000 based instrument systems, enabling the display of Tactiqs® calculated metrics on B&G marine displays. Furthermore, the Wind Calibration function in the Tactiqs® Analyzer can be used to quickly determine TWA and TWS corrections for upwind, reaching & downwind and store them directly in the H5000 processor - even while racing. The Tactiqs® app also supports sending its metrics to Garmin GNX120/130 displays via Yacht Devices' NMEA2000 gateways, and can control GNX page selection based on the RLC, windward/leeward & offshore race modes activated in the app.

THE ULTIMATE PERSONAL DISPLAY

As the ultimate wearable display solution, the Tactiqs® system offers custom augmented reality displays in the form-factor of sun-glasses that provide you the key data right within your field of vision. These glasses are fully integrated with the iOS application and can replicate any metrics of choice organized into three numerical and three graphical layouts. Control of key functions such as the race timer and pinning the starting line are directly available via the integrated touch interface. See the Tactiqs® glasses in action.

COMPLETE ANALYTICS FOR YOUR TACTICS AND BOAT SPEED

The post-race analysis tools provide you two key data sets - how well you did around the course, i.e. your tactical decisions, and how fast you were sailing. The course view shows you your track color-coded with your speed or VMG performance, with your actual versus optimum wind angles, and wether you were lifted or headed. The SailCast® viewer on the tactiqs.io portal lets you replay your uploaded races and metrics to get a full understanding of each moment in the race.

KNOW YOUR BEST SAIL FOR THE CONDITIONS

The live polar data taken from steady-state measurements shows your speed performance against VPP targets over the race, and a heatmap identifies the points of sail you spent most of your time on. The system enables you to track individual sail usage during the race and aggregates sail-specific performance data in your Tactiqs® account. This allows you to find the best sail for a specific wind speed & angle, and fine-tune the cross-overs in your inventory. Dual-camera iPhones can take perspective-corrected sail shape images directly in the Tactiqs® app, the photos are a synchronized part of your performance data history in your account and accessible in sail-specific timeline charts. Experience all sail analytics tools.

SAILCAST® RACE VISUALIZER

The SailCast® feature of Tactiqs® visualizes races uploaded to the tactiqs.io portal right in your web browser. You can select the playback speed, jump directly to a specific leg or mark rounding, and choose between areal and chase cameras. Annotations provide you with an immediate understanding of the course geometry and wind conditions, and each boat shows their individual speed and wind data. Race photos taken in the Tactiqs® app are automatically shown in the media timeline. This level of insight into a race is invaluable for post-race dock talks and training sessions, allowing the whole class to benefit from using Tactiqs®. See SailCast® in action.

MANAGE YOUR BOAT AND SAIL INVENTORY

The tactiqs.io website lets you quickly set up your boat, the corresponding VPP data, and your sail inventory to enable sail tracking and live polar data by sail type. Tactiqs® provides a database of popular VPPs, so chances are your boat is ready to go. Separately, you can always fine-tune your boat's VPP data. While our master VPP data base is available to all users, your personalized VPP data is only visible to you.

EASY RACE AND COURSE MANAGEMENT

Race data such as regattas, course definitions, and course marks are easily set up and shareable via the tactiqs.io portal and our map-based mark wizard. For windward-leeward racing the iOS app provides a course configurator that lets you create ad-hoc courses based on number of legs and direction & distance to the weather mark. On race day the app provides you a live course overview with wind angles for each leg to plan your sail choices.

COMPLETE COACHING SOLUTION FOR DINGHIES AND SMALL KEEL BOATS

Tactiqs® is fully integrated with our SailHub™ coaching system. The SailHub™ iOS app and weather station lets you broadcast the current wind direction and speed directly from your coach boat to the fleet around you. This enables boats without any instruments to generate complete training logs and lets students quickly identify where they can improve.

The built-in SailHub™ messaging system allows the coach to send training drills to all students and to remotely control the start timer for fully synchronized practice sessions.

The combination of Tactiqs® with SailHub™ on a coach boat also enables very accurate sail & trim comparison between boats for advanced coaching sessions and sail shape development.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT SAILHUB™

The SailHub™ system is used on the coach boat to enable full wind information for any type of student boat, and to effectively communicate with the class. The mobile SailHub™ weather station in conjunction with the SailHub™ iOS app continuously calculates the true wind direction and speed on the coach boat and broadcasts this information to the associated Tactiqs® devices used by the class. The system uses Bluetooth technology to operate independent of cellular networks and covers an area of approx. a 500 meter radius around the coach boat. The system allows for different SailHub™ groups in case multiple classes are held in the same area.

Additionally, the SailHub™ app provides a messaging interface that allows training instructions to be broadcasted to all participants, and a synchronized timer service that maintains a single countdown for all participants.

The SailHub™ weather station is supplied in a travel case that contains the wind sensor, a quick-connect 8-foot carbon mast, and a battery to operate the coach boat system for a full day on one charge - just add your iPhone or iPad and you are fully set up for the next level of coaching.

Pricing The SailHub™ weather station kit is available from us for US $1495,-. Depending on your class structure the students can individually subscribe to Tactiqs® (e.g. for coaching teams that sail together regularly), or we offer custom subscriptions to the Tactiqs® service for sailing classes with varying students.

For more information about SailHub™ or to inquire on pricing for your club, school or college, please contact us at [email protected] .

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"Tactiqs® is a must-have for any skipper who demands the best from their boat. Having speed, wind, and performance data at your eyelids gives a remarkable edge in decision-making when on the race course." Mike Price, Ullman Sails, Hawaii "I have been using Tactiqs® now for several years and have been very impressed with its overall performance. What sets this aside from the others is its ability to focus purely on your boat, tweeking the VPPs, analysing your race and tracking boat performance by sail inventory. I have used the Raptor glasses with the heads up display, and although initially I had to get used to the info right in front of your sight, I now find them very easy to use knowing the info is there when I focus on it. To finish off, this app with the addition of the glasses is for the serious racer. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed." Steve Emery, Hyde Sails, South Australia "A year ago I stumbled by chance on the Tactiqs® App. Very quickly, I realized that I had found the right tool for our training and racing program. From the set up of the boat to the acquisition of the data real time, all the functionalities are available at the swipe of your finger. A very intuitive design. Combining information on the boat and live environment data gives the skipper and/or tactician a live analysis of the race course with accurate forecast of lay lines and time or distance to the marks. Immediately during our first training session, we saw the benefit of accurate real time feedback on performance and VPPs. Sessions after sessions, the helming and trimming became much more precise, and week after week we saw the boat’s performance improved dramatically. The after sessions debriefs were also made very easy thanks to a post sailing report generated automatically. Within a couple of months, thanks to Tactiqs’ realtime race course analysis, our racing results started to improve as well. We took full advantage of the pre-start analysis and it became a second nature to optimize the boat to its max potential. On our journey, we rose from the bottom of the standings to the underdog to one of the top contenders. The Tactiqs® app has been an essential contributor to that success. From a pre-race perspective, it is again easy to use. Being a geometrical or a passage race, setting up race courses is easy and quick. Once defined, marks and race courses are stored in a shared database for all users to enjoy so to avoid duplication of work. Finally, and in my opinion, a critical point, Tactiqs® support has been outstanding. As we came up with various requests to add some functionalities, the support team was very responsive, and the implementation happened quickly thanks to a weekly app update cycle. In short, it has been a very satisfying experience, and the results really speak for themselves." Jinn HKG2509 - J-122E, Hong Kong "Tactiqs® has been a great addition to the Beneteau Oceanis 55. The flexibility and vast volume of data available to display is a strong value add to the entire crew that is now able to stay in connection with the performance of the boat over multiple days of racing. Specifically, the performance reference to the boat's polars provides a never ending competition amongst the crew to perform better than the last shift or driver. This addition to the existing 5 B&G Zeus chart plotters has really been valuable to increase performance and fun on the boat." Thank you for a great product and support!" David Normandin, Beneteau Oceanis Owner, Dana Point, CA "We won our last championship with the aid of Tactiqs®. It’s easy to use and easy to read. Given that it has several tabs and screens you can easily set up each set of metrics for the racing mode you are in. Great maps feature and easy to set up fixed courses. Also it is a big plus to dive into the race analytics when the day is over." Matias Zapiola, Navigator for Gaucho ARG-4400, Argentina

TACTIQS COMPONENTS AND PRICING

best sailboat racing apps

Pricing is based on the number of boats you manage in your tactiqs.io account, and on the number of AR glasses you use concurrently. Regular boats have full access to external NMEA data and all analytics, basic boats are intended for setups w/o electronics, e.g. dinghies or small keel boats:

Product One-time Purchase Annual Subscription
Regular Boat None $199.95 / Boat
Basic Boat None $99.95 / Boat
AR Glasses $399.- $99.95 / Glasses

Your subscription is accessible in your tactiqs.io account settings. To purchase a pair of AR glasses, please visit Everysight's Maverick product page .

The Tactiqs® system was designed and built by us to bring the next level of technology into our sport. Our team consists of sailing professionals and racing enthusiasts with high-tech backgrounds, and we believe that racers should not have to choose between very basic instruments and feature-rich, but complicated professional level solutions. We designed our solution with the average racer in mind, and put simplicity of use first in all aspects of the Tactiqs® system. If you have any specific questions please contact us at [email protected]

Sailboat Championship 4+

Infinite dreams inc., designed for ipad.

  • #168 in Racing
  • 4.3 • 27 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Sailing experience like never before! We have the pleasure to invite you to participate in a sea racing experience like never before! It does not matter if you are a novice or adept sailor - Sailboat Championship is the best sailing game you can find! Participate in thrilling regattas and fast paced races against computer-controlled opponents, compete online with players from all over the world, upgrade and unlock new boats, complete amazing and action-filled courses and collect all in-game trophies and gold awards! Become the ultimate master of Sailboat Championship - the only true and addicting sailing simulation with unique gameplay for your device. PRESS QUOTES: "It looks and plays great, the only thing missing is the feel of the wind" – GameStyle "Definitely for fans of sailing or those looking for a more relaxing game" – AppSpy "If you are a fan of sailing, you will absolutely love this game" – AppVee "Offers some quite intelligent touches to the racing genre" – 148Apps "Racing against the AI is really fun as it is varied" – TouchGen "The graphics are gorgeous! Simply amazing!" – PocketFullOfApps IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ! If you experience a problem with downloading, installing, buying or using our products or services please contact our support team. Follow Infinite Dreams to stay up to date with news, reviews & community giveaways.

Version 1.62

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Improved graphics quality and some other enhancements. If you like our game, please do not forget to rate it. Thank you! In case of any problems, please contact us at [email protected]

Ratings and Reviews

Good program for a novice such as me.

This is a well-designed program with realistic wind characteristics and accurate -- if simple -- tiller and line controls. I especially like the clean graphics and the basic tutorial since I have little experience sailing. The regattas are challenging and the time-keeping encourages you to sail the same course several times in order to improve your skill steering, tacking, and judging when to jibe. Music is appropriately relaxing and the messages and tips are useful. Worth the time to explore and enjoy!

Editor’s Choice Award-Winning

The graphics are astonishing and the game is well thought out. The most fun and beautiful game i’ve played. Deserves much more good reviews and downloads in my opinion. Where are the award givers? #editorschoice

Awesome game - need more content!

Beautiful game and engaging, challenging gameplay. Please bring this back with some new levels!

App Privacy

The developer, Infinite Dreams Inc. , has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple.

No Details Provided

The developer will be required to provide privacy details when they submit their next app update.

Information

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THE BEST SAILING APP

Make your sailing, surfing, foiling and other watersports more fun and challenging with the Sailmon Sailing App. From now on, everyone on the water is a competitor!

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THE BEST APP FOR SAILING

Make your sailing, foiling and other watersports more fun and challenging with the Sailmon App. From now on, everyone on the water is a competitor!

best sailboat racing apps

NEW: FREE TRACKING

Set sail on your next adventure with our revolutionary tracking app! The Sailmon App is now completely accessible without the need for a Sailmon device, opening incredible opportunities to maximize your sailing experience using just your phone.

THE FUTURE IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Log every mile.

Capture every thrilling moment on the water with your phone or Sailmon instrument to get a simplified debrief at your fingertips with endless possibilities.

Real-time data enables individual sailors, coaches, organizations, and clubs to inspire the sailing community by sharing live performances and stories.

RELIVE YOUR PERFORMANCE

Add exciting videos and photos from your phone to your trip and relive every breathtaking moment on the water with just a few taps.

BE YOUR OWN RC

Invite your friends, and enjoy an effortless experience with real-time communication, accurate start times, instant feedback on OCS and more!

The game is ON! Challenge yourself and your competitors on the leaderboards and keep pushing every time you hit the water.

CONNECT & ENGAGE

Join our vibrant community and connect with like-minded individuals. Share your stories and engage with friends and competitors from all over the world.

Unlock all Sailmon App features. Go for Sailmon GOLD >

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NOBODY GETS INSPIRED BY UNTOLD STORIES. TRACK YOUR PERFORMANCE.

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DIVE INTO YOUR DATA

Relive your trip on a clear visual map with a graph, down to every second. Analyse your speed, heel, pitch and COG and see where you won or lost. Learn from your finest moments or worst mistakes.

Compare your data with your training and racing partners who are at the same time and location on the water – live or afterwards.

best sailboat racing apps

AND INSPIRE OTHERS

Real-time data enables individual sailors, coaches, organizations, and clubs to inspire the sailing community by sharing live performances and stories from the water.

VISUALISE YOUR DATA

Add exciting videos and photos from your phone to your trip and relive every breathtaking moment on the water with just a few taps, all thanks to the power of cutting-edge media and data fusion technology.

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BE YOUR OWN RACING COMMITTEE

Organise your own race with sailmon racing.

Create an event in the Sailmon App, invite your friends, and enjoy an effortless experience with real-time communication, accurate start times, and instant feedback on OCS, mark roundings, and automatically generated race results.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Compare your daily highlights (such as top speed) with everyone else that day.

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PERSONAL BESTS

See how you rank on the leaderboard with your best results ever.

Sailmon App

Every leaderboard is clearly categorised by highlight, class or period.

Sailmon App

CONNECT, SHARE, AMPLIFY & ENGAGE

Join our vibrant community and connect with like-minded individuals. Share your stories with others and engage with friends and competitors from all over the world.

FOLLOW, LIKE AND COMMENT

Keep an eye on your friends and competitors. Learn from others. 

SHARE HIGHLIGHTS

Show the world your finest daily moments as a social post/story or direct message. Add a custom background to personalise your records.

ADD A PHOTO/VIDEO

Bring your performance on the water alive with photos and videos! Share your adventures as a story: in-app with other users or on social media with the rest of the community. Add data (like speed, heel, pitch and COG) and tag other users to inspire.

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Photo/video with data stamp
Session report Only SOG All data
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Leaderboards
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Download trip (GPX, CSV or Events) X
Analyse Cyclops Marine smartlink² load sensor One sensor Unlimited
Compare (live) with others X
Up- and downwind performance X
Personal inferred wind directions X
Shift tracking X
SAILMON EVENTS - organise races and get automatic race rankings, statistics and replays X

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The best sailing app

Capture every thrilling moment on the water with a Sailmon instrument to get a simplified debrief at your fingertips with endless possibilities.

Relive your trip on a clear visual map with a graph, down to every second. Analyse your speed, heel, pitch and COG and see where you won or lost. Learn from your finest moments or worst mistakes.

best sailboat racing apps

Keep an eye on your friends and competitors. Learn from others.

best sailboat racing apps

SHARE PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS

best sailboat racing apps

ADD PHOTO AND VIDEO

best sailboat racing apps

  • Automatic logging Automatic logging
  • Share, like and comment Share, like and comment
  • Personal highlights Personal highlights
  • Live sharing Live sharing
  • Photo/video with data stamp Photo/video with data stamp
  • Session report Session report
  • View by leg View by leg
  • Leaderboards Leaderboards
  • Acces to iPad app version Acces to iPad app version
  • Download trip (GPX, CSV or Events) Download trip (GPX, CSV or Events)
  • Analyse Cyclops Marine smartlink² load sensor Analyse Cyclops Marine smartlink² load sensor
  • Compare (live) with others Compare (live) with others
  • Up- and downwind performance Up- and downwind performance
  • Personal inferred wind directions Personal inferred wind directions
  • Shift tracking Shift tracking
  • SAILMON EVENTS - organise races and get automatic race rankings, statistics and replays SAILMON EVENTS - organise races and get automatic race rankings, statistics and replays
  • Automatic logging
  • Share, like and comment
  • Personal highlights
  • Live sharing
  • Photo/video with data stamp
  • Session report Only SOG
  • View by leg
  • Leaderboards
  • Acces to iPad app version
  • Download trip (GPX, CSV or Events) X
  • Analyse Cyclops Marine smartlink² load sensor Only one
  • Compare (live) with others X
  • Up- and downwind performance X
  • Personal inferred wind directions X
  • Shift tracking X
  • SAILMON EVENTS - organise races and get automatic race rankings, statistics and replays X
  • Session report All data
  • Download trip (GPX, CSV or Events)
  • Analyse Cyclops Marine smartlink² load sensor More then one
  • Compare (live) with others
  • Up- and downwind performance
  • Personal inferred wind directions
  • Shift tracking
  • SAILMON EVENTS - organise races and get automatic race rankings, statistics and replays

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Best sailing apps: top apps for sailors and boaters

  • Stef Bottinelli

These days there are some truly fantastic apps for sailors and boaters. From weather and tides forecast, route planners and marine traffic, to knot guides and real time language translation, we pick out 10 of the best sailing apps

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*YBW is not paid by developers for our recommendations. If you click through and buy an item, we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer, at no cost to you.*

AyeTides app

This popular boating app provides users with tables of daily and future tides and interactive graphs for over 12,500. It also provides information on sunrise and moon rise. It does not require a network connection.

Availability: iOS and iPad

Price: £7.99

Buy it now on the App Store

Garmin Activecaptain

Garmin ActiveCaptain app

Garmin Activecaptain connects to Garmin chartplotter, charts, maps, provides unlimited access to the user’s cartography. It also connects to the ActiveCaptain community to share information on routes, marinas and much more. It allows the user to create routes, save them and transfer them between the app and chartplotter. Can upload and download the latest Garmin Quickdraw Contours content from the community.

Availability: Android and iOS.

Price: Free, in-app purchases apply.

Navionics app

A superb and popular sailing and cruising app. Users can access nautical charts with tides and currents, informations on marinas and ports, see and create Sonar charts, share information with other users, locate fishing areas and more.

Price: Free, annual fees and subscription depending on location applies (UK, Ireland and Holland £32.99).

Knot Guide app

Easy to follow knot guide with step-by-step guide and instructions and plenty of knot types to choose from.

Availability: iOS and Android.

Price: Free

GRIBView by Theyr

Theyr Weather app

High resolution weather forecast built on precise data from 10km down to 1km resolution on an hourly time step. Free global forecast data with overview of the oncoming weather. Can be downloaded for offline use which offer free offline charts with no need for internet connection. It was used during the 2018 Round The Island Race.

Availability: iOS, Android and iPad.

Price: Subscription $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Windfinder Pro

windfinder pro app

Detailed information on wind, tides and weather forecast in over 8,000 locations around the world. Animated maps for temperature and precipitations. Topographic maps and satellite images.

Transas iSailor

Transas ISailor

Created for amateur boaters,  Transas iSailor provides navigation information and electronic charts. It offers wind and tides forecast, information on marinas and routes, sailing guides and plenty more navigational features.

Price: Free, in app purchases apply.

DROTR translation app

Not created specifically for sailing but DROTR is very useful when travelling as it translates voice calls, text messages, documents and conference calls in several languages in real time. Users can save files and download conversations.

Marine Traffic

Marine Traffic app

Marine Traffic displays the locations of yachts and ships in quasi real time. It covers major ports and shipping routes and is connected to the largest network of AIS receivers.

Price: £4.99, in-app purchases apply.

NaviPlotter

NaviPlotter app

Navigational charts, trip and route planning tools, real time tracking, weather and tides forecast, moon and sun times, live AIS vessel positions, marine vector charts and more.

Availability: iOS and Apple Watch.

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Best Sailing Racing Electronics

Best Sailing Racing Electronics | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

July 5, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

  • Sensors and other fancy LCD screens can help track important data while sailing
  • This access to crucial data can help make informed decisions while racing
  • The accuracy will be tested but you can be very close to the wind and boat speed
  • Various technology can give you the ability to remain safe on the water
  • Consider factors like a budget in order to find the best racing electronics for you

‍ Electronics on a sailboat can make life easier and more convenient. But what are the best sailing racing electronics?

The best sailing electronics for racing are the Airmar DST, Dometic Steering Actuator, and the Garmin Quatix Marine Smartwatch. Other electronics racers can utilize while sailing include the Raymarine Axiom, Garmin GPSMAP, and QWORK Battery Monitor.

In my experience, it can be easy to overwhelm yourself with too many electronics. Try to aim for what is best in your situation and how it might apply to your boat while racing.

Table of contents

‍ Top Eight Marine Electronics for Racing or Sailing

There are an enormous amount of electronics that you can equip on your sailboat to help you while racing. Keep in mind that these will not guarantee a victory but it could help you become a better racer if you are able to pinpoint areas that need improvement.

You do not have to invest your time and money into all of these in order to become a better sailor. But the addition of these items can potentially make or break you getting ahead in races with an understanding of the little details that you are likely missing.

Airmar DST

The Airmar DST 810 streamlines speed calibration with its integrated attitude sensor and even has the free CAST app that eliminates the need for expensive computer software. Racers can obtain heel-compensated speed at various angles and ranges.

The 5Hz output allows you to make swift decision-making on the water. This sensor is moderately priced at $399 but it can also measure depth and water temperature (to a tenth of a degree). It can also support hull angles up to 22 degrees so that it can fit on many boats with curved hulls.

  • Self-calibration for correcting heel
  • Supports hull angles up to 22 degrees
  • Might be too much information on the app

Dometic Steering Actuator

Dometic Steering Actuator

The Dometic Optimus outboard electric steering actuator provides racers with total power-steering capabilities with an adjustable parameter that can accommodate any traditional outboard motor. The installation is simple with a quick setup of the electronic helm display that takes the need away for oil or purging.

The system can be utilized with joystick controls and even SeaWays (Dometic autopilot).  For more than one engine setup you will need an additional actuator. The price for one engine system is about $5,700 so keep in mind your budget.

  • Easy installation
  • Very reliable and requires little maintenance
  • At $5,700 per unit it is quite expensive for many

Garmin Quatix Marine Smartwatch

Garmin Quatix Marine Smartwatch

No sailing race would be complete without the use of a sailing watch. Club racers can use the Garmin Quatix 7 which offers a broad range of activities to be had on the water. It provides excellent navigation acts and is designed to handle conditions while racing or cruising.

It has a tide tracker and other useful information to keep you up to date while racing. It also has a countdown timer for when you do compete in races to help keep track of when to pass the start line. I have used other marine watches in the past but this has been my favorite overall for its design and functionality.

  • Countdown timer for races
  • A computer on your wrist that is also waterproof
  • Too many features for those that want simplicity

Raymarine Axiom

Raymarine Axiom

If you do not want a sailing watch for the GPS capabilities then you should check out the Raymarine Axiom 9 . This allows you to see your instrument display with a variety of important information at your fingertips. They feature tons of memory for anything you want to put on it and I love that you do not have to pull cables through pipework to set up.

If you decide to combine this with other sailing instruments provided by Raymarine then you can tap into features such as cameras and autopilot. Those that want to enjoy fishing when they are not racing can also utilize the sonar feature among other instrument displays.

  • Great interface for all of your instrument needs compared to the competition
  • Can connect to the network of other equipment by the same brand
  • Around a $1,000 without the other features

Garmin GPSMAP

Garmin GPSMAP

If you want a similar experience to Raymarine products you could opt for the Garmin GPSMAP that doubles as a chartplotter and sonar. It can connect to other Garmin related products on your boat which makes sense if you want everything to work together while racing.

It has a clear display and excellent sonar features that allow you to see what is around you underneath. This lets you have some idea of whether or not you can race in shallow waters in new areas. I enjoy not having black boxes and sharper resolution compared to other brands.

  • Compatible with other Garmin system offerings
  • No black boxes and has clear displays
  • Around $2,400 so consider your budget

QWORK Battery Monitor

QWORK Battery Monitor

Depending on what type of boat you have you will likely need to keep an eye on your battery to ensure it is operating like it should be. This is where an excellent battery monitor comes in handy like the one by QWORK . It lets me know if my battery is becoming weak or if I have power being zapped from something left running.

It features an easy to read LCD display that gives you all the information you need to check the battery life on your boat. It can also store the last voltage reading after the system shuts off so you know that the battery is charging effectively or if you need to take action.

  • Affordable and easy installation
  • Gives accurate battery reading
  • Some users found it difficult to understand

Raymarine Speed Instrument

Raymarine Speed Instrument

In races for sailing you need to know how fast you are going but you may not want to spend a ton of money on instrument displays that have an abundance of information. Instead you could opt for something like a knot meter.

Raymarine offers a great speed instrument to racing sailors on a budget. This gives you the opportunity to see the average speeds of your boat without breaking the bank and with an easy setup. I love this because you get valuable speed information for a great price.

  • Best for tracking speed while on a budget
  • IPX6 waterproof rating and three year warranty
  • Other devices might have this information so check your instruments

Ritchie Navigator Inclinometer

Ritchie Navigator Inclinometer

For sailors that want to sail on a budget and still receive important data you could opt for an inclinometer by Ritchie Navigator. At round $30 you can simply attach this to your boat and see how your boat responds in real time.

This will allow you to see the heel of the boat and give you the option to make adjustments as you go to stay in a straight line. I like it since it helps give me an idea for staying in line on a course for windier days. This is a handy device to optimize your performances during sailing.

  • $30 for a great addition to the boat
  • Gives accurate heel readings and is easy to see
  • Other devices could have this information so check your instruments

Why Do You Need Electronics for Sailing and Racing?

There are many marine electronics for sailors that can help aid you in becoming better at sailing. There is not a perfect tool out there to help you win races or make you better than anyone else.

However you should opt for racing electronics to help you out in a variety of situations. Without the use of these would make situations interesting out at sea or potentially a dangerous occurrence.

Call for Help

In addition to a marine radio that you should already have you might want to equip your boat with another form of communication. Most technology is equipped with WiFi or the capability to be connected to data so that you can receive messages or call out for help.

Other crucial safety measures include AIS that can help track your boat. If you happen to lose your signal then your last known position can be tracked.

Latest Navigation

If you are using old maps to navigate then you might be fine in a lot of areas. But what about sailing in a popular area that has been built or modified due to disasters or other events?

Having a great navigational tool to help guide you through an area is best for locations you are unfamiliar with. This allows you the opportunity to navigate safely without potentially damaging your boat or getting lost and can help you stay on the race course if you have set an outline.

Weather Updates

Most sailors check the weather the day they are going out at sea or joining a race. But the weather can be unpredictable in many locations across the world.

It is ideal to have something that allows you to track weather updates as you are sailing. This could be updates for dense fog or a strong thunderstorm forming off of the coast with damaging winds.

Instruments with Crucial Data

Instruments provide important data for sailors that need to make adjustments on the fly while racing. This data could be something as simple as wind speed and the boat’s current direction.

Without the use of these instruments you are unlikely to know when to make tactical decisions during a race. These are the little things that add up to a potential victory and everyone is likely using something to gain a slight edge.

Boat Performance

If you are preparing for a race it is ideal to have the most information available to make the best decisions. Understanding how the boat is responding to waves and the wind is one aspect but other key data points can help you make informed decisions on how to navigate your boat better. This will allow you to test out new techniques and see what works best at obtaining top speeds on your boat.

How to Find the Best Sailing Electronics

What is considered the best racing technology to you might differ to someone else. There are a variety of different uses that can make a difference on your boat versus another.

Determine Your Desired Use

Your sailing goals are likely going to be different than someone else’s. It is important to understand what you are planning to do on your boat before trying to add a lot of technology on it. If you like fishing and racing then you might want something that can help out for both sonar and GPS capabilities.

Research Various Brands

Brands are likely the first thing you see for a particular product. Some will vary in price and quality. It is crucial that you research at least three different options for whatever product you want so that you have various prices and quality to see.

Make Sure it is Compatible

Not every electronic device for a boat will be able to join your adventure. This includes the existing wiring or other sensors that could affect how it is used. This might need an expert to install if you plan on updating older technology on your boat.

Consult a Professional

You might want to ask a dealer that specializes in boat technology. They will likely be yout best bet to advise you in various additions to your boat or how to install them. If you choose them you might also get a craftsmanship warranty but always check beforehand.

Check Out Boat Shows

Boat shows are a great place for brands to try out new and improved technology. This allows you to see first hand what the electronics are intended to be used for and how it could apply to you. This also gives you the luxury of asking important questions and troubleshooting tips that you may encounter.

Consider the Warranty

There are many brands that offer a warranty on their products. This is important to keep track of in the event that the technology decides to stop working or has issues updating. Strong customer support is crucial for a long term customer.

Ease of Installation

Once you have conducted your research you will likely have a good idea on what is easy to install and what is not. Be mindful of what type of devices you need to have installed by a professional since that will add in the costs on top of the device itself. If you want to do it all yourself then you should consider ones that are the easiest to set up.

What Other Customers Have to Say

It is no fun reading bad reviews or mixed ones that do not offer a lot of information. But you can likely see where people are coming from on a bad review at least.

Consumer reviews will give you the cherry on top of your research in order to find the best product no matter what. If someone else reports the type of boat and activity on the water they used the technology for then you will likely have a good opinion of the brand.

Have a Budget

Budget is one of the most important aspects in determining what you can afford and what you can add to your boat. Even though you might like a certain brand you might not be able to integrate their features if they are at a higher price point.

This also goes hand in hand with your intended use and what you plan on using the most on your boat. Narrowing down this will greatly help your budget.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Best Navigation apps for sailors: Navionics Boating app

Yachting World

  • November 16, 2021

Best Navigation apps for sailors tested. This time we take a look at Navionics + and compare its pros and cons.

navionics app on a phone

navionics app on a phone

Modern sailing increasingly relies on apps on your phone or tablet to find your way. We have tested the latest and best navigation apps on the market.

Navionics Boating app

This app is intuitive and easy to use. Charts are quick to render and auto zooming of detail is probably best in class. Text is used to good effect and tells you when you need to zoom in to get more information about hazards (one of the dangers of vector charts). Arrows showing current are animated to show strength, direction and whether the tide is on the ebb or flood. Frustratingly, you have to access a different window to get GRIB/wind data, when it should surely just be an option on screen.

The Navionics Sonar option allows charts to be adapted to show depths based on real time user data from thousands of vessels, but the company sensibly warns that many other factors (such as barometric pressure) will have a considerable affect on depths.

Its automatic routing application is simple and intuitive. You can enter your boat settings such as LOA, beam, draught, height and cruising speed and it adapts partially to this: while it avoids shallows on the chart it does not, for example, calculate your clearance under a bridge. It also does not take into account wind or current, making its calculations too basic for those looking to sail.

It can be linked to a WiFi-enabled AIS device, and I really like the ability to overlay satellite pictures onto the land for easy identification of key features.

Navionics Boating app Pros

Fast to render charts Very intuitive Good wind and tide information Distance and bearing tool Satellite image overlays Syncs with compatible plotters Connects to onboard AIS device

Navionics Boating app Cons

Auto routing is basic Wind data shown in different window

Get Navionics+ app from the Apple App Store Get Navionics+ app from the Google Play Store

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

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Best Sailing and Boating Apps

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A large number of apps have been developed for sailors. Here are links to reviews of many of the best of them, along with related information.

Navigation and Charting Apps

Many navigation and charting apps are available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch and Android devices. Most have routing functions . Here are key ones you should consider:

Charting Apps for Apple Devices :

  • Pocket Nav is our favorite navigational app using raster charts (free from NOAA).
  • Charts and Tides is an inexpensive app that comes with American vector charts built in, along with the ActiveCaptain Cruising Guidebook .
  • The Navionics Marine and Lakes app is popular with many sailors.
  • The SEAiq marine navigation and plotting app is not for everyone.
  • Aqua Map USA GPS Offline Charts may sound good but has some issues you should know about before you think about purchasing it.
  • iSailor is a newer player in the game.

Charting Apps for Android Devices :

  • Memory-Map has the fullest navigating features for Android devices.
  • MX Mariner is another fine app using raster charts.
  • Navionics Marine & Lakes has some interesting features and uses vector charts.
  • Two free Android apps (initially free, at least) are Marine Charts Lite and Marine Charts HD and NutiCharts Lite, but \weI cannot recommend either for much use on the water.
  • Here's a comparison of 5 Android apps for boat charts and navigation to help you choose the one best for you.
  • The free Course to Steer app calculates how to steer to compensate for a current and leeway from the wind.
  • Remember that any electronic device can fail at any time, so don’t depend on only a chart app. To be prepared, learn also to navigate with just a depth finder and a chart.
  • GPS Long Distance Log is a logging app for Android - not a plotter but a good system for logging a voyage.
  • When anchored, the My Anchor Watch app can help ensure you know it if your anchor is starting to drag. DragQueen Anchor Alarm is another anchoring app available for both Android and Apple devices and smartphones.
  • Three apps - Ship Finder, Marine Traffic, and Boat Beacon - show the present location of ships on a map to aid in collision avoidance . Read a comparative review here.
  • Boat Watch is a newer app purporting to do the same. But read the disclaimer before trusting any AIS app.
  • Smart Chart AIS similarly shows other vessels on a chart relative to your own position and offers some other interesting features.

Laptop Chartplotters

  • Although not an app but free chart plotter software for laptops, OpenCPN is simply a great navigational program.
  • For a laptop navigation and plotting program with more powerful features, do a test drive of the inexpensive Polar Navy program .
  • Navigatrix is a free full suite of software programs running under Linux that can be run on a PC or Mac laptop, including chart plotter , weather data, and much, much more.

Apps for Weather

  • The MarineCast weather app for boaters provides a wealth of information about present and forecast conditions.
  • Marine Weather is a decent app for both Apple and Android devices that also includes tides, radar, and more.
  • The Wind NOAA app provides a quick snapshot of wind information for your area.
  • The free version of the PredictWind app for both Apple and Android devices is a good choice for planning for local weather conditions.
  • PocketGrib is another effective app for showing wind weather forecasts in your area. There is a free Android version with limited functionality, but the Apple versions cost more than you need to pay for this information.
  • WeatherTrack is an Apple iOS app that offers a wide range of forecast displays.
  • Be cautious about using the Marine Weather Right Now app.

Apps for Tides

  • AyeTides is probably the best general-purpose tide app for Apple devices.
  • For Android devices, we like best the Tides & Currents app.
  • Tides Planner 10 and Tide Graph are two more tide apps.
  • The Tidal Chronoscope app looks like a classic tide watch.

Sailing/Boating Reference Apps

  • The Cruisers Forum app for both Apple and Android devices puts you in touch with tens of thousands of boaters who can help answer your every question.
  • Another nice app to have at hand when sailing is the Boater's Pocket Reference app, which provides a ton of information.
  • The Apple device SailingApp doesn’t have as much information as the Pocket Reference, but it’s still a good start for beginners. Check it out.
  • The Apple and Android app Navigation Lights and Shapes is useful for learning about required navigational lights (and identifying the boat lights you see at night).
  • The ColRegs Rules of the Road app for both Android and Apple teaches the rules for preventing collisions.
  • Nautical Chart Symbols is an app that tells what many chart symbols and abbreviations mean. Another Android and iOS app of the same name, Nautical Chart Symbols, may be better for you.
  • The app Boat Essentials-USCG Safety Gear is a rather simplistic piece of work appropriate perhaps only for very beginning boaters.

Sailing Educational Apps

  • The multi-part American Sailing Association ASA app defies simple categorization, but its best features are useful for learning sailing skills and information.
  • The Safe Skipper - Safety Afloat app has lots of good information about staying safe on a boat and what to do if an emergency occurs.
  • The Sailboat app for Android is a simple simulation and racing game.
  • Points of Sail is a simple app for teaching sailing terms and sail positions for points of sail.
  • SailSim is a more useful app for learning about how the sails and other sailing aspects vary according to wind and point of sail .
  • History of Sailing is much more than just about history - it provides a basic introduction to many sailing topics for those wanting to learn the fundamentals.
  • Sailing Flashcards is a simple app for learning the parts of a sailboat and sailing terminology.
  • Stay away from the Nautical Books app, which just wants your money for books you can get free - read the review to learn how.

Sailing Game Apps

  • America’s Cup Speed Trials is a simple racing game from the official America’s Cup folks.
  • Tall Ships Age of Sail is a fun naval battle game with some historical and sailing realism.
  • Sailboat Championship PRO is a sailboat racing game for iPhone and iPad that has some nice touches.
  • 3D Sailing Simulator Regatta is a better sailboat racing game for Android devices.
  • Little Sailor is the best sailing simulator and racing game for Apple devices.

Miscellaneous Boating Apps

  • The BoatUS app is an easy way to call for a tow or to let others know where you are, showing your location on a map.
  • Magnetic Bearing is an app that makes it easy to use your smartphone to take quick bearings on landmarks for navigation or other boats to avoid a collision.
  • In an emergency, it may help to have an app on your phone or another device that can send a Morse code SOS light beacon into the dark to be seen by rescuers.
  • The GPS Tracking Pro (Life 360) app for Android and iOS smartphones can help you keep track of other boaters or your kids when they go out by themselves.

GPS and Hardware for Apps

  • Need cheap connectivity for your laptop or tablet when cruising? FreedomPop’s mobile wi-fi hotspot is cheap and may be your perfect solution.
  • If you need a waterproof case for your iPhone or want to add a GPS to your iPod Touch for using navigation apps, check out the Magellan ToughCase.
  • The Dual XGPS150 Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver can be used with an iPod Touch or iPad (or Android smartphone or laptop) to provide a GPS location for navigation apps.
  • How to Install a Voltmeter on Your Boat
  • How to Attach Jib Sheets With a Soft Shackle
  • How to Make Your Own Stern Pulpit Rail Seat
  • How to Keep Your Boat Dry and Prevent Mildew
  • Review of Lehr Propane Outboard Engine
  • How to Rig a Preventer Line
  • Using AIS on Your Sailboat
  • Control Your Tiller Without a Tiller-Tamer
  • Comparing AIS Boating Apps: Ship Finder, Marine Traffic, Boat Beacon
  • How to Boat
  • How to Use a Mainsheet Traveler
  • The Basics of Navigation
  • Raster versus Vector Charts in Nautical Use
  • Before Buying a Boat, Choose the Right Size
  • Learn How to Sail a Small Sailboat – 1. The Parts of the Boat
  • When to Adjust Sailboat Sails for Stronger Winds

For Racers, By Racers

  • 'RaceTac' App: Tactical Support for the Serious Racer! The Heads-Up and Hands-Off Data and Features You Need to Win!
  • 'RaceTac Committee' App: Start Sequencer and Finish Time Logger for the Race Committee. Now with race scoring! Reduce Workload and Errors!
  • 'RaceTac RMS' Web based Regatta Management System. Handles Registration and will soon integrate scoring with the 'RaceTac Committee' app. Click HERE for info.
  • 'Sail-Board' Free Web based Whiteboard Tool to show boat and mark positions. Review rules, teach, review protests. See Menu above.
  • See the Products Page for More Details!

Copyright © 2020 - Hubbard Software

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Interface Full Audio Subtitles
English
French
Italian
German
Spanish - Spain
Japanese
Korean
Polish
Portuguese - Brazil
Russian
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Turkish
Spanish - Latin America

best sailboat racing apps

Planned Release Date: 2025

About this game, system requirements.

  • OS: Windows 10 64bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super or AMD Radeon RX VEGA 56 or Intel Arc A750
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 30 GB available space
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT or Intel Arc A770

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IMAGES

  1. Regatta

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  2. Sailware (Sailboat Racing)

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  3. Regatta

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  4. MarineVerse's Sailboat Racing Training on Steam

    best sailboat racing apps

  5. Calendar app and sailboat-racing game: iPhone apps of the week

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  6. Improve Your Sailing Performance

    best sailboat racing apps

COMMENTS

  1. Apps for Sailors: Five of the Coolest Racing Apps Afloat

    Mar 18, 2015. Given the wealth of available apps, it's not surprising there is plenty of sailing-specific software that can shave time off your racing results. Here's a look at five of the coolest racing apps afloat: SailCoach Pro ($21.99 at the Apple App store) was designed to help sailors of all ability levels—as well as their coaches ...

  2. SailRacer

    InkDisplay released. After months of painstaking development, Sailracer.net, a sailing app and a company, greatly appreciated by more than 60 000 users, has launched their latest product - InkDisplay - high contrast display for sailing with the best possible visibility even through polarized sunglasses in direct sunshine. Read more.

  3. WHAT IS THE BEST SAILING APP?

    #returntoboating #apps #lockdown #covid19 #strava #trackingHannah Diamond checks out some of the apps that are available to help get back into competitive sa...

  4. 10 apps every sailor and boater should have

    Yes, RaceQs. Using GPS this app can track one or more boats in a fleet, measure distances, speeds and then play back the race. Recommended for anyone who likes competitive sailing. 10 mobile apps that every sailor should have at sea — weather forecasts, GPS navigation, information on moorings, anchor alarm, marine knots and more.

  5. Sailware

    A phone, tablet, and watch app for sailboat racing. Download; Download; Gain a Tactical Advantage. ... Sailware gives you tactical information to help you time your start, find the layline, and decide if you are on the best tack. Apple Watch. With Sailware premium, adjust your start timer and get access to the most important in race tactical ...

  6. Replay and analyze your race with RaceQs sailing app

    Relive your sailing adventures with raceQs' free, 3D, animated race replays. Record one boat or an entire fleet and watch the replay to evaluate your performance in 3D. You don't need any special equipment to get started, just a GPS or a smart phone. Give it a test drive today and change the way you race.

  7. The Top iPhone Apps for Sailing

    As a recent convert to the iPhone, I've been exploring the world of apps to discover which ones provide something truly useful. When I searched for "sailing" in the App Store, over 150 programs popped up. Out of those, here are the three that I'd most want with me while cruising or racing. MotionX GPS, version 10.0 $2.99.

  8. Tactiqs Performance System

    For windward-leeward racing the iOS app provides a course configurator that lets you create ad-hoc courses based on number of legs and direction & distance to the weather mark. ... "Tactiqs® is a must-have for any skipper who demands the best from their boat. Having speed, wind, and performance data at your eyelids gives a remarkable edge in ...

  9. Take tactical decisions and track your regatta with SailRacer.net

    Take tactical decisions and track your regatta with SailRacer.net sailing app. SailRacer.net is an app for skipper or tactician to take decisions faster during the sailing events and regattas. It is also an integrated solution for clubs to organize events, share race courses and track the fleets.

  10. Sail Racer

    This is a sail racing app for sailing enthusiasts and professionals. ... time and guides the maneuvers that the start line was hit at the last moment with the best possible speed during your sail. With the sail app it is easy to navigate in racing area. Sail Racer interface is designed in a way that course efficiency, the lay lines and shifts ...

  11. Sailware (Sailboat Racing)

    About this app. Sailware allows sailboat racers to input courses and track progress to the next mark in a race with information such as VMG to course, angle to the next mark, and sailing time/distance to the layline. Sailware also provides tools to help sailboat racers time the start of the race/regatta. Each sailboat/yacht race's GPS track is ...

  12. ‎Virtual Regatta Inshore on the App Store

    Best sailboat racing game out there. This is by far the best racing games (sailing) on the App Store. It hits on all of the key aspects of racing; fighting for a good start, wind shifts, wind shadow, vmg, etc. The only areas that could use some improvement are the rules and how a penalties are resolved. The basic rules are all there, port ...

  13. Best navigation apps: 6 top options tested

    iSailor. iSailor is another app that works well as an extension to your boat's onboard systems. It will connect to the NMEA system and internet AIS, although each feature you unlock costs money ...

  14. Top yacht apps for racing and cruising

    Best iPad apps for race starts iRegatta This is packed with features, including GPS, AIS and an NMEA input for displaying boat instrument data (available as additional in-app purchases).

  15. RaceTac For Sailboat Racing

    RaceTac provides the sailboat skipper with a dynamic 'Heads-Up' and 'Hands Off' display of the critical information needed in a race. Main features include: - Hands Off Operation - Shifts from 'Start Mode' to 'Race Mode' automatically. Also advances to the next Mark after rounding. You need your eye on the helm, not fiddling with screens.

  16. ‎Sail Racer on the App Store

    Sail Racer is designed and developed by sailors. It has everything to sail on the edge. - Time to burn, Coundown and Starting box distances. - Wind average calculation for 6minutes and an hour. - Course average calculation (in case you do not have NMEA data) - Boat efficiency according to polar data. - Mark, Layline distance and ETA.

  17. Best sailing watches: 16 options for racing and cruising

    Garmin Quatix 7. Best smart sailing watch. Specifications: Apple or android smart phone compatible, Sizes: 47mm / 51mm, Weight 70g, Battery life: up to 16 days with screen on by demand, GPS ...

  18. Top 10 Sailing Apps

    List of the Best iOS and Android Sailing Apps. 1. Knots 3D. Thanks to careful boat design and engineering, sailboat rigs are more straightforward than ever. Sailing vessels from decades past once had enough rope to satisfy any scoutmaster, but now it's a lot easier to sail without managing too many lines.

  19. ‎Sailboat Championship on the App Store

    Become the ultimate master of Sailboat Championship - the only true and addicting sailing simulation with unique gameplay for your device. PRESS QUOTES: "It looks and plays great, the only thing missing is the feel of the wind" - GameStyle. "Definitely for fans of sailing or those looking for a more relaxing game" - AppSpy.

  20. The best Sailing App in the market

    ORGANISE YOUR OWN RACE WITH SAILMON RACING. Create an event in the Sailmon App, invite your friends, and enjoy an effortless experience with real-time communication, accurate start times, and instant feedback on OCS, mark roundings, and automatically generated race results. DISCOVER HOW 5.

  21. Best sailing apps: top apps for sailors and boaters

    Navionics. A superb and popular sailing and cruising app. Users can access nautical charts with tides and currents, informations on marinas and ports, see and create Sonar charts, share information with other users, locate fishing areas and more. Availability: Android and iOS.

  22. Best Sailing Racing Electronics

    The best sailing electronics for racing are the Airmar DST, Dometic Steering Actuator, and the Garmin Quatix Marine Smartwatch. ... The Airmar DST 810 streamlines speed calibration with its integrated attitude sensor and even has the free CAST app that eliminates the need for expensive computer software. Racers can obtain heel-compensated speed ...

  23. Anyone have a good tablet/racing app combination they like?

    Watch is great, because it buzzes on the minute, ambiently telling you. I have a $30 pinetime watch that has potential, but it needs some development of the app. I had a pebble that was the best, had a good timer, and an app to display speed and direction off the phone but the screen went wonky after a few years.

  24. Best Navigation apps for sailors: Navionics Boating app

    Navionics Boating app. This app is intuitive and easy to use. Charts are quick to render and auto zooming of detail is probably best in class. Text is used to good effect and tells you when you ...

  25. 8 Best Apps for sailors in 2024

    PredictWind offers 2 apps for Inshore and Offshore sailing. These apps contain several powerful tools - weather routing and departure planning tools, live wind observations, and forecast alerts directly to your phone. PredictWind is highly rewarded among racing and offshore sailors. The Offshore app is paired up with Iridium GO.

  26. Best Sailing, Navigation and Boating Apps

    Sailing Game Apps . America's Cup Speed Trials is a simple racing game from the official America's Cup folks. Tall Ships Age of Sail is a fun naval battle game with some historical and sailing realism. Sailboat Championship PRO is a sailboat racing game for iPhone and iPad that has some nice touches.

  27. RaceTac

    Committee. Products for Both the Regatta Sailor and the Race Committee. 'RaceTac' App: Tactical Support for the Serious Racer! The Heads-Up and Hands-Off Data and Features You Need to Win! 'RaceTac Committee' App: Start Sequencer and Finish Time Logger for the Race Committee. Now with race scoring! Reduce Workload and Errors!

  28. Review: Xquisite 30 Sportcat Top 10 Best Boats 2024 Nominee

    SAIL Charter Editor Zuzana Prochazka is a USCG 100-ton master who logs countless miles on all kinds of boats around the world and never misses an opportunity to raise a sail or crawl into the engine room of a new design. She serves as an international presenter on charter, safety, and technical topics, and is the executive director for the ...

  29. What apps do people use for sailing? : r/sailing

    What apps do people use for sailing? : r/sailing. Go to sailing. r/sailing. r/sailing. /r/Sailing is a place to ask about, share, show, and enjoy all about sailing, sail boat racing, and technical discussions. As long as it is about sailing and civil, it is welcome here. *Please note that if your Reddit account is new or you have low Karma then ...

  30. WILL: Follow The Light on Steam

    An escapism-themed plot takes inspiration from the game Firewatch, while the visuals and atmosphere are influenced by Alan Wake. WILL: Follow The Light features unusual but intuitive game mechanics against an enthralling backdrop of epic northern scenery. You will find yourself sailing between remote islands and uncharted waters.