Smart sailing apps

Smart sailing apps have become so useful for safe yacht cruising. These are helpful and accurate for crucial tasks that ensure boating safety, saving time and space. However it is always a good idea to count first with traditional devices, e.g. still to have paper charts and other back up tools, especially for longer passages.

Weather

Windy

• Detailed weather forecasts, accurate live world wind map, and local weather reports
• Recognized by the World Meteorological Organization as the best sports and outdoor app, great for sailing passage planning.
• Get more info and download it here: https://windy.app/

Windguru

• Live maps with weather conditions and tides
• Data on wind (speed, gusts, direction); waves (height, period, direction); and weather (cloud cover, temperature, precipitation)
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.windguru.cz/apps.php

PredictWind

• Clean interface, accurate with four forecast models, plus real-time wind conditions, very reliable.
• Suggests best route across wind, wave height, currents as well the best day to set sail It uses GRIB data from various sources. You can choose your source if you like (eg. if you have a preference for US or European weather models).
• Various add-ons as gust map, routing feature, etc.
• Note that sometimes weather models underestimate the predicted wind speed, – good to consider adding 5-6 knots while planning.
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.predictwind.com/

Navigation

Navionics

• One of the best and detailed nautical charts for cruising, fishing, sailing, and more water activities. updated regularly and contains useful information about anchorages and weather patterns in the area.
• Navionics utilizes vector charts and allows the user to connect to some chartplotters via Wi-Fi to transfer routes and waypoints
• Charts, once downloaded, are stored on the device for offline use
• Allow for easy waypoint placement and access to local weather and tide information
• A two-week trial comes free, then the charts must be purchased to continue using the app. In-app purchases open up additional features such as auto routing and sonar charts.
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.navionics.com/fin/apps/navionics-boating

Seapilot

• User friendly and easy, with up-to-date charts and a social boating feature for group sailing trips
• The basic version is free, while the premium version includes features like weather routing and forecasts
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.seapilot.com/

Mooring and anchoring

Anchor Alarm

• A simple and straightforward anchor guard: get alerts if boat leaves the radius (which can be set and adjusted)
• Search for anchorages in the area where other crews have anchored before
• Get more info and download it here: https://apps.apple.com/app/ankeralarm/id1428485893 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.whsoft.ankeralarm&hl=en

Anchor Pro

• Another simple yet essential app for tracking location and getting alerted if boat starts to drift
• Additional alerts include GPS reception and battery level
• Get more info and download it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchor-pro/id1445476850

Multiple features

SailGrib WR

• Includes most important sailing features for routing, weather, currents, tides, nautical charts, NMEA, AIS, anchor alarm, and much more
• Most features can be downloaded separately
• Get more info: https://www.sailgrib.com/
• Download it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sailgrib_wr

Booking marinas and anchorages

Navily

• One of the top and acurate anchorage information guides in Europe with contributions on over 50,000 marinas and anchorages helps you easily find and book berth.
• Plenty of comments and pictures from community of app users. Just note that reviews are people’s own experience so they won’t necessarily match your own )
• Locations rated for overall protection so you can get an idea of how protected you’ll be in predicted winds, information about holding the bottom and similar.
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.navily.com/

mySea

• A leading portal for online berth booking, find and reserve berth in marinas, buoy fields, and jetties ahead of time for a quick and simple check-in process
• Offers a best-price guarantee
• Get more info and download it here: https://my-sea.com/en

Fun & travel

Deezer or / and Spotify

• Create the perfect holiday playlist with access to millions of songs
• Download and enjoy music offline with the premium versions
• Get more info and download here for Spotify: https://www.spotify.com/us/
• Get more info and download here for Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/

Life360

• Location-sharing app for keeping track of and finding loved ones
• Important in case of separation or if someone gets lost on holiday
• Get more info and download it here: https://www.life360.com/intl/

MarineTrafic

• Location-sharing app uses phone signal to find AIS information in your area and lets you know where other boats are and gives extra information such as boat speed and destination so you can get an idea of their possible heading. (AIS stands for Automatic Identification System – a system used to supplement radar information for collision avoidance)
• Obviously not all boats have AIS, so it really is only a guide, but can help defining potential collision courses, e.g. during low visibility situation.

Google Earth

• Great offline maps. Charts will tell you one thing. But sometimes you want a second opinion. If you sail in an area with a questionable bottom, it can be very handy to have a bird’s-eye view.
• Anchorages or shallow passages can be clearly seen on Google Earth – you can head to an anchorage and find that patch of sand even in the dark.