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

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://www.windguru.cz/apps.php
Windguru

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

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 sails. 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

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

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

Multiple features

Booking marinas and anchorages

Navily

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

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

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