Sailware (Sailboat Racing)

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 recorded so that it can be reviewed after the regatta completes.

Key Features:

Import/Export courses and marks in GPX format. Easily attach GPX files to e-mail with the Sailware sharing features and import e-mail attachments and files by simply selecting them in the app to launch Sailware GPX importing. With Sailware Premium you can export GPS sailing tracks for completed races.

Sailboat racers will appreciate the ability to differentiate marks by color and type and to label the starboard or port rounding. Marks are automatically advanced as you get near to them. All text readings are shown in white font on a black background to maximize readability in all conditions.

The race timer can be set for a standard countdown of any length. With Sailware Premium, an audio timer is available to keep the crew in sync and the start time can be set to a specific time of day, even to the second, to handle pursuit starts. Once the race timer is set, sailboat racers can easily adjust the timer to match the committee boat.

Sailboat racers with a premium subscription have access to tools to help them start on time. Racers can set a start line and then Sailware indicates whether the sailboat is early or late to the start. Sailware adjusts for the sailboat or yacht size and GPS placement, so make sure to configure your sailboat or yacht measurements in the settings.

Sailware records the GPS sailing track for each regatta that can be reviewed later. Sailboat racers can playback the regatta or view a GPS sailing track of the race. This is very useful for updating mark locations if the initially entered coordinates do not match reality. Premium subscribers can export the GPS sailing track of past races and courses to the GPX standard format.

Sailware supports NOAA charts and offline maps for premium subscribers and google maps for all sailboat racers to view boat position relative to the next mark. The display shows the current boat position, bearing, and the target mark. An overlaid compass shows the bearing. In addition the layline is shown. Chart and map information is available in the settings.

In addition to VMC (VMG to course), Sailware calculates and informs sailboat racers whether the sailboat is on the shortest leg to the mark. This feature can be especially helpful when the next mark is far away or not visible.

A premium subscription supports advanced post race/regatta analysis such as tools to review the tacking angles, a color coded "heat" track that visually represents boat speed during the race, and the ability to filter out pre and post race maneuvers. Knowing what tacking angles your sailboat or yacht is capable of in various conditions can help sailboat racers better choose when to tack in order to make the mark. With a premium subscription sailboat racers can get a better idea of their yacht's typical tacking angles in various conditions.

Wear OS watch support is also available with a premium subscription. Once the race is set up on the phone, sailboat racers can manage the entire race from a Wear OS watch. Just put the phone somewhere safe nearby with good GPS reception and the watch app can give sailboat racers the most critical information about their progress toward the next mark. Even the start timer can be started, stopped, and adjusted from the watch once it has been initially set up on the phone. If you have a larger yacht, give the watch to a crew member and keep the phone in the cockpit so that key tactical information is more available to everyone in the racing crew.