Sailing apps: which apps do you need on board for navigation, weather and safety?

There are sailing apps for almost every job on board, and the choice keeps growing. Rather than a ranking, it helps to look at the four areas that matter for safety: navigation, weather, tides and emergencies. For each the same questions apply. Where does the data come from, how current is it, and does the app still work once the signal has gone? Answer those before you leave the berth and the phone becomes a tool rather than a distraction. Which apps you need depends on where and how far you sail.

Chart apps show position, course and speed, record the track and often include an anchor alarm. Download the charts for your area in advance so they work offline, and check how up to date they are. For weather, model based apps give the big picture but smooth out local gusts and squalls, so the Met Office shipping and inshore waters forecasts belong alongside them. Tidal predictions from the UK Hydrographic Office help with tidal gates and harbour entrances.

For safety, passage tracking apps let you log a trip with route and expected arrival. In the UK there is RYA SafeTrx; according to the RYA, a nominated emergency contact is alerted if you do not arrive or check in on time, and HM Coastguard can view your details when needed. All of this depends on mobile coverage. A fixed or handheld VHF with DSC reaches the coastguard and nearby vessels where the phone cannot, and a PLB or EPIRB alerts by satellite. Carry a power bank, spread key apps over two devices and test each one in harbour.

Worth remembering

Apps add to the VHF and the chart; they replace neither.