Over the years, dozens of handy apps have become available to make your experience at sea much easier and more enjoyable. Some of the best sailing apps out there can assist you with everything from route planning to boat safety, ensuring your boating excursions are as seamless as possible.
At Sailyachts.com, we’ve tried our fair share of sailing apps, which means we’re pretty good at separating the best from the rest! To help you prepare for your charter vacation, we’ve selected the top sailing apps you have to check out.
Please be aware that all prices in this article are subject to geographical location and place of purchase.
Top Sailing Apps for Your Vacation
Tide Alert
Tide Alert is a fantastic app that does exactly what its name suggests. Not all sailing trips require an app like Tide Alert, but it’s a non-negotiable for sailors exploring the seas surrounding France, the United Kingdom, and the east coast of the U.S.A.
With Tide Alert, you’ll be informed of expected low and high tides through the app’s predictions and alarms. Thanks to its offline function, you’ll continue to receive alerts even if you lose signal. Yearly subscriptions go for €18.45 for Apple and Android devices, though this depends on the region you’re choosing.
Anchor Watch
There’s always a chance your boat will drift slightly after anchoring, but Anchor Watch will ensure it doesn’t stray too far.
Simply assign a designated area for your vessel, and the app will keep track of its precise location. Should your boat move beyond the perimeters you’ve set, Anchor Watch will trigger an alarm on your device.
Android products support Anchor Watch. The app is free, but various upgrades can be purchased for a small fee.
Best Sailing Route Planner Apps
Navionics
Navionics might just be the all-around best sailing app on the market. It works for fishing, diving, and pretty much any water-based activity, but it’s especially useful for sailing.
The app uses nautical and sonar charts to help users keep up to speed with water depths, currents, and navigation aids, allowing you to plan your routes safely and effectively. Better still, it’s consistently updated, meaning you’ll always have access to the latest information.
As one of the leading and most feature-filled apps, Navionics is also among the most expensive. A one-year subscription on iOS or Android typically starts from €49.99 but can rise to €149.99 based on the region you’re sailing in and its associated functions.
Marine Traffic
Marine Traffic is another great sailing route planner app. It displays the real-time location of other vessels in popular ports and marinas worldwide.
If you’re approaching a busy passage of water, Marine Traffic can help you determine the best route to avoid potential congestion or impediments. It’s also a helpful tool when you’re looking for a suitable marina to dock at.
Although the basic iOS or Android app is free, you can unlock several bonus features for an additional fee. For example, the standard package is €19 a month, or you can upgrade to the professional plan for a monthly fee of €69.
Best Weather Apps
Windy
While no weather app is guaranteed to make correct predictions every time, Windy is as reliable as they come. Windy’s precipitation, wind, temperature, and wave forecasts are among the most accurate and incredibly popular amongst sailors, fishermen, and rescue teams.
With closely monitored forecasts for up to seven days, Windy allows you to plan accordingly each day. That way, you can avoid specific areas at the appropriate time to avoid adverse or unpleasant sailing conditions.
Both Android and iOS support Windy, and the free version of the app is sufficient for most sailing expeditions. For more detailed, minute-by-minute updates, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version for an annual payment of €18.99.
Predict Wind
Predict Wind is a favorite amongst staff here at Sailyachts.com, and it’s even been used for water sports like yacht racing and for coastal and offshore passages.
The live maps on Predict Wind are highly detailed, with up-to-date information about wind speeds, direction, swells, and precipitation. Not only that, but it also offers maps in resolutions of 100, 50, 8, and 1 km.
It’s available on both the Apple App and Google Play stores. Though the app is free, to use many of the key features, you must pay a subscription fee. For €26.77, you’ll enjoy the basic package for 12 months.
Best Sailing Apps for Boating Safety
Sea Help
Sea Help is among the best free sailing apps available and is a must for anyone planning to sail around Europe. If you ever run into trouble, Sea Help allows you to send out a distress signal and contact you immediately to check if you need a rescue boat.
You don’t have to sign up as a member of the app to avail of this feature, but if you register, you’ll have a chance to select one of Sea Help’s four membership options. These packages will provide you with extra assistance for various incidents like breakdowns, missing parts, and tows.
The app is free with iOS and Android, but you’ll need to pay if you choose to select one of the membership packages. The prices vary depending on your specific circumstances, but prices start at around €99.
Safe Skipper
When it comes to practical guidance and safety procedures for sailing, it doesn’t get much better than Safe Skipper. No matter how much sailing experience you have, downloading this app before departing will give you some peace of mind, as you’ll always have something to refer to.
Safe Skipper is akin to a guidebook. It features demonstrations, illustrations, and tips for every aspect of your journey, including preparing, using equipment correctly, and responding in an emergency.
At €0.91, it’s an inexpensive but highly functional app available on the Google Play and Apple App stores.
Best Sailing Apps for Finding Anchorages
Navily
In recent years, Navily has become a go-to app for sailors looking for a place to anchor. The app covers all of the planet’s top sailing spots and includes information about over 35,000 anchorages and marinas.
In addition to highlighting each anchorage’s specific locations, Navily also allows users to leave reviews. With this function, you’ll quickly be able to discern if a particular anchorage is suited to your needs and that of your boat.
For €19.99 a year, premium Navily users can secure features like offline mode, advanced maps, and automatic itineraries. However, the free version of the app is also excellent.
Aqua Map Boating
Aqua Map Boating is a multi-functional sailing app. It helps with route planning, tides, and weather, but it’s especially great at guiding users toward nearby anchorages.
The app uses GPS to ascertain the specific location of thousands of anchorages. Moreover, it even has an anchor alarm to alert you if your boat has drifted out of your chosen pre-selected range.
After you’ve installed the app on your iOS or Android device, you must select the region that applies to you. Prices vary depending on what region you choose but typically start from €4.61.
Final Words
With these useful sailing and yachting apps at your disposal, you can reduce some of the stress of planning your trip and let technology do the heavy lifting.
At Sailyachts.com, we’ve helped our past clients make their navigation of the high seas much easier with these hand-picked apps because of their practicality and ease of use. If you’re considering hiring a yacht soon but unsure where to get started, reach out to us through our Contact Us Page, and we’ll help you choose the right vessel to suit your needs.
