Nautical Chart Integration

We have just released the Sailracer app including paper or digital charts overlay on top of Google maps.

A nautical chart is a must have tool in navigation and racing- without it, we wouldn’t have essential information that assists in plotting courses or establishing the ship’s position, in relation to its surrounding areas. They help us make sure we don’t use the wrong marks and make mistakes that could cost us our safety or our place in the race. Without charts, we would be unable to avoid danger and we couldn’t even imagine a sailing competition.

A Brief History of Nautical Charts

In the past, nautical charts were first hand drawn then printed on paper. Today; paper charts are still used, but mostly as backup – electronic charts are the primary source of data. These are more than a “digital paper chart” – they are continuous, efficient data sources, coming from internationally recognized organizations.

Unlike a paper chart, an electronic one does not require navigators to use multiple large sheets of paper from which to gather the information they need. Still, they generally require complex and expensive equipment, which some seafarers might find difficult to integrate into their vessels. Basically, you might not carry a pile of massive paper charts, but you would carry an entire hardware store instead. Isn’t that a relief?!

Integrating Nautical Charts into Mobile Apps

With the recent developments in mobile technology, it’s easier for sailors to take their charts onboard. They can now use a variety of software applications that integrate them and also provide many other essential features. However, the market is still in need of great apps that come with everything one would need. Essentially, there is an app for charts, one for speed, one for wind; so on and so forth. Well, now we have a pile of apps in our mobile devices instead of a pile of paper charts.

Efficient, all-in-one sail racing aps are hard to find; but don’t despair, mates, there is hope! We would like to introduce you to SailRacer, an app that comes as a package of great features that pretty much do it all for you.

Introducing SailRacer

SailRacer is a sail racing app that serves as an additional tool next to the standard equipment, to take tactical decisions faster and to boost boat and crew performance. You can install it on your Android or iOS device, create your account and start using it right away.

Why SailRacer?

SailRacer perfectly aligns nautical charts with GPS data, to eliminate the need to navigate using physical maps or multiple devices or apps; providing everything you need in one simple and convenient app. Sailors can pinpoint all navigation points and avoid human errors that could lead to missing waypoints and accidents. What is even more exciting is the new chart upload feature, which allows paper chart fans to scan or take a picture, then download their charts into the app.

Charts are extremely easy to use within SailRacer – You can plot your course in seconds, using the “map center” feature that helps you add precise marks, without needing to find out and enter any location coordinates.

On top of that, SailRacer comes packed with an entire suite of features that makes racing even more pleasant and exciting than it already is. You get a compass rose that displays your course, a shift indicator to show your course deviation, boat efficiency, current or speed information. Your marks and laylines, sail wind (NMEA) and polar data are right at your fingertips, on the main screen.

The entire interface is designed so that the important information is captured in a split second, without the need to analyze the numbers. Wouldn’t that boost your chances of winning the race?