Best Boating Apps for a Vancouver Sailing Trip

Technology is king in the 21st century. There are not many activities that aren’t enhanced tenfold by the addition of some technology.

When on board one of our beautiful yachts, sailing around the Vancouver Isle and Nanaimo, you may benefit from having some app-based assistance.

So we thought we would compile a list of the most useful apps for sailing out there for you.

NOAA SUPERRES RADAR HD (IOS)

There are impressive zooms, animation features, and lots of pretty colors to choose from as well as terrain, hybrid, satellite and normal map styles.

The GPS locator can be particularly useful when boating for leisure and travel, and you can share your location as well as search for desired stop off points.

RADARSCOPE

Is the Android version of NOAA for all intents and purposes. It is used widely by weather fanatics as well as meteorologists.

It also has impressive resolution and radar and can also provide warnings for impending adverse weather conditions and can even pinpoint the centre of storms.

WINDFINDER

It is great if you are planning on doing some activities whilst on your yachting trip in Nanaimo such as windsurfing or kite surfing but is also useful for simple sailing

Forecasts are accurate and provide real time info so you always know what you are about to come up against. This app also doesn’t gobble up data like some of the others, which means a quicker loading time, and less wasted data!

TIDES NEAR ME

It is great if you are planning on doing some activities whilst on your yachting trip in Nanaimo such as windsurfing or kite surfing but is also useful for simple sailing

Forecasts are accurate and provide real time info so you always know what you are about to come up against. This app also doesn’t gobble up data like some of the others, which means a quicker loading time, and less wasted data!

NAVIONICS BOATING – GPS

Is available for free, and at the moment they have a promotion which allows you to focus on one region for two weeks for free too – perfect for holiday yachters!

Their Navionics+ subscription includes downloads of the most up to date nautical charts too. So if you are a regular yachter this may be a good investment – especially if you like charts and graphs!

DOCKWA

Dockwa is an app which helps you as a yachter book into ports wherever the tide takes you within New England.

The app’s primary function is to connect boaters to marinas. It is quick, convenient, and hassle free. You can explore all your mooring options here in one interface. You can reserve pay, and get confirmation within one click.

BOATRAX

This app gives little snapshots of weather as well as other useful information such as fuel level, and you can even input a shopping list into it!

With the trip log function you can see where you have been, know how many engine hours you have racked up, and calculate the total amount of fuel used in a journey.

SWELL ADVANTAGE

It has a color coded chart system which easily shows sailors which areas are safe to stop in, through looking at currents and sea conditions at the time

This means it will tell you when it’s ok to pull up and enjoy that well deserved glass of wine, and when you are likely to lose that wine over the side in choppy conditions

FISHINGSCOUT

It is a location based app and allows you to share tips across a good network of regular fishermen. It boasts detailed coordinate information and maps.

You can also post a pic of your best catch onto the Braggin’ Board. No holiday is complete without a little competition after all.