10 nautical Apps you can’t live without
Technology plays a huge part in our lives: we are constantly connected to our smartphone, we check our facebook feeds all the time and turn to Google for any question. We are continuously searching for new tools to make our lives easier, and Apps play a fundamental role: with thousands of different Apps, with tons of functions for every sector imaginable.
Boating is equally well covered: with Apps that let you check the weather forecast in real time, plan and create your routes on your smartphone, teach you the art of knot tying or book the right boat for you or to find a berth where you can dock even while you are sailing.
Discover the apps to download before your next boat trip:
1- Wind Finder: This app allows you to stay up to date with the weather forecast, the tides and the direction of the wind at every moment. The app offers forecast for 7 days in over 30 000 locations thanks to a high resolution Superforecast meteorological model with a realtime forecast that lets you find out about the wind, waves and the weather in general. Perfect for all those who enjoy windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing or sailing. Available for free on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
User vote: 4,3 out of 5
2- 3b Meteo: Another weather App but this time specific to the Italian peninsula. Still with real time capabilities thanks to the use of the latest technology that uses real weather data, satellite images and radar. This App has a ton of functionality including real time news, reports, scientific-environmental curiosities, videos made by the meteorologist of the editorial staff and a big community where you can share photos and videos or just signal the weather conditions in your area. Available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
User vote:4,3 on 5
3- Bussola Smart Compass: Basic tool for those who want to know where they are. The app shows the magnetic north using the inner sensor of the phone. It is able to give you an augmented reality thanks to the use of the camera. You can take a picture while on your route and it will indicate the coordinates on the image. Available for Android.
User vote: 4,2 out of 5
4- Bandiere Nautiche Free: A free App that allows you to know, study and learn the significance of the nautical flags and the international nautical code. In the App there is also a quiz section that lets you see how knowledgable you are. Available for Android.
User vote: 4,3 out of 5
5- Sail Racer: This App allows you to plan you race better, with the possibility to take more fast decisions and improve the performance of your boat and crew. SailRacer calculates your perfect start and tactical manoeuvers during the race based on current, wind, laylines and polarity. Organise and track your own race event and invite everyone to a live view of your event. Available for Android and iOS.
User vote: 4,1 out of 5
6- Quiz Patente Nautica Free: This App allow you to train for your boat licence with over 530 quizzes divided by subject. It also has a handy function which shows the statistics for your answers, allowing you to be sure that every subject matter is well covered and uses “Matter repetition” so the answers stick in your mind. Available for Android.
User vote: 4,2 out of 5
7- Polaris sistema di navigazione: This App gives a complete system of mapping and navigation that includes points of interest, updates on maritime traffic and on the weather. Polaris offers a complete experience of navigation, with graphics, writing and audio information. The system of navigation Polaris includes GPS, a odometer, an altimeter, a speedometer and directional compass. Available for Android.
User vote: 4,3 out of 5
8- Useful Knots: Useful Knots offer a selected list of the best knots for the most practical situations. Knots are categorised by type and each knot has a description and step by step instructions with pictures and a guide on how to tie it, specifying the difficulty, the efficacy and the usefulness. Includes over 92 knots. Available for Android.
User vote: 4,1 out of 5
9- Marinanow: Perhaps we are a bit bias but we love this app. The whole world of boating in one App. Marinanow allows you to book a berth in your favourite marina, to charter the perfect boat, to find shops and services near ports and to take advantage of many other features like the bunkerage. With Marinanow there is no need to worry about finding a berth or a boat for your next holiday: there are over 1200 marinas and more than 4000 boats in all the Mediterranean sea. Moreover, if you are an owner of a boat or a berth and want to earn a bit of money you can use Marinanow to let it out when you’re not using it. The App is available both for Android and iOS.
User vote: 4,2 out of 5
10- Boating by Navionics: This turns your tablet or smartphone into a route plotter, with the same cartographic sharpness. Downloading the app itself is free, but each nautical map has a fee (the prices are variable but it’s cheaper than buying the paper versions). You can plan and change your routes, take location tagged photos to create a virtual log book, and consult the current weather forecast. Available for Android and iOS.
User vote: 4,1 out of 5
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