My padel and tennis scorekeeping app is so close to being ready that I decided it was time to start my other project, just to make sure I get it ready by summer. It seems that now that I know how to set up a multiplatform project and plan everything properly, things move much faster than they did the first time.

I managed to build a product that solves my own need in just one weekend (and that included the time I waited for my tokens to be restored).

Now, if you don’t know sailing, this must all sound pretty meaningless, but the app actually does several interesting things – it’s already better than anything I’m aware of. The route it uses is the real route from the Helsinki–Tallinn Race, and the wind data is live.

⚓ The app focuses on showing you the current leg to your next waypoint. The map is zoomed so that it always fits the leg on the screen.

⚓ You get all the basic calculations related to your current heading and speed, just as you’d expect.

⚓ You can easily swipe through the route leg by leg, or zoom out to see the bigger picture.

⚓ Live wind data is available for the whole course, by default showing the wind conditions at the estimated time you will reach each point.

⚓ There are helper lines showing when you are on the layline to your waypoint – in other words, when it’s the right time to tack in order to make it. The system adjusts your tack angle based on your previous tacks, so it reflects your upwind performance in the prevailing conditions.

⚓ You also get a forecast of the wind direction after the next rounding, making it easier to plan ahead for which sails and trim you’ll need.

⚓ There is also an experimental point-of-view mode that switches the map into the kind of 2.5D perspective used in car navigation apps. It looks a bit jumpy because the simulator is running at 10x speed, and I added some noise to the rudder angle to make it feel more organic.

My initial idea was to build a tool to help with the start of a regatta, but I got a bit carried away and ended up building the rest of the race first. I also have some ideas on how to take away the pain from entering your course info into the system. And of course, the watch app is still entirely missing.

If you’d like to try something like this, hit me up. The simulation mode I added is already quite nice, but this would definitely benefit from some beta testing.

Original post