iRegatta

Application: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Function:  Racing Start Timer, Navigation
Cost: $9.99
Rating: ****

I do a bit of sailboat racing on the the lake I live on in South Dakota.  One of the challenges has always been getting to the starting line on time and knowing which end of the line was favored to the wind direction.  I have looked at other GPS devices like the Velocitek Prostart but found them too expensive.  They never seemed to fit into my meager sailing budget.  After a bit of searching I was able to find an app that did exactly what I needed. 

I found iRegatta and was excited to give it a try.  I downloaded it and found it very easy and intuitive to use.  I initially had some problems getting some of the features to work but these issues were cleared up after an email to support on the iRegatta website. The author describes the app as a tactical regatta application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The app will work with your iPhone and it's internal GPS.  It can also be used in NMEA data mode.  This allows the GPS NMEA data to be delivered over WiFi to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.  This versatility makes it a use full tool for both small and larger yachts.  If you have your yachts instruments networked this data can be sent to iRegatta from your laptop with your wireless card.

When the app is fired up the main screen shows a display with a set of four readings. The default data shows Heading , Speed, Wind Direction and Velocity Made Good (VMG). Each of these are editable by tapping and holding your finger on the reading. You can change these four to display any of the dozen or so NMEA data readings. If you want one of the reading to be bigger simply tap the reading you want and it enlarges and reduces the other three readings to a smaller font.

Features:

• NMEA data display of up to 12 separate data points
• GPS and NMEA data
• Start line setting
• Lift indication
• Distance to start line
• Time to start line
• Charting of Speed and VMG
• Tracking
• Waypoints
• Statistics
• Maps
• Countdown Timer

The menu is accessed on the main screen by tapping on the upward arrow on the bottom of the screen. Here you can access the Tracks, Waypoints, Statistics, Wind, Map and Timer pages.

Tracking can be started by holding your finger on the Tracks button. It will turn from Red to Green and start recording your track.

The Waypoints tab allows you to input waypoints and save them in a list. By holding the Waypoints button down it will also turn from Red to Green and start navigation to a waypoint. The waypoints page shows the waypoint that you are currently navigating to along with bearing and distance.

The Statistics page shows max speed, trip odometer, latitude and longitude.  A polar diagram also shows the VMG according to the wind direction. The polar diagram can be enlarged by tapping on it.

The wind tab allows the setting of the wind direction and tack angle.  This can be done manually or automatically by sailing on port and starboard tacks and setting the sailing angle.

The Maps tab can show your current location on a map but you need a cell connection or WiFi connection to download the maps in real time.

The Timer function is a countdown timer that you can use at the start of the race.  It also has other cool features that will give you an edge at the start line. It has incorporated into it a start line function which allows you to set the position of the port and starboard sides of the start line. With the wind direction entered, iRegatta can then calculate the favored side of the start line and show it with a green arrow. The distance and time to the line are also displayed. Once the timer hits zero the main screen is brought up displaying the GPS or NMEA data.

The NMEA data display shows the dozen or so points that can be displayed

The author has done a great job in putting all these functions into a very functional and usefull app. I am looking forward to using iRegatta during our races this summer.  I will give you more feedback then.  Is there anyone else using iRegatta?  I would love to hear from any one who has used it.