Sail Buddy vs Navtactiq

Sail Buddy is a light-weight app that displays course, speed and NMEA data in a fast, clean interface. This is not a "kitchen sink" application with lots of features you may or may not use. If you want a clean, easy-to-read data display to complement your navigation and weather apps, this might be the one for you. Also works very well on iPads and other tablets, including "split screen" mode so you can use other navigation apps side-by-side. And the Apple Watch lets you keep track of course, speed and essential data, hands free, no matter where you are on your boat! Sail Buddy receives NMEA data from external hardware via a WiFi connection. Your hardware must support WiFi or be connected to a multiplexer with WiFi support. Sail Buddy includes a "demo" mode that plays sample NMEA data if you just want to see how the app works without connecting to an NMEA network. Features: • Displays course and speed and NMEA data in a large, easily read display • Multi-view instrument dial option for wind, course, speed and satellite views • Support for TCP and UDP connections • Support for Sail Timer wind instrument™ and Sail Timer wind vane™ • Route tracking with full capture of GPS and NMEA data • Export routes in CSV, KML, GPX and GeoJSON • Alarms for lost data connections and potential groundings (if your hardware supports depth data) • Start and stop instruments and tracking with your Apple Watch • Full support for "dark mode" • Supports Split View on newer iPads (use Sail Buddy alongside your favorite navigation app)

NavTactiq™ — Your Edge on the Water What is NavTactiq? It’s not just an app — it’s a professional-grade sailing instrument, built by a competitive sailor, licensed captain, and coach who uses it every day on the water. I poured decades of experience into NavTactiq to give you the same level of clarity, confidence, and tactical advantage that top sailors rely on. Whether you’re racing, cruising, or just learning the ropes, you deserve tools that are built to perform on the water. Sail smarter. Start sharper. Stay on course. On the water, every second counts. So does every degree. NavTactiq brings both into sharp focus by combining two essential tools into one seamless interface. A race-optimized countdown timer Nail the perfect start with a timer so intuitive you can sync it with a swipe—even mid-tack. Designed to be easier than sending a text. No instruction manuals needed, if you have an iphone you already know how to use NavTactiq. A super-readable compass display Big, bold, and built for real-world conditions. Whether you're in full sun, crashing waves, or low-light situations, your heading stays clear and easy to read at a glance. Designed for real sailors NavTactiq is built to be used on the water, not just designed to look good. It runs smooth, stays visible, and keeps working without draining your battery. Features include: Always-on mode to keep your heading and timer visible Night mode, color themes, and manual brightness control Ultra-efficient performance for long days on the water One purchase. Yours forever. No subscriptions. No ads. No gimmicks. Just a clean one-time purchase with free lifetime updates. I use NavTactiq every day, and I’m committed to improving it with every update. It started as a compass. Now it’s a powerful compass and race timer — and it's only getting better. As a one-design sailor, I ensure it meets class rules and delivers what racers actually need. Download NavTactiq today. Own your start. Know your heading. Sail with confidence.