Comparison

iRegatta vs SailingWatch

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iRegatta

This app provides tactical regatta and cruising navigation features for sailors. It displays key sailing data, aids in race starts, and allows for waypoint navigation and track recording. Advanced features like NMEA0183 instrument input and AIS data display are available via in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Tactical regatta navigation
  • Cruising navigation
  • Key sailing data display
  • Race start countdown and line marking
  • Waypoint navigation
  • Track recording and export
  • Watch app integration
Features
Read full description

This is a free evaluation version of iRegatta. All features are included, but GPS and NMEA0183 input will shut down after 4 minute. All features you would like to use can be bought as In-App-Purchases. 'iRegatta Pro' has Basic, NMEA and AIS features enabled. iRegatta is a tactical Regatta application as well as a crusing navigation application for the iPhone. The build-in GPS unit and the unique graphical possibilities of the iPhone, makes it ideal for such an application. If you have a iPhone anyway, this is a cheap way to introduce you to the benefits of a GPS device, to help you leverage your regatta sailing performance. A downside is of cause the fact that your iPad is not waterproof! But there are products out there, where you can put your iDevice into, to make it waterproof and still be able to operate it. In this way you can either mount it near your other instruments on your keelboat or strap it to your arm if you are sailing a dinghy. Features: Main View. Here you can see your 4 most important readouts, fore instance Heading, Speed, VMG and Performance. There also is a lift indicator, showing you if you have been lifted by a wind shift, and graphs showing the development in your speed and VMG over a configurable amount of time and a permormance bar. Wind direction. Set your wind direction by storing your heading while sailing on upwind on starboard and port tack, or simply type it in. Start view. Here you have your count down (including sync), and you can mark your starting line and iRegatta will calculate the distance to the line and indicate the favorite line end, if wind direction is set. Statistics view. View your current position and trip odometer and max speed since last reset. You'll also see a polar diagram with your speed and VMG (wind speed dependent). Waypoints. Navigate to your favorite pre-stored waypoints, or create a new temporary waypoint by cross bearing using the iPhone internal camera, or by distance/bearing. Tracking. Record your track and view it on the map or export it for further analysis to your computer. Instead of internal GPS you can get instrument information over WiFi from NMEA0183 instruments. (In-App-Purchase). AIS data received over WiFi will be displayed in a Radar-like view. (In-App-Purchase). iRegatta also comes with a watch app, which will allow you to view data on your watch as well as operate the start line features. Besides that, the watch app will track your sailing as an activity and help you close your activity circles using HealthKit. Read more detailed information on the apps web page.

About

SailingWatch

Features
Read full description

SailingWatch is the race companion for sailors — a precise start sequence, a real start line, live tactics, and your whole session on a map. Built for dinghies, keelboats and yachts, on iPhone and Apple Watch. THE START, NAILED EVERY TIME • A big, readable countdown with a sweep ring that drains as the gun approaches. • Sync to the committee boat in one tap, or fine-tune with −1 / +1 minute. • The final minute turns red so you always know how long you have. • Start, pause and resume right from the cockpit. A REAL START LINE • Ping the pin and the committee-boat ends to set the line. • See the line bias and your live distance to the line. • Time your approach instead of guessing. LIVE TACTICS • Capture your port and starboard tack angles. • A compass and layline call tell you if you're lifted, headed, or on the groove. • Make the smart call on when to tack. WIND AT A GLANCE • A 6-hour wind forecast strip for your exact location — speed, direction and gusts. • Know what's coming before you leave the dock. EVERY SESSION, ON A MAP • Automatic GPS recording while you sail — speed, heading and full track. • Review past sessions grouped by month. • Replay any track on the map with distance, duration and top speed. SHARE YOUR SAIL • Export a standard GPX file. • Create a video animation of your track to share. • Send your sessions straight to Strava. ON YOUR WRIST • The Apple Watch app puts the timer, start line and live data on your wrist — sail with your phone in your pocket. MADE YOURS • Save your boat profile — class, sail number, polar and hull length. • Choose your units for distance, speed and temperature. • A clean, high-contrast black-and-blue design that stays readable in bright sun. Whether you're lining up for the gun on a club Wednesday or training for the season, SailingWatch keeps the start, the line and the tactics one glance away. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iRegatta4 screens
SailingWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SailingWatch at every 2 weeks against iRegatta's every 5 weeks. iRegatta's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iRegatta sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and SailingWatch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iRegatta ships an update every 5 weeks, SailingWatch every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
iRegatta versus SailingWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriRegattaSailingWatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZifigoFrancesco Vezzani

In-app purchases

8 purchases

iRegatta

One-time8
  • iRegatta Sailplan$1.99
  • eyeRegatta sync$1.99
  • iRegatta Pebble$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Apple Watch integration$2.99
  • iRegatta AIS$3.99
  • iRegatta Race Analysis$3.99
  • iRegatta NMEA$5.99
  • iRegatta Basic$9.99
2 purchases

SailingWatch

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is iRegatta free?
iRegatta is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SailingWatch free?
SailingWatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iRegatta or SailingWatch have ads?
Neither iRegatta nor SailingWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iRegatta or SailingWatch?
iRegatta ships an update every 5 weeks, and SailingWatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, iRegatta was updated on August 24, 2026 and SailingWatch on September 24, 2026.

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