Comparison

Yacht Timer vs SailingWatch

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

Head to head
About

Yacht Timer

A simple sailing race timer with a clean design. Set timer durations by tapping minutes and sync to the nearest minute. The timer continues even when the app is closed.

Highlights
  • Clean and easy-to-use design
  • Tap to set timer duration
  • Sync to nearest minute
  • Sound signals
  • Background operation
Features
Read full description

Clean design, easy to use, sailing race timer with strong sound signals. Tap any minute to set the timer duration and sync to the nearest minute at any time. Timer will work until the race starts unless manually postponed (even if the app is closed). Keep it simple and enjoy sailing!

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

Yacht Timer4 screens
SailingWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Yacht Timer at none against SailingWatch's 2. SailingWatch's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. SailingWatch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Yacht Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Yacht Timer ships an update every 5 months, SailingWatch every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 17, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Yacht Timer versus SailingWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterYacht TimerSailingWatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarko TadicFrancesco Vezzani

In-app purchases

None

Yacht Timer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SailingWatch

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

Questions

Is Yacht Timer free?
Yacht Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SailingWatch free?
SailingWatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Yacht Timer or SailingWatch have ads?
Neither Yacht Timer nor SailingWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Yacht Timer or SailingWatch?
Yacht Timer ships an update every 5 months, and SailingWatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, Yacht Timer was updated on August 17, 2026 and SailingWatch on September 24, 2026.

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