Sailing Reference vs HSSC App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sailing Reference
This comprehensive nautical navigation guide offers offline access to essential sailing information, including how-to guides, calculators for tides and courses, and flashcards for COLREGs. It also features a race timer and knot-tying animations.
- Offline nautical reference guide
- Tidal stream and time calculators
- Course to steer estimation
- COLREGs/IRPCS flashcards
- Race timer and lap timer
- Nautical knot animations
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Sailing Reference is the comprehensive reference guide for all of your nautical navigation needs. Ideal for beginner and seasoned sailors, the app contains information crucial to passing the various RYA Yachtmaster shorebased navigation and practical courses. All content is fully available offline so is not reliant upon a data connection at all. There are handy calculators for quickly estimating a course to steer, interpolating tidal stream data, calculating times and heights of tide at secondary ports, and estimating VHF radio transmission ranges. The in-depth reference section includes dozens of illustrated and detailed how-to guides covering: • Plotting a Course to Steer • Calculating Leeway • Calculating Set and Drift • Compass Deviation and Magnetic Variation • Estimated Positions • Interpolating Tidal Streams • Calculating Depth to Anchor • Bridge Clearances • Secondary Port Calculations • Buoyage and Beacons • Safety and Distress • VHF Radio • Weather and Shipping Forecasts • and Many More! For those who need to brush up on their knowledge of the COLREGs / IRPCS, load up the flashcards for a quick quiz. Included with the app are a set of “Rules of the Road” flashcards covering numerous collision scenarios. Additional flashcards covering vessel lights, day shapes, flags and sound signals are available to purchase in-app as a single add-on pack. For the racing community there's a handy race timer with a 5,4,1,0 countdown and lap timer. Also available are instructional animations illustrating how to tie a number of the most common nautical knots. Each knot is accompanied by a brief description outlining suitable applications. The Bowline Knot is included with the main application, with other knots available to purchase in-app as a bundled add-on.
HSSC App
Access essential course details, student activities, and campus information. This app also features a convenient click-and-collect school shop and local weather updates.
- Student activity details
- Click and collect school shop
- Local weather
- Message alerts
- Building information
- Campus map
- Course schedules
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This app is for the students and staff of Harrow School Short Courses to provide useful course information and access to a click and collect school shop service. More information for prospective students can be found here: https://www.harrowschoolshortcourses.co.uk This app includes the following functions: - Student activity details and information - Click and collect school shop - Local weather - Message alerts - Building information and campus map - Course schedules
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: HSSC App at Free against Sailing Reference's $2.99. HSSC App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On update cadence, ads 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
HSSC App is free to download; Sailing Reference costs $2.99 up front. Sailing Reference sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. HSSC App asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sailing Reference ships an update every 3 months, HSSC App every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sailing Reference | HSSC App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oliver Shingler | HARROW SCHOOL ENTERPRISES LIMITED |
Customer experience
Sailing Reference
HSSC App
In-app purchases
Sailing Reference
- Flashcards$0.99
- Knots$0.99
HSSC App
No in-app purchases


