Race Master Sail Timer + Speed vs Tactiqs
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed
This app provides a sailing race timer with speed and course monitoring. It offers unique features for sail racing, including adjustable countdowns, wind and speed tracking, and a compass. It integrates with Apple Watch and can optionally start a Sailing Workout activity.
- Adjustable countdown timer
- Speed and course monitoring
- Wind shift tracking
- Compass
- Man Over Board function
- ISAF Race Signals reference
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Everybody knows that catching the start is essential in sailing. Finally there is a great Sailing Watch available for the iPhone and it works great with the Apple Watch. This app provides a timer, speed and course monitoring with unique features and unparalleled ease of use for sail racing. When you hear or see a race signal just press Gun! - You can adjust if it is a 5, 4 or 1 minute warning afterwards! And if it was just a loud noise from a flapping sail and not a race signal you can easily jump back to the previous timer. It defaults to the standard ISAF 5,4,1,0 sequence but it can handle arbitrary countdown from 30 minutes down to 0 Now you can focus on other things like wind (directly in the app - simply configure your own favourite weather on the config page) and other boats potentially giving you yet another edge! ** Please read more on the info "i" page in the app ** You can enable GPS and get Speed over Ground (SOG) and Course over Ground (COG) presented next to the timer to help you keep track of wind and speed in the seconds before and after start. The Wind page shows a graph of COG and SOG which can help you track wind shifts. It is designed to work on iPhone with or without Apple Watch and a lot of people seem to be using it with iPads as well. TIP: On the Watch it is recommended that you (at least temporarily) activate Resume to Last Used App so that you just have to raise your wrist to get the time left: Settings->General->Activate on Wrist Raise->Resume to: Last Used App The iPhone application also contains a convenient reference to starting signals and customisable local weather information. HealthKit integration: The app provides limited HealthKit integration and can optionally start a Sailing Workout activity during race start. Summary of Features: * Simply the best countdown timer ever if you ask us :) * Really good compass! * Most of the feature work on Watch and iPhone. Watch Series 2 needed for GPS without iPhone nearby. * Current Course and Speed Over Ground based on GPS * GPS based distance to line (still being tuned but works - within limits of GPS accuracy) * Speed up / Slow down estimate for time to get to line * History plot of Course and Speed Over Ground that allow you to track wind shifts * Prevalent headings - advanced formula lists common headings to help identify windshifts * Man Over Board function - it shows time, distance and compass bearing to the location the button was pressed (NOTE: intended as a secondary non life critical aid only) * ISAF Race Signals reference - to help settle what that strange flag shown on the race committee means before the race starts... * Choice of Magnetic or True course indication * Lock function to prevent unwanted changes NOTE: Please check the "i" page in the app for more info This app offers 2 in app subscriptions to 1) support continued development and 2) to enable certain features: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Please review our Terms of Service: http://www.kewlanu.com/tos DISCLAIMER: If you enable the GPS feature the app runs in the background for a limited time before it disables GPS. "Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."
Tactiqs
This comprehensive boat performance system enhances race understanding and decision-making using real-time sensor data. It offers customizable displays for numerous metrics, post-race analysis, and integrated charting with weather forecasts. Supports both instrumented and smaller boats, with advanced features for foiling vessels.
- Real-time performance metrics
- Post-race analysis tools
- Sail usage tracking
- Integrated chart viewer
- Weather forecasts and routing
- Augmented reality display integration
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The Tactiqs® Performance System was designed by a team of sail boat racers and technologists from the US and Europe as the ultimate comprehensive boat performance system. It will substantially improve your understanding of the conditions and the race course, and help you make better decisions and win more races. The system utilizes your boat's sensor data via a wireless NMEA interface connected to the Tactiqs® application, allowing the crew to use any number of iOS devices as customizable displays for 52 different performance metrics. An additional data set is available for foiling boats to optimize your flight attitude and performance. Post-race analysis tools give you the details on your performance and let you review the race by numbers as well as track individual sail usage and cross-overs to make optimum use of your inventory. The integrated camera function allows you to take sail shape photos synchronized with your performance data for detailed analysis - photos taken with dual-camera iPhones are perspective-corrected for maximum accuracy in sail-shape analysis tools. For smaller boats without instruments the system uses the iOS devices' built-in sensors and basic wind input controls combined with smart tracking algorithms. The built-in chart viewer (iPad only) enables quick and easy planning and routing for offshore and coastal racing, including fully integrated weather forecasts and routing together with our partner Avalon Offshore. You can create course specific waypoints and exclusion zones to fine-tune your route, and visually edit the course directly in the map. If your boat is equipped with an AIS receiver you can see other vessels and their heading and speed on the chart. The system supports Navionics charts and raster format charts based on BSB versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and GeoTIFF. Navigation in the app is simple - swipe the left edge to switch between live race mode, race analysis mode, and setup mode, and the right edge to select a view within each mode. When in live race mode, swipe up and down to switch between performance data and start data, and between wind and course data. That's all you need to know. Additionally, the Tactiqs® system offers custom augmented reality displays in the form-factor of sun-glasses that provide you the key data right within your field of vision. These glasses are fully integrated with the iOS application and can replicate any metrics of choice. Race data such as course definitions, your sail inventory, and your boat's VPP data are synchronized with your iOS device for offline access during racing. Once you have raced with this level of understanding of the race track and your boat's performance in realtime you will never want to go back.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Tactiqs at 5.0 against Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's 4.4. Tactiqs also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's advantage is ratings volume (131 vs 19). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Tactiqs asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tactiqs holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Race Master Sail Timer + Speed has 131 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's written reviews are positive against 89% of Tactiqs's.
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, Tactiqs every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Race Master Sail Timer + Speed | Tactiqs |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (131 ratings) | 5.0 (19 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 88.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 131 — better | 19 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 185 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kewlanu AB | Marine Ventures LLC |
Customer experience
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed
Tactiqs
In-app purchases
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed
- Gold$2.991 Month
- Silver$2.993 Months
Tactiqs
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Race Master Sail Timer + Speed free?
Is Tactiqs free?
Which has better reviews, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Tactiqs?
Do Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Tactiqs have ads?
Which is updated more often, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Tactiqs?
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