Comparison

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed vs Lights Out Sailing

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Adjustable countdown timer
  • Speed and course monitoring
  • Wind shift tracking
  • Compass
  • Man Over Board function
  • ISAF Race Signals reference
Features
Read full description

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."

About

Lights Out Sailing

Enhance your sailing experience with real-time data and race tools. Capture onboard footage, track speed and heading, and perfect your race starts with precise metrics. Customize your interface and sync with other devices for a connected sailing adventure.

Highlights
  • Onboard footage capture
  • Real-time speedometer and compass
  • Distance to line metrics
  • Customizable race layouts
  • Fleet synchronization
  • Onboard camera sharing
Features
Read full description

Lights Out - Your Ultimate Sailing Companion Join sailors worldwide who trust Lights Out Sailing to enhance their time on the water. Whether you’re competing in world championships or enjoying a weekend cruise, Lights Out Sailing provides real-time data and cutting-edge tools to elevate your sailing experience. FEATURES YOU CAN RELY ON Maximize your performance with powerful tools and onboard footage features: - Onboard Footage: Capture every moment and save footage directly to your camera roll. - Speedometer & Compass: Get real-time speed over ground and magnetic heading. - Pings & Distance to Line: Perfect your race starts with precise distance-to-line metrics. - Custom Layouts: Personalize your interface in two different race modes. SYNC WITH CHANNELS Effortlessly connect with other devices to share and synchronize start timers with your fleet, ensuring everyone is in sync for the perfect start. Enjoy sharing your synced onboard cams to as soon as you hit the dock to see all sides of the action. BUILT FOR SAILORS We're constantly pushing new features and updates based on feedback from sailors around the world. Lights Out is built by sailors, for sailors, to bring us into a new era of connected instruments.

Screenshots

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed4 screens
Lights Out Sailing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Race Master Sail Timer + Speed at free with in-app purchases against Lights Out Sailing's subscription. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (131 vs 8). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Lights Out Sailing sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Race Master Sail Timer + Speed against 4.5 for Lights Out Sailing. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Race Master Sail Timer + Speed has 131 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, Lights Out Sailing every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed versus Lights Out Sailing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRace Master Sail Timer + SpeedLights Out Sailing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (131 ratings)4.5 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings131 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKewlanu ABWhitServe LLC

Customer experience

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

All ratings131 ratings
Positive81.7%
Neutral9.2%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral27.8%
Negative22.2%

Lights Out Sailing

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

Subscriptions2
  • Gold$2.991 Month
  • Silver$2.993 Months
2 purchases

Lights Out Sailing

Subscriptions2
  • Lights Out Sailing3 Days trial$13.491 Month
  • Lights Out Sailing7 Days trial$98.991 Year

Questions

Is Race Master Sail Timer + Speed free?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lights Out Sailing free?
Lights Out Sailing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Lights Out Sailing?
Lights Out Sailing is rated higher. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed averages 4.4 out of 5 from 131 ratings, while Lights Out Sailing averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.
Do Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Lights Out Sailing have ads?
Neither Race Master Sail Timer + Speed nor Lights Out Sailing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Lights Out Sailing?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lights Out Sailing every 5 weeks. Most recently, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed was updated on September 22, 2026 and Lights Out Sailing on June 1, 2026.

Other comparisons