Comparison

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed vs Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)

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

Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)

Features
Read full description

The professional sailing timer trusted by regatta racers worldwide. Astrolabe Countdown delivers split-second precision timing when every second counts at the starting line. CORE RACING FEATURES: Build with sailing and yachting professionals worldwide Crystal-clear edge-to-edge progress display for instant visual feedback Reliable haptic feedback you can feel even in rough conditions Always-active timing sessions that never sleep during critical moments Independent Apple Watch operation - no phone dependency Race history tracker with detailed journal entries ADVANCED RACING TOOLS: ProControl for advanced race timing strategies Instant 5-minute countdown on gun signal Auto-sync countdown to nearest minute for precision starts Real-time distance to starting line measurement Course shift tracking within 30 degrees Speed over ground in precise knots PERFECT FOR: Competitive regatta racing Sailing training sessions Time-critical race starts Professional sailing competitions Yacht club events APPLE WATCH OPTIMIZED: Built natively for Apple Watch with exclusive Apple Watch Ultra features. Works seamlessly across all Apple Watch models with customizable themes to match your sailing team colors. Start winning more races with precision timing. Download Astrolabe Countdown today. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://astrolabe-countdown.apphq.online/privacy

Screenshots

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed4 screens
Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Race Master Sail Timer + Speed at 4 against Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)'s 2. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed versus Astro (Astrolabe Countdown): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRace Master Sail Timer + SpeedAstro (Astrolabe Countdown)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (133 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings133 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKewlanu ABChikai Lai

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

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

Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)

Subscriptions2
  • Astrolabe Pro Access (Annual)$7.991 Year
  • Annual Ultra Subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • ULTRA Tier One-Time Purchase$44.99

Questions

Is Race Master Sail Timer + Speed free?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) free?
Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) have ads?
Neither Race Master Sail Timer + Speed nor Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Astro (Astrolabe Countdown)?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, and Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) fortnightly. Most recently, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed was updated on October 24, 2026 and Astro (Astrolabe Countdown) on October 8, 2026.

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