5 Free Apps for Sailing with an iPad in the Adriatic
When sailing on a yacht in the Adriatic this spring as part of the RYA Competent Crew course, I will definitely be taking an iPad with me. While traditional navigation using paper charts and a compass is still essential, modern sailing apps can add a huge amount of useful information.
The good news is that many of the most useful sailing apps are free, or at least have a free version that is perfectly adequate for most cruising sailors.
Here are five excellent free apps that are well worth installing before you leave the marina.
1. Navionics Boating
The free version allows you to:
View marine charts
Plan routes between harbours
Identify navigation markers and hazards
Check harbour information
For serious navigation you would normally subscribe to the detailed chart package, but even the free version is extremely useful for planning routes or checking positions quickly.
Many sailors now use Navionics on an iPad mounted near the helm as a low-cost chartplotter.
2. Windy
Weather matters enormously when sailing, particularly in places like the Adriatic where conditions can change rapidly.
The Windy app is widely used by sailors, pilots and meteorologists because it provides beautiful animated weather maps.
It can show:
Wind speed and direction
Rain and storms
Wave height
Temperature and pressure systems
It is particularly useful for spotting incoming weather systems before they reach you.
3. PredictWind
Even the free version provides:
Detailed wind forecasts
Multiple forecast models
Coastal weather predictions
Local wind direction changes
The Adriatic can produce localised winds such as the Bora and the Sirocco, and PredictWind helps you understand when these may appear.
4. MarineTraffic
This allows you to see:
Large ships near your location
Their course and speed
Where they are heading
Port arrival information
In busy areas or narrow channels this can be extremely helpful in understanding what other vessels are doing around you.
5. Anchor Alarm (Anchor Watch)
When anchored overnight, the app uses the iPad’s GPS to ensure your boat remains inside a safe swinging circle.
If the boat drifts outside that circle, the alarm sounds.
This can give enormous peace of mind when anchored in unfamiliar bays.
A Final Thought
Sailing apps are fantastic tools, but they should never replace traditional navigation skills.
When I head to Croatia for the Competent Crew course, I will still be using:
Paper charts
A hand bearing compass
Tidal information
Good seamanship
But having an iPad with a few well-chosen apps can provide an extra layer of safety, awareness, and convenience.
And the best part?
Most of the useful ones are completely free.
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