Let’s face it – the weather is as unpredictable as life and love and although we cannot foresee events (technology is not there yet!) we do have access to Smartphones that have become our ‘go to’ in many situations. Smartphones are now used for tracking, GPS, cameras, videos, near-field communications (Bluetooth), music and weather apps.

As a beginner or seasoned sailor, the weather can determine your course and sailing experience. Bad weather conditions can lead to yacht and sail damage. You need to know what global circulation systems are going to affect your trip and this is where you can use these apps to assist you.

Ullman Sails has made it easier for you by selecting 9 Great Weather Apps for Sailing

Windy/Windity

Windy (also known as Windyty) brings weather forecasts to life with its weather forecast visualization. This app is trusted by pilots, skydivers, kiters, boaters, fishermen and weather geeks! This is because it is fast, intuitive, and one of the most accurate weather apps.

This app will help you track storms, potential severe weather and plan trips with the most up-to-date weather forecast around.

PredictWind – Marine Forecasts

This is an impressive, but expensive app. It offers high levels of detail and the highest resolution and most accurate forecasts on the internet. The resolution is 1km at its best, and the site uses its own PWG and PWC models. If you pay more you will get weather routeing. It has been proven in yacht racing and offshore cruising. You can easily navigate between wind, swell, rain, cloud, air and sea temperatures in the table, map and graph views.

Yachting Weather App

This app is free, with in-app purchases. It uses GFS data from weather365.com and gives three-hourly forecasts. It’s user-friendly and gives simple wind, pressure, swell and cloud/rain data in a tabular format for anywhere in the world.

Theyr

Theyr shows their latest ‘low precision’ forecast for the next 144 hours for free, which shows wind, wave, pressure and temperature. The animations are clear and easy to view, and well displayed. You’ll need to subscribe to view their high precision forecasts.

Navionics

Navionics is an excellent navigation app that is used by sailors, fisherman and divers. It is well presented and has a range of measuring tools for all your activities on the water. You can plan routes for your next adventure and have access to the most current nautical charts with regular updates every day. Navionics has real-time weather data, daily and hourly forecasts, wind speeds, tides and currents.

Windfinder Pro

This app gives you insight into wind and waves for over 40, 000 global locations. The forecast models and maps are well displayed in high resolution. Detailed wind forecasts for weather and waves allows you to plan your own route. You can view high and low tides for over 80 000 global locations.

Features:

• Wind strength and direction
• Gusts
• Air temperature
• Precipitation
• Air pressure
• Wave height, period and direction

WindGuru

Windguru is a classic weather app that gives you simple weather forecasts. There are not many features so if you prefer something simple then this is the app for you. It provides classic Windguru forecast tables, works on slow internet connections and if you are offline you will still get previously loaded forecasts.

SailGrib

SailGrib gets 4.4 stars on the Android Play Store because it is an easy to use, full-fledged marine navigation app. It is perfect for recreational or competitive sailors.

Features:

• Weather
• Tides
• Currents
• Routing
• Nautical charts
• Anchor alarm
• Download and view marine weather
• Calculate the tide
• Optimize your route
• Buy, download and view nautical charts
• Track your navigation with AIS and NMEA modules
• Monitor your mooring

MetOffice (UK Only)

The Met Office Weather app has been at the forefront of global weather and climate science for 150 years. Now they have combined the latest science with groundbreaking advances in technology to develop a weather app for sailors.

Features:

• Realtime UK National severe weather warnings
• Interactive warnings map that are the same as the coastguard
• Surface pressure charts
• Wind direction
• Interactive UK wind map
• Inshore waters forecasts

We hope these apps together with our Ullman Sails will guide you safely along your journey!