Helpful Applications
Imray Tides Planner
Imray Tides Planner It contains the tidal heights for standard and secondary ports around the world, this app will work out the height of tide at any given time simply by choosing a port, a date and then moving the slider. One also has a built-in Tidal Atlas for the UK, Channel Islands. Choose a chart and a date and then scroll through the tidal hours. The app shows you the springs or neaps rates for any tidal hour.
The basic app is free but this only shows the current day’s tide table. Getting UK, Ireland tide tables for any date in the future costs £5.99. The interactive tidal stream atlas costs £5.99 and is valid for any future date.
Solent Met
The SolentMet app relays live weather data from buoys on Bramble Bank, at the top of Southampton Water and at the entrance to Chichester harbour. The app gives you the speed and direction of wind and gusts. BrambleMet also provides visibility data and Chichester gives wave height. Well worth a quick check before setting sail or if you’re wondering whether to set a reef before leaving.
Onboard Wi-Fi
Depending on which yacht you have – they all have WIFI chart plotters that you can interface with your tablet or phone. Depending on which yacht I can tell you which apps you can download (either Raymarine for Solent Star or Simrad/B&G for Mintaka.
Navionics
Navionics (preferred) – a single app via which you purchase the chart areas that you need. The charts aren’t cheap but they are very detailed, kept up-to-date and useful for passage planning and monitoring. Navionics charts are used in many of the on-board chartplotters including Raymarine, B&G, Lowrance and Simrad so they are well maintained. Navionics is continuously adding new functionality to the app.
