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Sail Racer - Garmin News

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Created by dachopper > 9 months ago, 27 Nov 2020
dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
27 Nov 2020 10:40PM
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Hello everyone,

I have just cracked 2,500 users of my free Garmin Watch app Sail Racer.... Which is designed really for any racing or speed sailing of any type.
Available here:
apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/1980c826-844a-47f7-9ca8-ffc0e09ba2ba


I have also started collaborating with a free mobile phone - app based startup that has it's phone application here kanarakitesurfing.com. In particular I'm Looking to move the Polar graph feature that gets created every time you record a session, directly into this app, and they also have plenty more instore. It works with Sail Racer , check it out !
kanarakitesurfing.com/

They only just went live with the APP today, and they are hoping to expand into other sports also if they get enough interest. You do still require either a Garmin or Suunto watch to participate , I believe Apple watch is coming in the future.

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
6 Jun 2021 1:50AM
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Hey Everyone.
I've nearly cracked 5,000 users of my Garmin watch Kitesurf / Sailing app, and have decided to add a few more features to the app in 'Sail Racer - version 3.5'

For the Speedsters out there I have added a max speed vibration that will vibrate every time you set a new maximum speed record in a session. Access in the main menu and set the minimum speed you would like the vibrations to start at ( 5 - 30 ) kts.

For the Navigators out there, the Waypoint and Course navigation has been fully re-vamped. If you are navigating to a waypoint ( either single waypoint or as part of a course ), and want to select the next / previous waypoint - from either of the 2 waypoint navigation screens push start button, and now the Next / Previous buttons will cycle through all the waypoints on your watch, or all the waypoints in the course you have selected. Press start again to select the desired waypoint and Next / Previous functionality will return to normal. * Note that you still need to enter the Waypoint Steering or Course Steering menu first to get the watch into waypoint navigation mode.

Fixed Exit screen statistics bug to appear when exiting the app from any screen

Fixed save menu that would only appear on some screens - now it appears on all screens when ending your session.

Next goal is the big one. Auto Polar diagrams with links onto an active webpage

Smooth Sailing !

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
19 Jul 2021 2:36PM
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Version 3.8 Released
Watch now automatically tells you to Tack or Gybe when reaching the layline ( with a course or waypoint steer active) You pre-set a tack or gybe angle, and the watch automatically updates the angle based on your actual tack and gybe angles on the day in the conditions

eightbft
45 posts
19 Jul 2021 5:42PM
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Sail Racer is an amazing app! I love it!!
I acutally use just the basic functions like time, distance, speed etc. (shame on me!), but there is still something I would like to ask:
would it be possible to fix the altitude to zero / sea level?
It is a Garmin issue to change the altitude abnormaly (caused by several factors), I know - NOT a Sail Racer problem, but regularly I get everything between -240 and +180 meters, even in one file!
Sometimes I like to transfer the session to Relive and the result looks like crap because of the terrain.

In any case I will continue to use Sail Racer and can absolutely recommend to all Garmin watch users!!

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
22 Jul 2021 2:22PM
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Hi mate,

The Garmin altitude has nothing to do with my app, the altitude feed post session in Connect is the direct feed from your watch, which might be a baro or a GPS base feed, or a mix of both. I agree, its within a few hundred feet usually but moved up or down 10 - 50 feet for no real reason. I've tested both the baro readings and the GPS readings to see if it's one or the other, and they are similarly in-accurate.

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
22 Jul 2021 10:55PM
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Version 3.9 Released - Waypoints can now be entered through the Garmin Connect or Garmin Express Mobile and PC applications through Sail Racer / App settings

segler
WA, 1597 posts
22 Jul 2021 10:57PM
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If you can turn off barometric altitude in your device (watch, gpser, phone, etc.), do it. Baro-based altitude changes with changing weather pressure. GPS-based altitude does not change with changing weather. Yes, in general, gps-based altitude is not quite as accurate as gps-based horizontal position, but it is good enough for our purposes.

When I hike in the mountains and want to know my altitude, I NEVER use barometric altitude. Varies too much. Vertical gps is much better.

This is why airplane pilots have altimeter adjustments for barometric weather pressure as reported by the airports.

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
28 Jul 2021 12:58AM
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Sailors, Windsurfers and Kiters,

After 18 months, a few hundred hours coding and plenty of on water testing, user request feature addition and more testing, I'm proud to release version 4.0 of Sail racer. apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/1980c826-844a-47f7-9ca8-ffc0e09ba2ba
Changes include:

New USER GUIDE in the What's New page on the app store.
Fixing a version 3.9 bug with the waypoint import from Garmin Connect. You can now import up to 20 waypoints at a time from Garmin connect onto the watch (and overwrite or add them), to then create a course on the watch, or select any waypoint for navigation.

Introduction of a 5 hour Trial mode, after which the app can either be purchased following the instructions on the watch, or the free version "Sail Racer Lite" can be installed for users that do not require the advanced feature set.

Stability performance improvement for the watches below, and also note that these particular watches are effectively at their limits running the application, so further development cannot happen without removing existing features. The Pro / X model watches in contrast have around 10 times the amount of free memory available than the ones listed below, and development for them will continue.

Approach S62EnduroFenix5/5s/Quatix5Fenix6/6s/6solar/6dualpowerFenix ChronosForerunner55/245/645/935Vivoactive 3 / MercedesVenu SQ
"Sail Racer Lite", will remain available but will not be supported for further development, and is provided free "as is" here:apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/7412cef6-7514-4743-a11c-bb93c603d01d
Safe Sailing/Kiting/Windsurfing,Feedback welcome and if you do try it out please leave a review on the Garmin Store.
Since this is the turning point for the app, I probably won't be able to post any more details about it on here- so keep an eye on the updates in Garmin Connect for future additions / versions.

Thanks for your support.

eightbft
45 posts
28 Jul 2021 2:46PM
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Select to expand quote
segler said..
If you can turn off barometric altitude in your device (watch, gpser, phone, etc.), do it. Baro-based altitude changes with changing weather pressure. GPS-based altitude does not change with changing weather. Yes, in general, gps-based altitude is not quite as accurate as gps-based horizontal position, but it is good enough for our purposes.

When I hike in the mountains and want to know my altitude, I NEVER use barometric altitude. Varies too much. Vertical gps is much better.

This is why airplane pilots have altimeter adjustments for barometric weather pressure as reported by the airports.


I have a Fenix 6X and yes, this is a well known issue with Garmin.
My altimeter is set to GPS, but if I forget to "re-calibrate" to Zero before the star, I get all kind of weird data (regarding altitude)!
Everythig else works very fine for me!



Select to expand quote
dachopper said..
Sailors, Windsurfers and Kiters,

After 18 months, a few hundred hours coding and plenty of on water testing, user request feature addition and more testing, I'm proud to release version 4.0 of Sail racer. apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/1980c826-844a-47f7-9ca8-ffc0e09ba2ba
Changes include:

New USER GUIDE in the What's New page on the app store.
Fixing a version 3.9 bug with the waypoint import from Garmin Connect. You can now import up to 20 waypoints at a time from Garmin connect onto the watch (and overwrite or add them), to then create a course on the watch, or select any waypoint for navigation.

Introduction of a 5 hour Trial mode, after which the app can either be purchased following the instructions on the watch, or the free version "Sail Racer Lite" can be installed for users that do not require the advanced feature set.

Stability performance improvement for the watches below, and also note that these particular watches are effectively at their limits running the application, so further development cannot happen without removing existing features. The Pro / X model watches in contrast have around 10 times the amount of free memory available than the ones listed below, and development for them will continue.

Approach S62EnduroFenix5/5s/Quatix5Fenix6/6s/6solar/6dualpowerFenix ChronosForerunner55/245/645/935Vivoactive 3 / MercedesVenu SQ
"Sail Racer Lite", will remain available but will not be supported for further development, and is provided free "as is" here:apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/7412cef6-7514-4743-a11c-bb93c603d01d
Safe Sailing/Kiting/Windsurfing,Feedback welcome and if you do try it out please leave a review on the Garmin Store.
Since this is the turning point for the app, I probably won't be able to post any more details about it on here- so keep an eye on the updates in Garmin Connect for future additions / versions.

Thanks for your support.


The Lite version might be sufficient for my personal needs, but I am deffinitely going to use the paid version of Sail Racer - my humble contribution to show my appreciation for you work end effort, dachopper!

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
31 Jul 2021 1:23PM
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4.2 released. Fixed mobile / PC to watch waypoint copy issue, fixed forerunner 935 download incorrect version.

After session stats:









dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
13 Aug 2021 8:25PM
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Version 4.3 released - Experimental feature added to version 4.3 - make your own Polar Graphs.

In Sail Racer if you have the option in the main menu to turn polar graph on, when you record an activity, the watch will save 1 polar data set for each recorded activity. All you need to do is bring your watch near your phone that has the Garmin Connect Mobile application installed, and then open Sail Racer on your Watch. Do Not Open Garmin Connect Mobile.
The watch communicates directly to your phone through Garmin Connect Mobile when it is not open, and your phone will tell you Sail Racer is trying to open a webpage ( your polar graph page)

This is experimental and the webpage hosting is free so there may be some unforeseen problems here, but so far so good it works for me.
The only data that is transmitted from your watch is the polar information in the graph ( speed and headings ), along with the date and time of your recording, and a randomly made-up username to access the graph...... Ie - nothing that can link any data to any person.




dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
20 Aug 2021 9:22PM
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dkeating
VIC, 253 posts
21 Aug 2021 9:19PM
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Hi, looks like a great app.
Can anyone tell me what are the best watches to use the app. on?
For windsurfing backup to GPWS team challenge approved devices.
This is max speed (2sec), 5X 10sec Avg, 50m alphas, nautical mile, 1Hr avg and total distance.

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
15 Sep 2021 11:12PM
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New Version 4.5 Released.

Both versions:
Added ability to drop Waypoints in save menu
Changed wind entry
Faster Elapsed distance/time carousel
Red session recording colors

Version "a"
Added distance lost every time you tack and gybe, displayed on the watch for 2 seconds after you get the tack angle alert displayed.
Experimental Polar data website can now overlay several polar plots at the same time.





dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
1 Oct 2021 10:02PM
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New views available



berowne
NSW, 1210 posts
12 Oct 2021 3:14PM
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Hey dachopper, this looks pretty cool, and just what I was after for the Garmin.
I'm installing it now. Definately looks to be worth the $5.

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
29 Jan 2022 1:24PM
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SailRacer Gamin app hit over 7000 Downloads, and I have just added support for the new Fenix 7, 7s, 7X, the new Venu2 and the EpiX gen2.

Better start saving your penny's up because the Fenix X Solar is a masterpiece !
All Fenix 7 now includes WI-FI, Music, Maps, Stamina and a different heart rate sensor, and LED torch and all can run my app in it's fullest.
( Previously the Fenix 6 and 6s had reduced functionality )

Much higher GPS accuracy on the Fenix 7 also using multiband GNSS
Around 40% increase in battery life.
22 Days in smartwatch mode,
In battery saver mode:
57 Days in the dark, or UP TO 173 DAYS with SOLAR !



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"Sail Racer - Garmin News" started by dachopper