Question: Can I use my AppleWatch to track my sailing path and speed?I bought an AppleWatch (with SIM card) for sailing security: if I run into trouble out on the water I can always phone for help... but, can I track my sailing path and top end speed with the watch as well to download to my iMac?

I believe the Garmin watches can do that... but they're very expensive. It'd be great if my AppleWatch could do the same. Can it?

Cecil, I like you got the Apple Watch for safety a few years ago as I was new to the sport and spent most the first year in the water as opposed to on the board. I used it as a basic way to see if I was improving (distance and average speed) before learning about GPSTC and getting a doppler watch but I still use the Apple Watch as a backup/emergency contact as I'm going further and faster (nowhere near fast enough though). Better than using Strava app on the watch is to use the native Activity app. It doesn't have a native windsurf mode but just record it as a bike ride and then turn the water lock on. Most of the other activities other than running or walking won't record the track. This way you log your heart rate as well and it seems to use less battery than Strava. You can export the data if needed to strava (or other similar like KA72) to keep a record of your runs. Do this by using the HealthFit app on the phone (or through the Apple Health app. which is harder) You can then change the activity on Strava back to Windsurf. You can also export the data to GPS Speed-reader etc but be warned, the Apple Watch data is very noisy and the maximum speeds recorded will be well above what you are actually doing. i.e. I have recorded 40knots on Apple Watch on basic gear in a place I have only just recorded my PB of 30knots on far better gear as recorded by a Doppler GPS....i.e. expect to be brought back to earth somewhat if you ever get a real speed watch/logger. Presumably because of this noise, it also seems to read 1-2% more distance than the GW60 watch, so your average speed will also read slightly higher...still useful to see if you are improving though. You can also put on the Waterspeed app which can also log the height of any jumps you do if that's your thing. However its now a subscription to do basically anything and really seems no point due to the noise of the basic measurement and it really seems to suck the battery. The other point to note is whilst the Apple Watch seems fine handling high speed water crashes, you can get screen burn like I did here in WA and the screen will fade over time. Apple won't accept a trade in with screen burn and you won't be able to read the screen. The two work arounds are either pay for Apple care which gives you 2 years to return it if you get screen burn, or put your sun suit/wetsuit over the display and just peel it back when you want to look at it.

Thanks DaveMen and Flex2... both of your answers were brilliant. I'm going to try both options, but don't hold your collective breaths as I'm a technological dyslexic and it may take me a while to figure it all out and compare both results (Strava and Healthfit) with my ancient steam driven GPS which logged my fastest session at 35 knots a few years back. These days, my 70 year old body isn't quite capable of pushing the limits like I used to, but being able to use my AppleWatch for an approximate logging of distance and maximum speed is more than enough for my current needs. Once I've worked it all out and have some results, I'll post my findings here.Many many thanks.

I'm using the Waterspeed app too. Not bad, but to be honest I wish I was still using a Garmin watch. I find it pretty frustrating at times for live feedback whilst sailing. I also find speeds vary more from my Motion results than my Garmin used to. I wonder if the this has anything to do with Apple's recording mode, as far as I can tell there is no way to set it to 1 sec recording?

cecil said..
Question: Can I use my AppleWatch to track my sailing path and speed?I bought an AppleWatch (with SIM card) for sailing security: if I run into trouble out on the water I can always phone for help... but, can I track my sailing path and top end speed with the watch as well to download to my iMac?

I believe the Garmin watches can do that... but they're very expensive. It'd be great if my AppleWatch could do the same. Can it?

First of all... many, many thanks to you all for the response on this thread I started some three weeks ago. In the end, I ended up choosing the WaterSpeed option... partially because it's designed for the Apple IOS and thus was the easiest option for my limited technological skills. I downloaded the app from the Apple App Store onto my Apple Watch (v5 with it's own SIM)... and it showed up on my iPhone as well. Operating the app on either device is very intuitive (easy)... and the simple directions helped me through any tricky bits. I'm still having trouble getting my iPad to read past sessions that are on my watch and phone... but I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.It was free, but I decided to pay the extra $25 the 'pro' version, allowing for more options. It has a category for 'windsurfing'. I was impressed with its ability to interface with Apple's "Maps" which presented a visual plot, tracking my movements... which I can then post on Facebook or email my sailing mates.I'm not sure how accurate it is so I will test it against my old steam driven GPS to see how close it comes. In addition to distance (nautical miles or kilometers) it records speed (knots or kph) ... showing maximums (2 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, 20 sec, 500m, 1 kilometre and 1 nautical mile)... and it shows my heart rate at any point in the session (Why? To see if I had a heart attack?). On top of all that, it shows the wind strength, direction and temperature forecast for every upcoming hour.Since I already had an Applewatch, I reckon I saved a packet as I was considering a Garmin GPS watch in excess of a grande. $$$

I'm sure I'll discover a few hiccups as I learn how to use the toy, but I must say, it's re-ignited my sailing passion.Thanks to all.

My wife uses an App called PaddleLogger (no affiliation) which she is quite pleased with and has been using for about a year now for windfoiling (and windsurfing). It's also free with a paid subscription option (which she took) if you want extras like Google Maps background.
Seems quite similar to Waterspeed, although doesn't have the forecasts. I like to select those from various other sites.

k.