Every dinghy racer knows the feeling: you finish a race knowing you could have done better, but you're not quite sure where you lost ground. Was it that dodgy tack at the windward mark? The shift you missed on the second beat? Or perhaps you just weren't sailing your angles as tightly as the boat ahead?
For years, post-race analysis meant relying on memory, gut feeling, and the occasional argument with your crew. But thanks to RacePilot, those days are over. Welcome to the era of professional GPS sailing analytics — now available for every dinghy sailor with a smartphone.
What is RacePilot?
RacePilot is a comprehensive sailing analytics platform that transforms your phone into a professional race analysis tool. Using GPS tracking, intelligent coaching systems, and detailed performance metrics, it gives you the same level of insight that Olympic campaigns spend tens of thousands of pounds to achieve.
The platform consists of a mobile app (Android, with iOS coming soon) that records your sessions on the water, and a powerful web dashboard where you can dive deep into the data, compare yourself against your fleet, and discover exactly where you're gaining and losing.
Key Features at a Glance:
- Real-time GPS tracking with automatic race detection
- Intelligent race coaching and tactical insights
- Fleet comparison and benchmarking
- Speed, VMG, and angle analysis
- Wind sensor integration for TWA/TWS data
- Video playback synchronized with GPS data
- Club challenges and leaderboards
Track Every Tack, Analyze Every Angle
The magic starts the moment you launch. Simply open the RacePilot mobile app, hit record, and slip your phone into your buoyancy aid pocket. The app automatically detects when you're racing, tracks your GPS position at high frequency, and records every maneuver you make.
After sailing, upload your session to the cloud and open it on the web dashboard. You'll see your entire race visualized on an interactive map, with color-coded speed zones showing exactly where you were fast and where you were slow. Click any point on the track to see your speed, heading, and VMG at that exact moment.
"I thought I was sailing the shifts well until RacePilot showed me I was tacking 15 seconds after the wind changed. Now I know to trust the puffs more and my upwind results have improved dramatically." — Club racer, Newtownards SC
Intelligent Coaching: Your Personal Sailing Analyst
Perhaps the most powerful feature of RacePilot is the Intelligent Race Coach. After each session, the system analyzes your performance and provides personalized feedback on your racing.
The intelligent system identifies specific moments where you could have improved — missed lifts, poor tack timing, suboptimal downwind angles, and more. It's like having Stuart Walker or Paul Elvstrom reviewing your races, except it's available instantly, costs nothing, and never gets tired of answering questions.
You can ask the race coach questions in plain English: "Why was I slow on the second beat?" or "How can I improve my downwind speed?" The system analyzes your data and provides specific, actionable advice based on what actually happened in your race.
Boat-Specific Performance Coaching
Not all dinghies sail the same way. A GP14 has different characteristics to a Wayfarer, which sails differently to a Laser or 470. RacePilot understands this and tailors its coaching to your specific boat type.
When you set up a session, you select your boat type from RacePilot's extensive database. The system then uses boat-specific performance data — including Portsmouth Yardstick ratings, typical upwind and downwind angles, and hull speed calculations — to evaluate your sailing against what your boat can actually achieve.
This means the coaching is realistic and relevant. If you're sailing a heavy cruising dinghy like a Wayfarer, RacePilot won't criticize you for not pointing as high as a Laser. If you're in a high-performance skiff, it will push you harder on boat speed and VMG. The feedback is always calibrated to your boat's capabilities.
Example: Boat-Specific Coaching
"You sailed at 38° to the wind on the first beat, which is good for a GP14 in moderate conditions. However, your VMG was 3.2 knots when GP14s typically achieve 3.8 knots at this angle. Consider easing your main slightly and footing for more speed."
The system knows typical GP14 angles and speeds, and provides coaching within that context.
RacePilot's boat database covers all major dinghy classes — from classic boats like GP14s, Wayfarers, and Enterprises, to modern racers like RS Aeros, 29ers, and 49ers. As more sailors use the platform, the system continuously refines its understanding of each boat's performance envelope based on real-world GPS data from thousands of sessions.
Fleet Comparison: Learn from the Fast Sailors
One of the fastest ways to improve is to compare yourself against quicker sailors. RacePilot's Fleet Comparison feature lets you overlay your track with boats that finished ahead of you, revealing exactly where they pulled away.
Did they take a different side of the beat? Sail tighter angles? Gybe at different points downwind? The data shows all of this with precise clarity. You can see speed differentials, VMG comparisons, and tactical choices side-by-side.
For club sailors looking to step up to regional or national events, this feature is transformative. Instead of guessing what the top sailors are doing differently, you can see it in the data.
Wind Sensor Integration
While GPS data alone is incredibly valuable, adding a Bluetooth wind sensor takes your analysis to the next level. RacePilot supports integration with affordable marine wind sensors, giving you true wind angle (TWA) and true wind speed (TWS) throughout your race.
This unlocks polar analysis, VMG optimization, and the ability to see exactly what angles you were sailing in different conditions. You'll discover whether you're pinching too much upwind, sailing too low downwind, or if your boat setup is optimized for the conditions.
Video Playback with GPS Sync
Ever mounted a GoPro on your boat and then spent hours trying to match up the video with what happened? RacePilot automatically synchronizes your video recordings with your GPS track.
Click any point on your GPS track and the video jumps to that exact moment. See what the wind was doing, how the waves looked, where your competitors were, and what sail trim you were using — all perfectly synchronized.
This is brilliant for tactical review ("Why did I tack there?") and crew training ("Look at how our boat handling improved as the day went on").
Club Challenges and Competition
RacePilot isn't just about individual improvement — it's also a platform for club-level competition. Club admins can create challenges, set leaderboards, and track member progress throughout the season.
Challenges can be based on anything: fastest average speed, most improved VMG, most distance sailed, or best race performance. It adds a layer of friendly competition and engagement that keeps sailors motivated between major regattas.
Your Data, Protected
We understand that your sailing performance data is personal. Your GPS tracks reveal where you sail, how fast you go, and your competitive strategies. That's why we've built enterprise-grade security into every layer of RacePilot.
Security Features:
- Authenticated Access — Every API request requires secure JWT authentication. Only you and your authorized coaches can access your sailing data. Session data is tied to your account and never shared publicly.
- Encrypted Data Transit — All data transmission uses HTTPS/TLS encryption. Your GPS tracks, wind readings, and performance data are encrypted in transit between your phone, our servers, and the coach dashboard.
- Offline-First Design — Your sailing data is stored securely on your device first. If you lose connection on the water, data is saved locally and uploaded when you're back online. You control when data leaves your phone.
- You Own Your Data — You decide when tracking starts and stops. Your sessions can be deleted at any time. No third-party analytics or advertising trackers on your telemetry data. We don't sell or share your location history.
- Secure Infrastructure — RacePilot runs on enterprise cloud infrastructure with automatic backups, restricted API access, and regular security updates.
We built RacePilot with the same security standards used by professional sports analytics platforms. Your performance data deserves the same protection as your personal information.
Built for Real-World Sailing
RacePilot was designed with input from active GP14 sailors who understand the realities of dinghy racing. The mobile app works offline (essential when you're out of mobile signal on the lough), has low battery drain, and is waterproof-case friendly.
Sessions upload automatically when you're back on WiFi, so there's no faffing around with cables or complicated export procedures. The web dashboard works on any device — laptop, tablet, or phone — so you can review your racing wherever you are.
Pricing and Availability
RacePilot offers both free and premium tiers. The free version includes GPS tracking, basic analytics, and access to the intelligent race coach with limited queries. Premium membership unlocks unlimited coaching, fleet comparison, video sync, wind sensor integration, and advanced analytics.
For dinghy sailors serious about improving their racing, the premium tier represents exceptional value compared to traditional coaching or performance analysis services.
RacePilot officially launches on January 15th, 2026. The mobile app will be available on Android (Google Play), with iOS (App Store) coming soon after. The web dashboard is accessible at racepilot.app.
The Future of Performance Sailing
Ten years ago, GPS tracking and performance analysis were the exclusive domain of professional sailing teams with budgets to match. Today, thanks to RacePilot, every club sailor with a smartphone has access to the same tools.
For dinghy sailors looking to sharpen their racing, understand their weaknesses, and systematically improve their performance, RacePilot offers a clear path forward. The data doesn't lie — and neither does the stopwatch.
"The best sailors review every race. Now, so can you."
Whether you're a weekend club racer looking to move up the fleet, or a seasoned campaigner preparing for nationals, RacePilot gives you the insights you need to race smarter, faster, and with confidence. Mark your calendar for January 15th and discover what your GPS data has been trying to tell you.
RacePilot Launches January 15th, 2026
Be ready for launch day. RacePilot will be available on Android (Google Play) with iOS coming soon. Free tier available with premium features for serious racers.