Introduction

Sailboats are complex machines, and skippers and crew rely on a wide range of instruments to help them navigate and optimize performance. Capturing sensor data for debriefing used to be reserved to professional teams but that is not the case anymore. Modern instruments can capture a vast array of variables, going far beyond just GPS position. This is a small revolution for sailing debriefs and we are here to help you make the most of it.

ChartedSails

At ChartedSails, we provide specialized software that allows sailors to debrief their training sessions and races. Our software is designed to be user-friendly and customizable, allowing sailors to load, display, and analyze the data captured by the instruments on their sailboat. Sailors can work with a coach or alone to identify areas for improvement.

Over the past years we have seen a tremendous change in the capabilities of sailing GPS. There are now a wide range of devices able to capture your GPS data, but also your heel and pitch, tension in the rigging, boat speed in the water, heart-rate of the sailor, etc.

All of these variables and a few more are now available in ChartedSails. We have significantly rewrote how we process and handle data to be able to load and display these variables. And where ChartedSails used to limit data to one point per second, we are now able to take full advantage of the high resolution of the newer GPS units that capture up to 10 points per second. You get more detailed tracks, more precise analysis and it even runs faster than before.

GPS Vendors and Variables Captured

Different GPS vendors offer varying instruments and sensors that capture different variables. Here's a look at some of the variables that can be captured by different GPS vendors:

• Expedition Software is the gold standard to capture data on a boat. ChartedSails will display most variables captured by Expedition.

  This includes:

  • The basics: position, speed and course over ground
  • Wind data: apparent and true wind direction and speed
  • Boat attitude: heel and pitch
  • Boat speed (in the water)
  • Rudder angle
  • Tension of the forestay

  To get all the variables, upload the CSV Expedition file to ChartedSails. There is no need to export or convert the files. All versions are supported.

• Velocitek offers GPS-based instruments that capture position, speed over ground, heading (real heading from a compass - not estimated from GPS course), heel and pitch. They also record pings of the marks and the precise start time of races. All will be visible in ChartedSails.

  To download from your Velocitek device, plug it into your computer and upload the VTK file to ChartedSails. To keep the maximum information, do not use a converter.

• Vakaros devices capture position, speed over ground, heading and they can also capture wind data, boat speed, depth and load from load cells when connected to appropriate instruments on your boat. Pings of the marks and precise start time are captured as well.

  To benefit from all the capabilities of your Vakaros device you need to export the data in Vakaros format (VKX) from the mobile app and load it in ChartedSails.

• Garmin Watches: capture basic GPS-based variables (position, sog and cog) and have the additional benefit of recording heart-rate. Using the lap button on the watch you can mark precise moment in the race (start signal, beginning of a drill, etc) and these will be visible as little markers on your track in ChartedSails.

• Cyclops Marine Load Cells: capture the load on the rigging. They can be used in combination with other GPS units like Vakaros or Sailmon, but you can also export the data from their mobile app in CSV format and load it in ChartedSails.

• Sailmon devices capture position, speed and course over ground, heel, pitch and when connected to appropriate sensors you will also get wind data, and one load measurement for the rigging. To use data from sailmon devices, export in CSV format. ChartedSails will recognize the file and load all the variables included.

• Capture from NMEA and NMEA2000 buses

  ChartedSails can now also load directly from NMEA and NMEA2000 captures. We have tested with the NKE Mini-Logger and SignalK Server. We will continue to work on expanding this category.

This list is bound to change as existing devices become smarter and new ones appear on the market. As we test new files and verify compatibility we will update this page.

If your device is not listed above or if your sensors are not supported, please send us a note. Our policy is that if it can be recorded we want to support it.

How to access these variables?

To keep the program simple, only the most essential variables are shown by default in ChartedSails. To look at more variables, simply extend the size of the instruments panel.

Wind data in ChartedSails

After much consideration, we decided to continue using the wind slider in ChartedSails to set a general wind direction, and this is still the wind source used to calculate your VMG and maneuver statistics.

There are two reasons for this :

1. When you are racing, you are optimizing to get to the next mark as fast as possible. You effectively need to look at your Velocity Made Correct to the course and that is what we give you now with the wind slider and VMG (and yes we may end up renaming VMG to VMC).
2. When comparing multiple boats, differences in wind sensor calibration and local wind conditions would make VMG comparisons useless if they were not based on one unique wind value for everyone.

Let us know how you feel about these decisions. ChartedSails improves with your feedback.

Data Visualization

Although it’s a huge step forward to have access to all these new variables, there is a lot more we want to do in terms of data visualization. Stay tuned!

Conclusion

The times where we had to argue for the importance of data in sailing are long gone. With smarter sailing instruments and more sensors, we are adding more dimensions to the GPS tracks and dramatically expanding the usefulness of the data driven debrief.

As always, we are committed to turn data points into understandable and actionable information that is useful to sailors at all levels.

We were amazed to see what you did with heel and pitch when we introduced them about a year ago. We cannot wait to see what you will do with load-cells, heart-rate and of course, wind data.

As always please keep in touch!