Live tracking for a sailing race

Which sailing race do you want to track? Tell me its name or share the event link, and I’ll find the live tracker.

For a specific regatta, the tracker is usually linked from the event’s official website. Common platforms include TracTrac and Kwindoo. (tractrac.com)

Your request is short, so I'm assuming you want to either follow a race or set up tracking for one you're running. Here are the main options I found.

If you're following a race as a spectator

• TracTrac is used at many events. You go to tractrac.com, find the event, and press Live or Replay. The web viewer needs no plugins and runs in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera and Edge.
• Kwindoo offers a Live View app and a browser version for spectators. Public tracking displays a standard 2-minute delay.
• Big events have their own feeds. The Tall Ships Races 2026 fitted each participating ship with a YB satellite transponder. The Ocean Race provides real-time tracking via PredictWind.
• Look for the tracking link on the regatta page or class site before race day. Some events don't offer online viewing at all.

If you're running the tracking for a race

• Browser-based, no hardware: SailingMetrics lets you pick the competition classes and course, then tap Start race. Sailors can choose whether to share their live location with spectators, and a Share watch link button generates a link anyone can open to follow the race live. BeenthereSailedThat is another browser option. Crews check in with their boat name, class and sail number, and start sending GPS data automatically at the gun.
• Dedicated trackers: TackTracker suggests setting up a live race in advance, specifying the course, and updating it as needed for changes in start time or course. Its Web Record option works on any internet connected phone or computer with a web browser and a built in GPS.
• Phone apps: Live-Sail Tracker is free. Sailors enter a boat name, type the session code the organizer shares, and tap Start Tracking. Its Race mode gives high-frequency GPS, which suits short-course racing.
• Vakaros RaceSense has been used at several championships, including the 2024 Melges 15 US National Championship.

Practical tips

• Plan for power. In one field trial, the coach's iPhone hotspot went flat before the day ended. Use external power for the shore-side link.
• Set up and test before the day. Kwindoo recommends that you activate the app before leaving shore and keep it running throughout the race.
• Keep an eye on delay. Feeds vary; one system reports a buffered delay of around 30 to 60 seconds.

If you tell me whether you're a spectator, a race organizer, or a competitor, and roughly how many boats and what budget you have, I can narrow this to one or two options.

Live tracking for sailing races is a well-established technology, with options ranging from professional-grade satellite systems for major offshore events to accessible smartphone-based apps for club racing.

Professional & Event-Based Tracking

For major regattas, offshore races, and professional circuits, organizers typically use specialized hardware and platforms that provide high reliability and precision.

• YB Tracking: One of the most widely recognized names in professional sailing, using satellite transponders to track vessels globally. It is commonly used for major events like The Tall Ships Races and various offshore races.
• GeoRacing: Often used for high-profile events (e.g., Vendée Globe, 52 Super Series), it provides sophisticated GPS tracking, TV-quality graphics overlays, and augmented reality features for a broadcast-style spectator experience.
• MetaSail: A service that provides hardware devices for fleets, offering features like automatic race reporting via WhatsApp, live video synchronization, and detailed post-race analytics.

Smartphone-Based & Club Racing Solutions

For local clubs or personal racing, many systems now allow you to use a smartphone as a tracker, significantly lowering the barrier to entry.

• Kwindoo: A comprehensive platform popular for club and regional regattas. It offers real-time tracking, a dedicated live-view app for spectators, and performance analytics. It can be used with just a smartphone, making it very accessible.
• Regatta Tracker: A user-friendly app that turns your phone into a live GPS beacon. It supports different modes (Race vs. Offshore) to balance performance and battery life and works with a browser-based manager for race officers.
• Sailchart: Focuses on dinghy racing and performance analysis. It allows sailors to track using their phones or dedicated GPS units and provides tools for post-race replay and tactical analysis.
• Vakaros (RaceSense): While a premium option, it is highly regarded for its precision. It uses dedicated hardware nodes to provide advanced race data, including start-line timing and OCS (on-course side) detection, which is excellent for competitive fleets.

Key Considerations for Choosing a System

• Hardware vs. App-based: Dedicated satellite trackers (like YB) are essential for long-distance, offshore, or remote racing where cellular coverage is unreliable. App-based solutions are cost-effective and sufficient for most inshore, lake, or coastal club races where mobile signal is available.
• Spectator Experience: If your goal is to share the race with friends, family, or club members ashore, look for platforms that offer a "Live Viewer" or web-based map that doesn't require viewers to create an account.
• Analysis Features: If you want to improve performance, look for systems that offer "Race Replay" or "Track Review" features, which allow you to compare your lines, tacks, and speed against other boats after the race.
• Battery Life: For long races, ensure the system is optimized for power. Many apps have "Offshore" modes that update the position less frequently to save battery.

If you are an organizer looking to set this up for a club, Kwindoo or Regatta Tracker are typically the most straightforward places to start because they rely on the sailors' own smartphones rather than requiring you to purchase or rent a fleet of expensive hardware units.

Are you looking to follow a specific race live, or set up tracking for a race you’re organizing?

To follow one, check the race’s event website or ask the organizer for its tracking link. If they use Kwindoo, spectators can watch through its web viewer or LiveView app; no account is needed to spectate. ¹⁴

For organizing a race, options include Kwindoo, SailAlign, and eStela, which offer phone-based fleet tracking; SailRacer also offers dedicated GPS trackers for events. ¹²⁸⁹

Share the race name or event link, and I can help find its live tracker.