Around the Sticks is a richly featured yacht racing course app, providing clear and concise information on mark bearing, distance, shape of turn, side to pass and steering angle relative to mark. Optimized to perform autonomously in race conditions, the app requires very little user inputs, leaving you free to concentrate on the racing. Never get lost out on course again!
Key features include:
-Designed specifically for use in race conditions, and operated through a waterproof casing. Phone will not go idle whilst racing, rather the screen will dim and can be awakened by tapping anywhere on the screen (user settable) to save battery.
-No internet connection is required whilst racing.
-Buttons on main screen are automatically locked to prevent accidental activation.
-One touch race: Once race is started (either with race timer or manually), no further inputs are needed from the user (if all mark positions are known to the app) mark rounding is automatic and the target moves automatically to the next mark. Laid marks, (without set/known coordinates) can be incorporated into courses to maintain the sequential structure. In these cases, once rounded an easily activated manual advance option advances to the next mark.
-The main screen includes a link to course description, progress through the course, clear and easy to read bearing to and distance to, name and picture of the next mark, the side it must be left to, plus the name of the following mark of the course. Speed Across Ground and VMG to the mark are also included on the main screen.
-Once near (distance user settable) to the next mark, proximity mode is activated. The shape of the turn and the bearing to the following mark are pre-emptively displayed, allowing the crew to prepare for the turn
-Race start timer with sync signals for 5, 4 and 1 minutes to start, a user-settable timer button and clear audio cues. This can be used to trigger the start of a course within the app, or as a stand-alone feature
-Clear help captions help explain features when youre getting started. Tap on a feature to display a caption explaining its function. Once youre familiar with the app, captions can be disabled in user settings
-Create and store your own marks and courses, either by entering co-ordinates or "pinging" current location. User courses can be compiled with a combination of existing and custom marks, in a few moments. Ideal for race days where youre handed a new course at the last minute. Its also easy to enter into the app the entire course list for your club at the start of the season, so any course you may require is instantly accessible. Up to 200 courses may be compiled and stored in this way, however the full version of the app is required to navigate within user courses. Up to 3 user marks can be created and stored (200 in the full version of the app)
-Around the Sticks free comes pre-loaded with marks and courses from Melbourne, Australia, this database will be extended regularly to include more territories/clubs. The first five courses of each club list are fully functional, the remaining courses can be used for reference purposes, however navigating within them requires the full version of the app.
-Warning: As with all navigation apps, continued use of GPS may drain the battery life faster than normal. It is recommended that the apps easy to use timed screen dimming feature is activated to minimize this.