SailGrib WR Support

• Press the  button
• Press the "GRIB REQUEST" button
• Choose the source of the grib files, usually SailGrib but you can also use Open WRF, SailDocs, Great Circle...
• Choose the weather or current forecast model. The most common is the GFS or :
  • in coastal navigation along European coasts, the Arpège 0.1° model of Météo France
  • in coastal navigation along the US coasts or on the Great Lakes, the NAM model from the NOAA
• Choose the time step and number of days.
• Select the parameters to be loaded, usually Wind and Pressure or Current
• Press the "REQUEST GRIB" button at the top of the screen
• The file is created on the SailGrib server, sent back to the app and opened in the app.

Watch the video on Youtube

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One of SailGrib's special features is the ability to load grib files from multiple providers called Sources in the app. Each of the Sources gives access to different Models.

Below you will find a list of the different models supplied, sorted by supplier:

If grib files are useful to try to understand the weather situation, it is almost necessary to load weather maps to better understand it. 

Surface pressure charts, also called isobaric charts, synoptic charts or frontal charts, are commonly used. They allow visualizing:

• warm and cold fronts
• centers of action for highs and lows
• isobars

There are two types of surface pressure charts:

• surface chart analysis
• surface chart forecasts at 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours.

Charts are produced in different projections. The NOAA publishes most of them in Mercator projection which allow us to embed them in the app.

Weather charts are images. When they are available, we have selected those in the TIF format where the files sizes are the smallest.

The charts can be downloaded directly when you have an internet connection or picked up by an exchange of email with SailDocs when you're at sea with Iridium. 

• Open the menu

• Select Get weather chart

• Select from the drop-down menus:
  • Zone: Atlantic, Pacific...
  • Source: NOAA, MetOffice
  • Type: surface chart only for the moment
  • Chart: 48 Hour Surface analysis, 96 Hour...
• Choose:
  • Request by Direct download if you are on the Internet or if you are uing an Iridium Go while offshore
  • Email if you want to make the request by email via SailDocs and an Iridium Go (backup solution)
  • Press the Make Weather Chart Request button.
    The files are very small and take 1 to 2 seconds to download in WiFi or 4G
• The chart is displayed.
  • If the chart is in Mercator projection, we can display it on the main SailGrib WR map.
    The chart must then be synchronized.
    As the message indicates, you must match the date and time of validity to the "Valid Date" displayed in the chart inset. The application tries to propose the right date and time but the maps being produced by hand, they are not always available at the same times... Note that the times are always in UTC.
  • If the chart is not in Mercator projection, it is simply displayed here.
• Press the Open button. The map opens on the application's main map.

The weather charts are saved in the "download" directory of your Android device.

• Open the menu and select Open weather chart.
  Choose the chart from the list. Note that the validity date and time have been saved.
  The chart is displayed in the application. If a grib is already loaded, the app automatically selects the validity time of the weather chart .

Satellite images, or sat images, used in conjunction with grib files and weather charts help to better understand weather phenomena.
If you want to deepen your knowledge on this subject and speak French, we encourage you to read the excellent book by Jean-Yves Bernot : "Images sat - La météo vue du ciel" 

Sat images will be useful for:
- follow the action centers of Highs and Lows...
- to link cloudy phenomena to variations in the surface wind field
- to specify the behavior of certain delicate zones: cold fronts, edges of anticyclones, doldrums...
- visualize local effects.

The downloadable satellite images are derived from geostationary satellite data.
- Their resolution is of the order of 1 km in the visible channel and 3 km for other channels such as infrared.
- The images and their gif animations are updated every hour on our servers.

The following processing is done for each image:
- projection in Web Mercator in order to be able to superimpose them on the application's cartography.
- addition of the coast and border lines, a latitude/longitude grid for better readability
- Colorisation of the images in the infrared to highlight the clouds with the greatest vertical extent and therefore potentially the most active squalls.
- high compression to obtain images which are downloadable with an Irdium Go. The files have a size between 80 and 170 kb and are fit for the app  Iridium Go direct download module.

To date, the images come from Eumetsat's Meteosat 0° and 41.5° satellites as well as from NOAA's GOES 16 and GOES 17 satellites. Only the region between 110°E and 160°E is not covered in the application, as the Japanese weather service does not freely distribute the images from the Himawari 8 satellite.

We produce and distribute 4 types of images:
- Visible: to highlight low layer phenomena. Are only useful during the day. The sea is very dark.
- Thermal infrared: the higher the clouds are, the colder they are. Available day and night. Colorized to highlight cyclogenesis.
- Natural color: combined from several channels. Eumetsat only.
- Precipitation: combined  from several channels, gives a snapshot of precipitation, the result is very similar to precipitation radar images. This processing has recently been added by Eumetsat.

In addition, you can also get the Sargassum sat image for the tropical North Atlantic. The image comes from a satellite in low orbit, it gives the concentration of Sargassum. To be used with the notion of slow areas for routing in the app.

Here are 4 images of the North Atlantic for January 9, 2020 at 12:00TU.

The corresponding surface analysis map.

And the grib file from the GFS model

• Open the menu

• Select Get satellite image

• Select from the drop-down menus:
  • Zone: Atlantic, Pacific...
  • Source: Eumetsat, NOAA
  • Image type: Natural color, Visible, Infrared, Precipitation
• Choose:
  • Request by Direct download if you are on the Internet or if you are using an Iridium Go while offshore
  • Email if you want to make the request by email via SailDocs and an Iridium Go (backup solution)
  • Press the Make Satellite image Request button.
    The files are very small (100 to 160 kb) and take 1 to 2 seconds to download in WiFi or 4G
    It will take from 10 to 15 minutes with an Iridium Go.
• The image is displayed.
  • The image is in the Web Mercator projection and can be displayed on the main SailGrib WR map.
    The chart must then be synchronized.
    As the message indicates, you must match the date and time of validity to the "Valid Date" displayed in the chart inset. Note that the times are always in UTC.

  • 

• If you are on the Internet, you can also view an animation of the last 12 hours which will allow you to better understand the evolution of the situation.
  
• Set the transparency level of the image from 0 for no transparency to 100 for invisible.

• Press the Open button. The map opens on the main map of the application.

The sat images are saved in the "download" directory of your Android device.

• Open the menu and choose "Open a satellite image".
• Choose the image from the list. Note that the validity date and time have been saved.
• Set the transparency level of the image from 0 for no transparency to 100 for invisible.
• Press the Open button to display the image in the application.

A tide module is included in the application. It calculates the tides in the main harbors of the world without internet connection.

Warning: The tide calculations are not made from official data, the high and low tide times and water heights are approximate and for information only. They can in no way be used as substitute for those provided by official hydrographic services. If you use these data, you acknowledge and accept these limits.
From experience, tide times are accurate within + - 15 minutes and the water height  to + - 5% of the tidal range, which is close to variations due to changes in atmospheric pressure.

You can visualize on a map the tides in the different ports of a coast, which should give you a good idea of the tidal wave. Here are for example the water levels in the different harbors of the Channel on 04 April 2018 at 3:17PM. In red the tide is ebbing, in green it is rising.

• Pressing a tide icon opens the tide view page in that harbor. A long tap on any point on the map opens the tide view page for the nearest harbor.

• It is possible to search for a harbor: go to the main menu and select Harbor search.

SailGrib WR now includes tidal current atlases for the European coasts. These atlases were compiled using data provided by the Mercator Ocean models. They cover all the European coasts where tidal currents are the main ones and are therefore relatively predictable. It does exclude currents for the Baltic and the Mediterranean seas. For these two seas, grib files are available.

If you sail in France and you are looking for more precise atlases, you can purchase packs of tidal currents atlases produced by the Shom.

If you want more details on the atlases, the purchasing and activation procedures, get the dedicated help file.

The atlases were compiled at different scales:

• Maximum resolution for areas where tidal currents are important
• Resolution 0.2 ° elsewhere.

The following atlases are included:

Tous ces atlas sont disponibles dans l’application payante. Il faut, dans un premier temps, les initialiser dans l’application. Lors de la première utilisation, l’application vous propose de le faire.

To load an atlas:

• go to the Settings menu
• choose Tides and Currents
• press the Load atlases of current button

The loading of atlases is a rather long procedure, it can take a few minutes.

SHOM publishes tidal current atlases for the coasts of metropolitan France, the Channel and the Atlantic. They map the direction and intensity of tidal currents at each "tide" hour relative to a reference harbor. These atlases are developed from two-dimensional numerical models and validated in situ. 

Each atlas can contain different precision zones. For example, Atlas 558 covers the southern coasts of Brittany from Audierne to Croisic. It contains the South Brittany, Glénan, Groix, Quiberon and Morbihan zones.

In sensitive areas like the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan, these atlases are much more accurate than those provided free in the application.

The atlases are grouped into 2 "packs", one for the Channel and the other for the Atlantic.  Each pack is offered at 33€ HT. The price including VAT depends on the country of purchase. It is 39.99€ for a purchase made from France.

If you want more details on these atlases, the purchase and activation procedures, get the dedicated user guide.

The app displays near real-time data from 2 sources:
- weather buoy readings from several weather services including the NOAA, the Met Office and Météo France.
- airport station readings called METAR, 

Weather buoy data is generally updated hourly. For airports, it varies but often in the order of 30 minutes.

If your Android device is connected to the Internet, the download is automatic. At sea, with an Iridium Go, the user can upload small files containing the data for his navigation area.

• Open the main menu
• Check "Weather stations"

  

  Data are automatically downloaded and displayed as arrows.
  The color of the arrows depends on the wind speed. The gradient is the same as the one used to display the grib files wind barbs.
• Tap on a station to view the details of the reading.
  
  

  

  
  

  

• At the beginning of navigation, check the option Request with your Iridium Go in the grib request menu.
  

  

• Center the map
• Open the menu and select Get buoy weather data or Get airport weather data.
  

  

• The query is launched, the file is downloaded and its data is displayed. The files will be very small, in the range of 1 kb to 10 kb and should take one minute to load.
  

  

Weather routing is the calculation of the fastest route between 2 waypoints or a succession of waypoints called route taking into account weather forecasts, current forecasts, boat characteristics and certain constraints imposed by the user (maximum wind, sail and engine routing, prohibited areas...)

The application uses the isochrones method to calculate routing. An isochron is a curve representing the points that a sailboat can reach in a given time. You will see these curves drawn during the routing calculation.

The main steps to do a routing are:

• download a grib forecast file including wind
• create a route
• choose the departure time
• choose the boat polar
• if necessary, set the optional parameters

With a little practice, you can calculate your routings less than a minute!

• Create a route
  • Press the Action button  
  • Press the Create a Route button
  • Enter a route name
  • Press Yes if the route starts at your GPS position
  • Long press at the first waypoint position
  • Repeat until the end of the route
  • Press the Done button
    
    The great circle line (shortest route between 2 waypoints) between each waypoint is drawn, the distance and average heading between each waypoint is displayed in the center of each segment.
    
    Watch a video on YouTube
    
    Note : you can also start with a long press the screen and choose Manage routes / Create a route.
    
    
• Load a route already created
  • Long press the screen and choose Manage routes / Load a route
  • The most recent used route is loaded
  • Pick the route you want to load in the upper screen  drop-down list

• Activate a route by creating or loading it:
  • To create it, see the previous help
  • To load a route: long press the screen and select Manage routes / Load a route
• Switch to Edit route mode: long press the screen and select Manage routes / Edit route mode
• Move waypoints by hand by dragging them across the screen
• Press the "Finish" button

Watch a video on YouTube

• Create or load a route.
  If a route is already loaded, long press the screen and choose Manage routes / Edit route mode

• Press the "Edit" button

• Press the waypoint to edit

• Change the waypoint coordinates or type

• Press the "Ok" button then "Open" to return to the map

Waypoints can be of 3 types :

• "Go through." This is the default type. The boat passes the waypoint and then continues to the next waypoint
• "Leave to starboard." The boat must leave the waypoint to starboard but is not required to pass through the waypoint.
• "Leave to port." The boat must leave the waypoint to port but is not required to pass through the waypoint.

The waypoints "Leave to port" and "Leave to starboard" should be handled with care. In practice, they are only used if the angle of the route before and after this waypoint is very open. If the application finds that the angle is too closed, it will consider that the boat will have to pass through the waypoint.

Note: you can delete a waypoint or route by pressing one of the Delete buttons.

Watch a video on YouTube

SailGrib WR comes with the iPolar module developed by KND for iOS. (Paid version or Premium option only).

KND is a world leader in sailing performance ananlysis with over 15 years of experience in the field of speed prediction programs (VPP) for racing yachts.

We thank Dimitri Nicolopoulos-Salle, founder of KND, for giving us access to the iPolar code.

iPolar computes the performance polars of a given boat as a function of a reduced set of parameters:

- Length Overall (LOA)

- Waterline Length (LWL) if unknown, iPolar will make the assumption that LWL is 95% of LOA

- Displacement 

- MainSail Area 

- Jib Area 

- Symmetrical spinnaker area (optional)

- Asymmetrical spinnaker area(optional)

Limitations of iPolar:

- Currently only handles monohulls 

- LOA ranging from 8 to 20m

Accuracy: 

iPolar is a very simple Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) which predicts the polars of a boat based on a very limited range of parameters: length, displacement and sail area .
This simplicity implies some restrictions : iPolar is meant to predict reasonably accurately polars for production cruisers and cruiser racers - it is currently limited to mono-hulls. 

For boats significantly outside of the iPolar parameter range and for racing polars accuracy, the use of more complex VPP tools is required. KND-SailingPerformance uses the NorthSails VPP, developed through several cycles of America's Cup, relying for each boat on the generation of a large matrix of hydrodynamic forces (through Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD methods) and advanced sails models. In case you would be interested in such a VPP for your yacht, contact us directly. 

Polar curves represent the boat speed for a given wind speed and angle : SOG = f_polar(TWS, TWA).

SailGrib WR uses the same polar format as Maxsea or Adrena. A polar file is a tab delimited text file where each line represents the boat speeds for a given true wind angle and each column represents a wind speed. 
To avoid problems, the boat speeds can be formatted with “.” or “,” as decimal separators.

It is better if a polar file has a line for 0° and 180° and columns start with a wind speed of 0 knot.

Here are the rules if SailGrib does not have a value for a particular wind speed and angle:

• If the wind speed is greater than the highest wind speed value in the polar file, SailGrib WR will take the value corresponding to that highest wind speed.
• If the wind speed is lower than the lowest wind speed value in the polar file, SailGrib WR will interpolate between 0 and the value corresponding to that lowest wind speed.
• If the wind angle is higher than the highest wind angle value in the polar file, SailGrib WR will use the value corresponding to that highest wind angle.
• If the wind angle is lower than the lowest wind angle value in the polar file, SailGrib WR will use a 0 value for the boat speed.

It is highly recommended to include high wind speeds in the polar file and to have low boat speeds for these high wind speeds. 
Just for illustration, a simple example of a polar lacking the high wind speed values would be:

SailGrib WR comes with a set of polar files that we have compiled from different sources like boat builders, naval architects or ORC certificates. They should be considered as a starting point for your specific boat and you should adjust them accordingly.

All of them are under the same format with boat speed values for TWA (true wind angle) equals to 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 32°, 36°, 40°, 45°, 52°, 60°, 70°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, 140°, 150°, 160°, 170° and 180° and TWS (true wind speed) values for 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 knots.

We keep adding polars to the app: more than 400 polars are already in our database.

To view a polar:

• open the menu then in the routing section press the Polar button
• Choose the polar to view
• Choose the wind speeds to view

There is no tool in SailGrib WR to edit a boat polar.

Most often, the app is used on a cell phone and it is not a convenient device to edit a large table.

You have 2 options though!

• Use polar efficiencies in the routing menu. This is very easy and efficient.
  We have implemented 2 polar efficiency parameters, one for winds under 10 knots and a second one for winds over 20 knots. SailGrib interpolates for wind speeds in between. As most polars are theoretical ones, we recommend to set these parameters to around 85% for cruising boats with a clean hull, not overloaded and with decent sails.
• Use the editing tools we have published on our website:
  • an Excel sheet
  • a Windows program  written by Ralph Lechterbeck - Thanks 🙂

A SailChart in SailGrib WR is a table that indicates the optimal sail for a given wind speed (TWS) and wind angle (TWA).
The optimum sail is then displayed in:
- weather routings
- the measuring tool to determine, for example, the best sail on the next leg
- the quick measuring tool

You have loaded a wind grib file and defined your route, all you have to do is choose the departure time and the boat type.

• Press the Action button  then the Weather Routing button (or open the menu and choose Routing)
• Only if you are at sea check the option Start now at my position. The application will use GPS to move the starting waypoint and set the start time.
• Otherwise, choose the departure date and time. By default the time is in the local time zone of the phone. You can change the time to UTC in the Preferences menu.
• Choose the polar closest to your boat from the list of more than 400 polars we have created.
• Modify the 2 polar efficiency parameters if necessary. Polars are most often theoretical. For a clean cruise ship who is not too heavily loaded, we generally take around 80% of the theoretical polar.
• Leave all other settings at their default values.
• Press the Run button
  Watch a video on YouTube

SailGrib saves routings as KML files (Google Maps). It is possible to load several routings in order to compare them.

You can use this feature to compare routings with different:

• weather models
• polar efficiencies
• polars
• max routing days
• routes
• ...

for exemple: a first routing is done without specifying an intermediate point.

The navigator wants to know what the routing would look like if you forced the boat through a point. It is very simple to do:

• Calculate the first routing
• Insert a waypoint on the route
• Calculate the new routing

You can switch from one routing to the other with the buttons at the top right of the screen. The last calculated routing will always be at the top of the list, the track color will be blue and the boat red.

In the example below: route from Saint Nazaire to La Corogne on February 17 on a Sun Fast 3200.
The first routing indicates to go to port in the SW direction then to turn when the wind starts its shift to W. The duration is 2 days 2 hours 24 minutes.

If you force a mid-point on the great circle, the time increases to 2d 4h 25mn. If we move this point towards the interior of the Bay of Biscay, the planned sailing time increases to 2d 11h 20mn.

SailGrib saves routings as KML files (Google Maps). It is possible to load several routings in order to compare them.

You have 2 possibilities to open the list of available routings:

• Long press the screen and select Load Routing.
• Open the menu, go to the weather routing section and press Load a routing.

Then choose the routings to load from the list of all saved routings and press the Load button.

• Shoreline : draw the shoreline used for the routing
• Best route windbarbs: draw the forecasted wind at the time of the routing for the best route point.
• Best route current arrows: draw the forecasted current at the time of the routing for the best route point.
• Best route courses over ground: display the true COG between 2 points. Note that depending on the scale of the map, the course might be hidden.
• Isochrones: display the isochrones in grey.
• Isochrones pivot points: display the pivot points in grey.
• Isochrones segments: display the isochrones segments. The color of the segment depends on the true wind speed at the start of the isochrones for each point. This will give you an idea of the wind speed on the different parts of the sea at the isochrones time.

ou can display 2 types of roadbooks:

• Directly on the screen: press the button to obtain a synthetic view of the selected routing.

• In the menu, go down to the Weather routing section, press the Roadbook button.

  • The first tab displays global data and some routing statistics:

    • Finish time, duration, start time

    • Finish and start coordinates

    • Distance of the route and average speed over ground

    • Rhumb line bearing, great circle line distance and comparison with the distance on the route

    • Max, min and average wind speed on the route

    • Average true wind angle

    • Polar used with its efficiencies

    • Wind and Current grib file used

    • Land avoidance parameter

    • Eventually, mixed routing parameters and time motoring.

• • The bottom part of the roadbook lists all the waypoints and the course parameters:
    • Start time of isochrone
    • Position
    • Distance to cover and travel time. This time is generally equal to the routing time step unless you have to make a tack or gybe during this isochrone
    • Ground speed and ground heading (SOG/SOG), possibly to engine
    • Real wind speed and direction (TWS/TWD), that of the grib file
    • Surface wind angle (AWA), calculated from the actual wind from the grib file and modified by the current

A pivot point is an already calculated point on an isochrone from which we wants to resume routing.

Routing with a pivot point allows for very quick routing study as it soes not require to recalculate the entire routing and you do not have to edit the route.

Lest us take an example where we sail from Laredo, Spain to Concarneau, France. We set sails on Thursday, November 26 sailing a Sunfast 3200 in  a high pressure system.

What would happen if we decided to keep sailing on port for four more hours at the beginning of the trip ?

Let us zoom towards the tack zone. Grey points appear on isochrones. They are the potential pivot points.

Let us long press a point 4 isochrones further such that we would sail upwind on port. The app offers to create a pivot point and to resume routing from that point.

We would sail for 4 more hours by delaying the tack…

The isochrones from the first routing are displayed again at the end of the run such that you can launch another routing with a pivot point.

You must choose a current source, atlas or grib files, depending on the type of navigation and your navigation area.

• Along the European coasts, when tidal currents are predominant (all coasts except the Baltic and the Mediterranean), choose the current atlases (see the help to load them)
• Elsewhere and especially "offshore", in the presence of oceanic currents, download a grib file of currents and use it.

The app includes a virtual regatta mode where it tries to reproduce the calculation methods used in these regattas.

To switch to virtual regatta mode, go to the Settings menu. In the  Virtual Regatta section :

• check the Virtual regatta mode. The app will automatically adjust some parameters to be as close as possible to the game.
• Update the polars. These polar are copied from our servers. If you do not find the polar for a race, send us an email with the Contact us menu. We will do our best to add it quickly.

Once in virtual regatta mode:

• Create your route as usual,
• Download a grib file. The only offered model is the gfs_vr_100 we try to reproduce the model used for the regatta.
  The model is updated every 6 hours when data from the GFS model are ready:
  • 3:35 GMT, 9:35 GMT, 3:35 p.m. GMT and 9:35 p.m. GMT for the 24 hour forecasts
  • 3:45 GMT, 9:45 GMT, 3:45 p.m. GMT and 9:45 p.m. GMT for the 48 hour forecasts
  • 5:00 GMT, 11:00 GMT, 5:00 p.m. GMT and 11.00 p.m. GMT for forecasts up to 16 days.

If you do not download the grib file, the application will offer you to do it at the launch of the routing.

• Adjust your routing parameters
  • Route: You need to edit the first waypoint of your route at each routing to adjust your starting position to your boat position in the game.
  • Start date and time: this is the date and time start of the routing in local time
  • Routing max days: If you want, for example, to simply make a 1 day routing with a 4 day grib file
  • Grib time offset : do not check
  • Race start : check if it is the start of the race. This is to avoid initial penalties.
  • Polar: choose the one corresponding to the race. These are actually multi-sails polars. The app will automatically choose the fastest one at each point of calculation.
  • Pro sails: If you have subscribed to this option
  • Current sail : the boat current sail. For potential penalties calculations.
  • Foils, Polish, Pro winches : if your boat has these options.
  • Minimum wind speed : if it has been set for that race. 
  • Polar efficiency : by default, do not modify.
  • Auto parameters: I suggest you start by using the app in Automatic mode ...
  • Calculation method:
    • Fast: to make a fast routing calculation that might not be very precise
    • Standard: the most used.
    • Precise: to use 10minutes time steps and a large number of calculated points for the next 12 hours. This is the mode to use if you have a powerful device and you want to take advantage of all the features of the app.
  • Land avoidance: check it unless you are in the middle of the ocean and you want to speed up the calculation
  • Shoreline: in general in auto mode.
  • No go zones: Prohibits routing in these zones. The 60_south_east, 60_south_west, 55_south_east and 55_south_west zones are included in the app for around the world races.
  • Grib time offset: probably not useful here.
  • Penalties
    • tack: check and leave the default values, 50% for 2 minutes
    • sail change: check and leave the default values, 50% for 2 minutes
  • Allow tacking inside isochrone: in general, leave this option checked

Everything is set, you can start routing.

Wind shift isochrones are displayed in red and you can run pivot routings on these isochrones.

The color of track segments corresponds to the sail used for that segment

Enjoy racing!

If you select this option, SailGrib will create a GPX file of the calculated routing. The file is saved by default in the sailgrib/gpx directory of your SD card or internal memory. You can choose the directory in which this file is saved.

This file can be downloaded to most GPS and OpenCPN. Be careful, SailGrib WR is only a planning tool for your navigation, some points of the route can be on land as the shoreline might not be precise enough.

If you select this option, SailGrib will create an Excel file of the calculated routing. The file is saved by default in the sailgrib/excel directory of your SD card or internal memory. You can change the directory in which this file is saved.

This file can be opened on Android devices with the free Google Sheets app or the free Microsoft Excel app. 

The Excel file includes 2 sheets:

• A summary

• details of waypoints and different routing settings
  

  
  
  

  

  

When your Android device is connected to the Internet, the application loads the tiles corresponding to the map visible on the screen. These tiles are stored in a database and can be reused later. They will be reused if they are new or when your device is no longer connected to the Internet. The app keeps up to 600 MB of tiles in the directory of your choice.

By default, except for the United States, the application starts loading "OpenStreetMap Mapnik" maps.

You have the choice between

• Default (OpenStreetMap Mapnik)
• Bing
• Bing satellite
• MapBox satellite
• NOAA marine

To switch from one type of card to another, press the layer button  at the top right of the screen. 

If you have a Navionics app license on your Android device and a valid subscription, you can view these charts in SailGrib WR at no additional cost!

Navionics charts cover the entire globe. For more details follow this link to their website.

To view Navionics charts :

• make sure you are connected to the Internet
• go to Preferences / Chats then go down to Navionics section
• log into your Navionics account
• make sure you have a valid license for your device

return to the map, press the button at the top right and select Navionics. The detail maps will automatically load at high zoom.

To load a large area :

• go to Preferences / Charts then go down to Navionics section
• Press the "Download Charts" button and return to the map
• Pan and zoom the map. The area in the square will be downloaded. The square is fixed.
• Press the "Download" button. The charts will be downloaded in the background. Be patient.
• A downloaded area will appear with a light background on the base map.
  

    

You can display the OpenSeaMap "layer" over all maps. OpenSeaMap is an open source project to create free nautical charts.

Warning, not all buoys and beacons are entered in OpenSeaMap, some may be incorrect. We urge you to use this layer with caution.

We invite you to contribute to the project by adding or updating lighthouses and beacons in your navigation area. You will then need to use JOSM (Java OpenStreetMap Editor).

A small installation tutorial is available on YouTube here.

Here is an overview of La Rochelle Bay with and without the OpenSeaMap layer.

And the same using SHOM marine charts and with or without the OpenSeaMap layer.

Atlases created from raster charts of hydrographic services can be purchased or downloaded directly into the app and stored in your device. These atlases are created from map images. The maps are clipped, cleaned and assembled to give a continuous atlas with different zoom levels.

Please note that no official hydrographic service has verified the information contained in the atlases and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of their representation or for any subsequent modification. Possession of these atlases does not exempt from the obligation to use the appropriate nautical documents provided for by national or international regulations.

More specifically, for atlases derived from UKHO data, please note that :
"The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and its licensors make no warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to this product. The UKHO and its licensors have not verified the information within this product or quality assured it."

Similarly, SailGrib disclaims any liability related to the use of these atlases. Again, possession of these atlases does not exempt from the obligation to use the appropriate nautical documents provided for by national or international regulations.

In SailGrib WR, you can purchase the following atlases of marine charts :

• SHOM for France. All French metropolitan coasts are available (Channel, Atlantic, Mediterranean).
• derived form UKHO for Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Eastern Atlantic Islands.
• derived from SHOM, UKHO and NOAA for the Caribbean island.

If you are looking for specific charts, do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are on the Internet, the list of proposed atlases will be automatically updated when you open the application. You can consult the detailed list by downloading the specific manual atlas_raster_en.pdf.

Once purchased in the Play Store, the maps are downloaded into the "Download" directory of your device and possibly copied into the directory you have chosen in the application. It can happen that the copy fails. In this case, use a file manager like ES Explorer to copy the atlas in sgtiles format in the directory you have chosen.

The atlas licenses are attached to the Gmail account you used to purchase them. The charts can only be used in SailGrib WR and with this account.

You can, however, use the application and maps on multiple devices as long as they are attached to the Gmail account used to purchase the application and atlases.

We will make our best effort to update the atlases once a year. You can update them by downloading them again within 365 days of purchase. Beyond this period, if you want to update the atlas, you will have to buy it again.

I encourage you to keep a copy of the atlas file in a safe location.

Here is for example the isle of Houat at several scales.

We offer free atlases from NOAA data for the United States. These atlases cover all the coasts of the United States and much of the Pacific.

The free offline charts are stored in MBTiles format, the purchased ones are in a  MBTiles derived format, one where we have encrypted the tiles. We have called it the SGTiles format.

You can also make your charts with tools like SASPlanet or MapTiler and copy them to your device.

The maximum zoom level is not constant for all chart areas. It varies according to the scale of the most accurate map for a given location. Thus, you will not have the same maximum zoom level for the port of La Rochelle as for the plateau of Rochebonne.

To compensate for this, if the application does not find a map at a sufficient scale for a given location, it will make an "Overzoom" of the most accurate map for that location. Overzoom" will appear discreetly on the tiles thus created on the fly.

The connection to your marine instruments is done through WiFi.

Most modern multifunction instrument can publish its data in NMEA 0183 format over a WiFi network. If this is your setup, simply connect to that network.

Otherwise, you will have to connect your marine instruments to a wifi NMEA multiplexer. This is often a more flexible solution. You can wire multiple devices to the multiplexer that will publish in wifi a single NMEA feed. A fixed GPS, a navigation system, an AIS receiver or transponder can be connected at the same time.

We recommend the following multiplexers:

• the Digital Yacht multiplexers like the Smart WLN10 or the new Smart WLN30. These multiplexers have a Web interface that is used to easily the initial configuration of the devices. They supports the UDP and TCP protocols and 7 devices can receive data at the same time.
• If you are looking for all in one device which acts as a AIS transponder and a multiplexer, then go for the Digital Yacht AIT3000 or the new AIT5000. The new AIT5000  is a Class B+ AIS Transponder with a 5W power output that utilises SOTDMA format transmissions for an increased safety at sea. 
• the MiniPlex-3Wi from ShipModul (or the old model MiniPlex-2Wi)

If you own a GMN Optimizer, you can connect your system to the USB input of the Optimizer. After configuration, the Optimizer will broadcast the NMEA data on its wireless network. You will, however be limited to a single NMEA source. To connect several sources to the Optimizer, you will have to go through a USB multiplexer such as MiniPlex Lite from ShipModul.

Once the wireless network ready, go to the wifi settings of your Android device to connect to it.

Then in SailGrib WR, from the Settings menu, go to NMEA Settings

• Enable the NMEA and AIS Connection
• Select your NMEA Source. We have pre-set the following sources:
  • AIS-Share: an AIS Android app, we will come back to it in the AIS chapter.
  • Digital Yacht
  • DK Innovation
  • GMN Optimizer
  • NKE : to connect to a NKE wifi box
  • Miniplex de ShipModul
  • teamSurv
  • vYacht
  • Vesper Marine
  • dAISy
  • Log - for reading NMEA log files. We will come back to this later.
  • Other, for manually setting the IP address of the multiplexer and the port on which the data are released.

• Select the data transmission protocol, TCP or UDP. The UDP protocol is more flexible, there is no connection between the multiplexer and the app. The multiplexer simply broadcasts the data to a port. The application listens on this port. You can have as many devices as you want to listen to the multiplexer. A bad reception does not delay the data.
  In TCP mode, each multiplexer will limit the number of connections (only 1 for Miniplex 3). A poor connection will delay the data. In addition, if a connection is not properly closed, the multiplexer must be restarted.

• Choose if you want to use the GPS from the NMEA feed. You will be able to switch off the internal GPS your Android device which will significantly reduce power consumption.

• Choose whether you want to overwrite the speed and heading data of your instruments (CTW and STW) with those of your GPS (COG and SOG). This option is most often used if the speed sensor is dirty, or broken.

• Choose if you want to save daily Log files of your NMEA data. These files are saved in the sailgrib/nmea directory. Depending on the NMEA output, they can be quite heavy, remember to delete them from time to time.

• You can Start the NMEA service from this screen to verify that you are receiving data. Statistics on the data feed and the last sentence received are displayed.

Maintain your Internet connection
If your Android device is connected to the Internet by 4G, you will probably want to keep the 4G Internet connection while receiving data on board via WiFi from the multiplexer. It is possible. This requires that the multiplexer has not defined a default route (default Gateway) in 0.0.0.0.0. This is the case for recent multiplexers (Digital Yacht, Miniplex 3 with the latest firmware). If this is not the case for your multiplexer, you will need to establish a connection sharing from your mobile device and connect the multiplexer in client mode to your mobile's WiFi. Refer to your multiplexer's manual for instructions.

If you have connection problems, please refer to the dedicated FAQ.

Data are displayed either on a NMEA panel to the right of the screen or on the navigation panel. The panel can display 5 NMEA parameters in addition to the time of the last received NMEA message. The navigation panel button  also controls the display of the NMEA panel. To start the service, press the button.

To start the service

• activate the GPS in the menu

• Press the  button. It will change from green to orange and the panel will display NMEA data.

When the service is active, the  icon is displayed in white in the notification bar of your Android device at the top left of the screen. You can put the SailGrib WR application in the background while keeping the service active.

Warning: if you kill the application from the list of active applications, the NMEA service will be stopped. This is a change for version 3.0, in previous versions the data service was still running. Many users forgot it and saw the battery of their device run out...

You can choose the data for each of the 5 views from a list of parameters.
Note that for the performance data, the polar chosen in the routing menu is used.

Find in the below table the list of the parameters you can display.

If your marine instruments provide wind data, SailGrib calculates the up and downwind  laylines.

If your marine instruments  calculate the true wind, it will be used, otherwise the app will use a simplified calculation of true wind.

Laylines include the effect of the current. You can choose different calculation modes:

• Ignore current
• Currents calculated based on the difference between SOG/COG and STW/CTW. This is the default mode. The calculation will take into account not only current but also the drift. You must have perfectly calibrated navigation instruments to get a correct result.
• Currents calculated from the atlases of current. This is the best choice if the instruments are not perfectly calibrated.
• Currents calculated from a grib of current. The reference is the latest grib used for routing.

If you have not activated a waypoint in the navigation panel, laylines will be drawn from the boat. The length of the layline matches the length of the COG predictor arrow in the AIS parameters.

If a waypoint is activated in the navigation panel and if a tack or a jibe is required to reach the waypoint, the tacking or gybing point is calculated. Laylines are drawn and truncated at the optimum tack point. The distance to the layline and the time to reach the layline can be displayed in the NMEA panel.

We see in the below example that:

• The boat is sailing upwind at a slightly angle higher than the optimum one,
• The distance to the layline is 20.57 NM
• The sailing time to reach the layline is 3 hours 19 minutes

If the boat is over the layline, laylines are drawn from the boat and from the waypoint.

In the table below we present the list of NMEA 0183 sentences that the application can handle. We also indicate what priority is assigned to each.

If you have a speedometer log on board, you have probably noticed that, very often, the speedometer log speed or surface speed (STW - Speed through water) is not correct: you must calibrate the speedometer log.

The calibration module helps you by providing you with a simple and quick calibration method based on the comparison of ground speed (SOG - Speed Over Ground) and surface speed.
Do not hesitate to do the calibration at each navigation. With a little practice, the procedure with 2 passes takes about 3 minutes.

The speedometer logs have a coefficient that is used to adjust the ground speed by multiplication. Before the first calibration, this coefficient is set at 1 for most manufacturers. We will calculate a new coefficient: new_coeff = SOG / STW * old_coeff

The procedure consists in calculating this coefficient by starting from the previously entered coefficient.

How to do it:

• choose a quiet place, without waves. The exit of your harbor is often the best place to go.
• start the engine at motor at about 5 knots. Do not touch the engine speed again during the procedure.
• make one or more passes depending on the current. In case of uncertainty, we recommend that you make 2 runs.
  • In uncertainty or if we have a stable current, we make 2 runs, one against the current and the other with the current
    - motor at about 5 knots against or with the current.
    - start the calibration module. Menu > Settings> GPS NMEA > NMEA settings > Speedometer calibration
    - If necessary, enter the current calibration coefficient of the speedometer log if it is different from the one displayed by the app.
    - choose 2 runs
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the procedure
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    
    - turn around. The app tells you which course to follow on the other side (COG2 = COG1 + 180°). Do not touch the engine speed during the U turn.
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the second run.
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    
    - the new coefficient is displayed. It has been calculated as follows: new_coeff = (SOG1 / STW1 + SOG2 / STW2) / 2 * old_coeff
    - enter the new coefficient in the log.
  • if we don't have power, a simple run should suffice.
    - motor at about 5 knots
    - start the calibration module. Menu > Settings> GPS NMEA > NMEA settings > Speedometer calibration
    - If necessary, enter the current calibration coefficient of the speedometer log if it is different from the one displayed by the app.
    - choose 1 run
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the procedure
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    - the new coefficient is displayed. It has been calculated as follows: new_coeff = SOG / STW * old_coeff
    - enter the new coefficient in the speedometer log.
  • If we have a rapidly changing current over time, we make 3 runs. The second one will have a double weight to cancel the effect of the current.
    -  motor at about 5 knots against or with the current.
    - start the calibration module. Menu > Settings> GPS NMEA > NMEA settings > Speedometer calibration
    - If necessary, enter the current calibration coefficient of the speedometer log if it is different from the one displayed by the app.
    - choose 3 runs
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the procedure
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    - turn around. The application tells you which course to follow on the other side (COG2 = COG1 + 180°). Do not touch the engine speed during the U turn.
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the second run..
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    - turn around. The app tells you which course to follow on the other side (COG3 = COG1). Do not touch the engine speed during the U turn.
    - wait until the speed is stabilized. When the Start button turns green, press it to start the third run.
    - progress over a few hundred meters or about a minute. At least wait until the Stop button turns green.
    - press the Stop button
    - the new coefficient is displayed. It has been calculated as follows:
    new_coeff = (SOG1 / STW 1 + 2 * SOG2 / STW2 + SOG3 / STW3) / 4 * previous_coeff
    - enter the new coefficient in the speedometer log.

SailGrib can publish back to the NKE bus real time calculated data. These data can be displayed on NKE multifunction displays allowing the crew to have real-time performance data.

Once SailGrib WR is setup, make sure to configure your NKE wifi box and displays to receive these data.

On the wifi box wifi, you may need to make a new NMEA initialization by pressing the Init button for 6 seconds. Refer to the instructions in the wifi box manual.

On your display, it will most likely have to do a new NMEA initialisation, check the NKEuser manual. These procedures have to be done only once.

The Multigraphic can receive performance data in a dynamic format. To enable this data feed, go to "NMEA Settings" then "NKE Settings" and check the MuliGtraphic Dynamic Data option. Eight dynamic channels are configurable. For each of them choose to published data from the following list:

Here is a Multigraphic sample screenshot

As we have seen it above, the app can save a log file in text format containing all NMEA 0183 sentences received. The app can then replay them. Log files are saved in the sailgrib/nmea directory.

When reading a log file, the application will behave as if it would receive data in real time. For example, AIS alarms will be raised.

SailGrib WR can read and play 2 formats of log files:

• SailGrib format: a text file where each line consists of a ISO8601 timestamp and a NMEA 0183 sentence.

2016-03-16T16:45:19.140Z $SDDBT,38.0,f,11.6,M,06.3,F*3E
2016-03-16T16:45:19.145Z $SDDPT,11.6,-1.0,99.0*7F
2016-03-16T16:45:19.150Z $HCHDG,331.3,00.0,E,00.0,E*40
2016-03-16T16:45:19.155Z $WIMWV,025.0,R,016.3,N,A*20
2016-03-16T16:45:19.177Z $VWVHW,129.0,T,129.0,M,07.7,N,14.3,K*52
2016-03-16T16:45:19.349Z GPRMC,164517.59,A,4601.47709,N,00114.10553,W,0008.9,303.6,160316,0.0,W,A*05
2016-03-16T16:45:19.491Z $GPGGA,164517.59,4601.47709,N,00114.10553,W,1,05,0.0,5,M,50.0,M,,*61
2016-03-16T16:45:19.594Z $GPGSA,A,3,02,03,14,23,31,,,,,,,,5.5,0.0,6.7*34
2016-03-16T16:45:20.129Z !AIVDM,1,1,,A,18vAfjo1hvwqN6PJHD8jHQrT050l,0*08

• NKE format: the USB datalog Box includes a data logger that records the entire NMEA data stream and writes it on a micro SD card. You can replay the data in this file after copying it from the SD card to the sailgrib/nmea directory of your Android device.

  The file will have a .nmea extension. The first line is a header, the second line indicates the starting tile of the log, the following lines are composed of a timestamp from the beginning of the recording and the NMEA sentence.

-- nke Display --
- 14-07-11 10:55:54
105.230197   $IIXDR,C,9.8,C,AirTemp*17
105.264203   $IIMTW,7.0,C*24
105.529122   $IIMWD,,T,167,M,16.1,N,8.3,M*49
105.540801   $IIMWV,56,T,16.1,N,A*20
105.560855   $IIVWT,56,R,16.1,N,8.3,M,29.8,K*6C
105.577142   $IIMWD,,T,160,M,16.1,N,8.3,M*4E
105.920317   $IIDPT,7.6,,*43
105.922810   $IIDBT,24.8,f,7.6,M,,*46
105.977768   $IIXDR,C,9.8,C,AirTemp*17
106.008639   $IIMTW,7.1,C*25
106.098530   $IIMWV,45,R,19.3,N,A*29

Two log files are integrated with the app as an example: 

• SailGrib type: nmealog_20160316.txt
• NKE type: 14-07-11 105554.nmea

To play a log file: 

• enable the Log reader mode in the NMEA Settings menu
• choose the Log file to be played
• return to the main screen. A banner was added at the bottom of the screen.
  

  The left button allows you to start or pause playback.
  The little slider lets you adjust the playback speed.
  The great slider allows you to jump to a specific time and shows you where you are in the file.
  The "reset" button on the right side allows you to return to the “live” mode.

In SailGrib WR, you can receive AIS data either from the receiver installed on your boat or via the Internet. The local flow will always have priority over the one from the Internet.

If your boat is equipped with an AIS receiver and the stream is available in WiFi, prefer this stream.

If you are connected to the Internet and the area is covered by the AISHub service you will be able to see and use this stream in real time. AISHub is a real-time AIS data sharing network to which SailGrib contributes and subscribes. Warning, not all areas are covered by AISHub. 

You will find the AISHub coverage map here

AISHub coverage on April 18, 2019

We strongly encourage you to contribute by sharing data from your AIS receiver while sailing. This will turn your boat into a mobile station.

Targets received by your boat's AIS receiver will be displayed in green, those received by Internet in blue.

AIS messages are received through the NMEA stream. Refer to the previous chapter to set it. Once started, the NMEA service will process AIS messages regardless of the position of the AIS target display switch.

To display AIS targets: 

• connect to the NMEA and AIS stream of your central unit 
• start the GPS service from the menu
• activate the display of AIS targets in the menu

You can check data of a specific AIS target by pressing its icon.

Watch a video of AIS targets in the Solent

• If not in "Navigation mode", if your device is connected to the Internet and you are sufficiently zoomed, check"AIS Targets", the app subscribes to the AIS data of the area covered by the map.
• While in "Navigation Mode", if your device is connected to the Internet and you are sufficiently zoomed, check "AIS Targets", the app subscribes to the AIS data of the area around your position. You can set the radius of AIS coverage in the AIS Settings.

Important: the area must be covered by AISHub for AIS targets to be displayed.

Not sailing

Sailing

Many parameters can be set in the "AIS Settings" menu to adjust the processing of AIS messages:

• General
  • Own ship MMSI: enter your MMSI here to avoid CPA alarms with yourself! An MMSI is a 9-digit integer.
  • Filter GPS data period: to reduce the number of messages to be processed in case your Android device would be overwhelmed. This can happen if your GPS id publishing messages with a high frequency.
  • Display and process Class B AIS: for the start of races like the Transquadra, the Fastnet or Sidney Hobart, we uncheck this box to avoid false alarms and a cluttered screen.
• CPA - Closest Point of Approach
  • No CPA calculation for targets at a distance over: these targets do not represent a danger in the near future, do not process them.
  • Draw CPA segment: a segment will be drawn between the positions of our boat and the AIS target at the CPA. This segment allows you to check at a glance the relative positions of two ships at the CPA. For example we see here that the red target will cross in front of us.
    

    

  • Alarm if CPA is under: an alarm will be triggered if the CPA is under this value. We will adjust this value based on our boat speed, the density of the maritime traffic and our reaction time.

  • Alarm if the time to CPA is under: An alarm will be triggered if the time to the CPA is below this value. For example, it is probably unnecessary to raise an alarm if the CPA is 0.5 nm but the TCPA is one hour.

  • Play sound on alarm: An alarm sound will be played at the maximum level of the Android device even if the sound is turned off and or the application is closed as long as the NMEA Service is running.

  • Play sound on alarm for: the alarm will stop after this time. This prevents the alarm to keep playing if we are blocked at the helm.

  • Acknowledge alarm for: once you acknowledge an alarm, there will be no new alarm for this target during this period. If, at the end of the period, the target is still in alarm, a new alarm will sound.

  • Center on target if alarm: this allows you to see immediately which target is the source of the alarm.

• Display
  • Show vessel names: display the name below the target. If the name has not been received yet and is not in the app database, the target MMSI will be displayed.
    

    

  • Show vessel speed : display the speed below the target. This is very convenient when racing to check your competitor’s speed.

    

  • Remove lost targets after: target icons fade out depending on the age of the last message received from the target and disappear at the end of the period set by this parameter.

  • Show COG predictor arrow for a length of: a line is drawn in front of each target based on its speed and its direction. This parameter defines the length of the segment in minutes. The length of the arrow in front of our boat is also set here.

  • Show tracks for the past: track of each target is plotted behind each target. This parameter defines the length of the track in minutes.

• Historical AIS positions
  • Number of days of AIS positions to keep in the app: to keep the app data size reasonable.

Generally speaking, targets received locally are displayed in green, those received by the Internet in blue.

1 - The following symbols are used in the application to display the AIS targets received with your AIS receiver.

• Class A AIS: fishing boat, cargo ship, ferry, ...
  • default
  • CPA alarm
  • at anchor
  • fishing
  • restricted ability to maneuver
• Class B AIS: pleasure boat
  • default

  • CPA alarm

•  Aid to navigation

  •  default

  •  off position

  •  virtual

  •  virtual, off position

• SART

  • AIS SART beacon alarm

  • AIS SART beacon in test

  •  SART plane or helicopter

• Base

  •  ground base

2 - The following symbols are used in the application to display AIS targets received via the Internet

• Class A AIS: fishing boat, cargo ship, ferry, ...
  

  • default

  • CPA alarm

  • at anchor

  • fishing

  • restricted ability to maneuver

• Class B AIS: pleasure boat
  

  • default

  • with meteorological or hydrological data

  • CPA alarm

• Aid to navigation

  •  default

  •  off position

  •  virtual

  •  virtual, off position

• SART

  •  AIS SART beacon alarm

  •  AIS SART beacon in test

  •  SART plane or helicopter

• Base

  •  ground base

  • ground base with meteorological or hydrological data

The NMEA Service continuously monitors if an AIS target is in alarm mode.

If this is the case, three types of notifications are triggered based your AIS parameters:

• the target in alarm mode turns red, the map will eventually center on the target
• an alarm will sound if the Play sound on alarm option is checked, the CPA and TCPA of the target satisfy the conditions of distance and time to CPA, the alarm has not been acknowledged recently. The sound will be different depending on the class of the AIS in alarm.
• an alarm message appears on the screen. You must acknowledge receipt of the alarm by pressing the button under the message. The target remains red and the alarm stops. The message will show, amongst other parameters the CPA, TCPA and if the target crosses in front or behind us.

Here is an example of an alarm situation. We are sailing in the bay of La Rochelle towards the Ile de Ré. We see a sailboat on the AIS, class B, at 2:00PM and a tanker, class A AIS, at 11:00AM. Two CPA alarms are raised, first for the sailboat and then for the tanker. Both cross in front of us at a reasonable distance. We do not modify our heading for the moment but we keep our eyes wide open.

When AIS is enabled ,go to the menu and press the AIS Target List button

The list of AIS targets is displayed. Targets will be ranked in descending order of distance. The list will refresh when you view it.

You do not have AIS receiver on board? Did you know that it is now possible to receive AIS data with a small and low cost AIS receiver called dAISy?

dAISy is an awesome, low cost AIS receiver that plugs directly into the USB port of your device with a USB OTG cable. Daisy is available online for $ 59 cost. A newer device, dAISy 2+ is available for $89.

Sélectionnez dAISy comme source nmea et le tour est joué. Pensez à sélectionner votre GPS interne comme source de position.

Select  dAISy as your NMEA source, that’s it!
Do not forget to set your GPS source as internal.

To use the app during your cruising at the same as SailGrib, it is necessary to use a USB OTG cable that can simultaneously charge your tablet and the USB dongle. You can find some on www.dx.com.

With, the dAISy 2+, you can also buy a small wifi card (DT-06 TTL to Wifi) that will allow you to receive AIS data in WiFi and to power the dAISy separately. You can buy this card on the SmartArduino website for about 5$. You will find here the instructions for configuring the card. In SailGrib, select "Others" as the NMEA source and adjust your settings.

Finally, may I remind you that the theoretical reception  distance can be roughly calculated using the formula: Distance = 2.2 x (+ √H1 √H2) where H1 and H2 are the heights of the two antennas in meters and the theoretical reception  distance D in nautical miles.

So, if your antenna and the target are each at a 10 meter height, the theoretical reception distance is around 14 nm. If your antenna is only  at a 1m high, the distance will decrease to 9 nm.

Caution: your receiver will not have the quality of a Marine AIS receiver; we assume no liability for the use of this type of device.

The Navygatio service offers the following services :

• Record all your sailing in SailGrib WR and Weather4D
• Save them on a server
• View them in near real time on www.navygatio.com
• Replay them at any time on www.navygatio.com
• Share your navigations with your friends registered on Navygatio

Today in Beta version, you will soon be able to :

• analyze your performance
• share your navigations publicly
• enter your log directly into SailGrib WR or Weather4D and on navygatio.com
• illustrate your navigations with photos

Here is for example the track of the SunFast 3200 "SailGrib" during the Gascony 45/5 race in May 2019.
The data was recorded every second.

In SailGrib WR

• Press the + button at the bottom right and then the Preferences button
  
• Select Navygatio
  
• Press the Connect button
  
• Select your Google Account
  
  
  
• Your account is created on Navygatio with a boat "My boat" and an activity "My activity
  You can then modify these names, add other boats or activities on the navygatio.com website.
  For example, I named my boat "cdc3" and an activity "Regatta".
  

Once you have created an account, as soon as you start a navigation, its data will be recorded and transferred in near real time to the Navygatio servers.

• Data is recorded every second. The frequency can be adjusted in the Navygatio configuration screen.
• If your device has an Internet connection, data is transmitted to the Navygatio server every 10 minutes. The frequency can be adjusted in the Navygatio configuration screen between 1 minute and 6 hours.
  If you're going offshore, it's best to change this transmission frequency to 6 hours and uncheck the transmission option. You can check it again when you reconnect to the Internet and the files will be uploaded to the Navygatio servers automatically.
• Sf you lose your Internet connection, your data will be transmitted as soon as you regain a connection and SailGrib WR is open. For example, if you connect your phone to an internal on-board network to receive NMEA data, most of the time it will lose its connection to the Internet. As soon as you disconnect from that internal network and connect back to the Internet, your navigation data will be uploaded to the Navygatio servers.

Simply enter your boat's MMSI number in the boat configuration screen accessible by clicking on your profile picture at the top right of the navygatio.com home screen

Once your MMSI is registered in Navygatio, as soon as your ship's AIS is visible on the AISHub network, the transmitted AIS messages will be stored on the Navygatio servers.

Upon first receipt, an AIS tracking activity and a Track event will be created for your vessel.

You will then have access to your track.

1/ Enter the phone number of your Iridium Go in the Navygatio website

Enter your boat's Iridium Go phone number in the boat configuration screen accessible by clicking on your profile picture at the top right of the navygatio.com home screen

The number must be entered in international format without the + or 00.

For example :

881631015375 for standard Iridium numbers that start with 881

or

12126981315 for US flex numbers marketed by Pivotel

2/ Configure tracking in the Iridium Go

• On your Android (or iOS device), install the Iridium Go app from the Play Store (or App Store)
  

  

• Start the Iridium Go
• Connect to the Iridium Go WiFi network
• Launch the Iridium Go app and connect to the Iridium Go
• Go to the Settings > Track menu
• Choose a Tracking Frequency
  We recommend 30 minutes for long crossings, you can go down to 5 minutes.
• Enter the tracking email address in the Tracking recipient field
  iridium@navygatio.com
  
• Press the back button then Save
• Make sure that the GPS of the Iridium Go is activated by going to the menu Settings > Power

3/ Sail

When sailing, keep the Iridium Go on, an SMS will be automatically sent every n minutes depending on the tracking frequency you choose.

If you have an unlimited data subscription, which we recommend, your package includes unlimited SMS and you will not have any additional cost.
If your subscription does not have unlimited data, you will be charged for each SMS sent, ask your provider for the cost.

4/View your track on Navygatio

During your first sailing trip, after receiving 2 tracking messages from your Iridium Go, an Iridium tracking activity and a Track event will be created for your boat.

You will then have access to your track.

Or for a friend's boat

The management of your account is done on navygatio.com

Navygatio uses a mechanism that allows immediate synchronization of your information between the different media (website, SailGrib and Weather4D).

For example, if you add a boat on the website, you can immediately select it in SailGrib.

- My account

- Your boats

Add, edit, delete your boats

- Your followers
To view a friend's sailing trip, you and your friend must be registered with Navygatio.
Ask your friend to add you to his list of friends by telling him what e-mail address you used when you registered.

Activities

You navigations belong to one activity.
You can create as many activities as you want. For example: Cruising, Racing, Training...
To create an activity, press the + button under the last created activity.

Navigation
When you activate the Navigation mode in SailGrib WR, a new navigation is created in Navygatio in the activity selected in SailGrib's Navygatio Settings screen.
This new navigation is immediately added to navygatio.com.

When you point your mouse on a navigation, 3 dots appear on its right side which allow you to open a menu.

You can then:
- duplicate it
- change the activity
- add it to another navigation
- rename it
- delete it

A race file includes, at the minimum, the list of the racing boats and their unique identifier for the race.

The race file might be provided by the race organizer, prepared by you or provided by the company in charge of the tracking.

Three file formats can be loaded into SailGrib:

• Adrena
• Expedition
• Maxsea

 All of them are text files easily editable.

• You have a race file, send it to your Gmail address, save it on your Android device.

• Create a route for the racecourse. Here we create the route for the second leg of the Transquadra between Madeira and Ilet Cabri at the southern tip of Martinique. We call it TQS2. This route will be used to establish the rankings during the race.

  

• Go in the  Settings  menue and press Race tracking
• Check Track a race
• Pres Load a race file

• The list of the race files found in the Download and SailGrib/ is displayed.
  Choose the file format to import between Adrena, expedition or Maxsea. 
  If Adrena is chosen, only .dcc files are listed, otherwise all the .txt are listed.
  We will favor the Adrena format, which is more complete.

• Select the file to be imported by pressing it.
  
  

• Press the Activate a race button.
  The race boats are loaded and displayed.

• 
  

  Press the Set race details button

  • Select the route created to define the route.

  • Select the waypoint that will be used to establish the rankings.

  • Select the day and time of departure. The time is to be entered in UTC time.

  • Choose the reference boat for performance analysis between rankings.

  • Press the Android Back button at the bottom left to exit this screen.

• To select the boats you want to display on the map, you can:

  • Check the boats one by one

  • Filter the boats by entering a text in the "Filter" line, then clicking the "All" button. All filtered boats will be added to the list of checked boats.

At sea, the race organization may send files containing the positions of the boats in the race. Two formats are generally used, the Maxsea(or Adrena) format and the Expedition format.
Maxsea and Adrena use the same format. The only difference between Maxsea and Adrena is in the header line. The following lines include a line number, the boat Id in the race, the latitude, the longitude, and the UTC time of the position.

Note that the Maxsea/Adrena file header can also be: POSREPORT

Here again, we will prefer the Maxsea or Adrena format, easier to read with the naked eye.
To load a Positions file into SailGrib, first save the attachment. It will be saved in the Download directory of your Android device, then :

•  press the Load a position file menu.
  Note that :
  • the name of the active race is displayed under the Edit Race menu.
  • The date of the most recent position is displayed under the Load Position File menu.
• Choose the file type to load and the date format of the positions

• Then choose the position file to load. The most recent file is listed at the top.
  When loading: 

  • the position file is moved from the Download directory to the sailgrib/race directory.

  • the number of positions found is displayed. Boats may be missing if the position has not been transmitted by the tracking beacon.

  • rankings are calculated. Wait until you see the Rankings calculated message before leaving the screen.

• Make sure you have checked Display boats on map and eventually Display boat names on map.

• Pick the Displayed ranking type between:

  • Gross overall

  • IRC overall

  • Gross by class

  • IRC by class

The selected boats are displayed with:

• their track
• their ranking
• the name of the boat
• the average speed since the last ranking
• the average heading since the last ranking

  
  

  

The rankings are calculated each time a position file is loaded.

• Press the Race Rankings menu.
  All rankings are saved in text files in the sailgrib/race directory. File names begin with rank_.
  • Gross overall – always
  • Overall IRC rating adjusted – if the IRC ratings have been entered
  • Gross by class – if the race file includes multiple classesPick a ranking file in the drop-down.Files may include several rankings:
  • IRC by class – if the IRC ratings have been entered and the race file includes multiple classes

At the end of the file you will find a table comparing the performance of a reference boat with the other boats for the last 4 rankings.

Race boat can be updated:

• To modify their parameters : name, color, rating
• To declare they are retired from the race
• To update their arrival date and time

To update a race boat:

• Press the Edit active race button

• Select the boat either directly from the list or by typing in a filter.
  For example, to search for the boat "Cornouailles Nautic", simply type "Cor" into the filter.

• Then press the Edit button

• To report the boat retired from the race, check Retired and press the Save button.

• To enter the arrival date and time:

  • Check Finished 

  • Press the Finish date  button and select the date

  • Press the Finish time UTC button and select the UTC time

  • Press the Save button

Any recent Android device (Android 8.0 or higher) of good quality with a GPS is suitable.
The app is compatible with Android 5.0 or higher. Android 5 was released at the end of 2014, it is better to buy more recent equipment.

We recommend using a tablet, it is much more comfortable.

Here are 3 tablets at the good value for money :

• SailProof SP08X or SP08S from 2023. The first rugged tablets dedicated to sailors and boaters: 8 inches, waterproof and really resistant, Galileo GPS and very readable in sunlight, big battery around 750€ (our first choice and installation on board). With the promo code GRIBPROOF, you get 5% discount on the whole SailProof website.
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 4 from 2022, 8 inches waterproof, Galileo GPS and sunlight readable, around 700€ (our second choice).
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 from 2021, 10,5 inches screen, around 240€.  The simplest one with good quality, for use at the chart table.
• Check the upcoming ones here : http://tabletmonkeys.com/new-tablets/
  or the just released ones here : http://tabletmonkeys.com/newest-tablets/

In our opinion, the best mid-range Android phone is the Google Pixel 6a from Q3 2022.

Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, computers running Chrome OS. SailGrib WR is extremely fast on these devices.

• The Acer Chromebox | Chromebox CXI3 Intel® Core™ i3-8130U 8GB - 64GB very fast, about $500. Our on-board installation.
• the Acer | Chromebook 714 for Work CB714-1W-P502 with its waterproof keyboard, around 520€.

• Be sure to register your new Android phone with Google using the same Gmail address.
• Open the Play Store app
• Search for SailGrib WR or follow this link
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sailgrib_wr.paid
• Install the app

Yes, you can install the app on as many devices as you want as long as they are registered with Google using the same Gmail address.

Probably if your Chromebook is recent. You can install SailGrib WR on Chromebooks supporting the Play Store. You will find the list by following his link.

Warning: Chromebooks do not have, to date, GPS. It is relatively complicated to receive GPS data (bluetooth or WiFi) on a Chromebook.

• Subscribe to the Premium option for 1 month or 1 year.
  Open the drawer menu and press the Upgrade button to do so.
  Note that subscriptions are renewed automatically.
• If you want to have a lifetime licence, you have 2 equivalent options:
  • Purchase the paid version on the Play store:
    Open the Google Play Store application by following this link :
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sailgrib_wr.paid
    
    
  • Buy the lifetime Premium option in the Free version.
    Once you have purchased the lifetime Premium option, you are all set.
    Do not try to install the paid version of the app.
    If you do you will be prompted to pay again.

The procedure is the same as for any other subscription taken on the Google Play Store as described here.

Cancel a subscription

Uninstalling the app will not cancel your subscription.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store .
2. Check if you’re signed in to the correct Google Account.
3. Tap Menu  Subscriptions.
4. Select the subscription you want to cancel.
5. Tap Cancel subscription.
6. Follow the instructions.

If the Play Store asks you to buy the application when you have already done so in the past with the same Gmail address, it's probably because the data in the Play Store app is corrupted. To repair that:

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Apps & notifications  See all apps.
3. Scroll down and tap Google Play Store .
4. Tap Storage  Clear Cache.
5. Next, tap Clear data.
6. Re-open the Play Store & try your download again. 

If this doesn't solve the problem, try following Google's advice by clicking on this link.

The number of days can be changed in the Grib query parameters.

If the number of days automatically returns to 2, you are still using the free version. Uninstall this free version and use the paid version. Everything should work fine.

First, confirm that:
- on your tablet, where you purchased the Premium option, the Premium features are working fine.
- your phone is registered with Google with the same Gmail address as the one used on your tablet.

If that is the case, it's probably because the data in the Google Play Store app are corrupted. To repair that:

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Apps & notifications  See all apps.
3. Scroll down and tap Google Play Store .
4. Tap Storage  Clear Cache.
5. Next, tap Clear data.
6. Re-open the Play Store & try your download again. 

If this doesn't solve the problem, try following Google's advice by clicking on this link.

Unfortunately, you are not alone in facing this problem.

The best solution I found is to ask a family member or friend in an authorized country to connect on a PC to Google Play with the gmail account you used to register your Android device and ask them to purchase the app. This one will then be automatically installed on your Android when your device will be connected to the Internet.

Here is the link to the app on the Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sailgrib_wr.paid

And the list of authorized countries: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/143779?hl=en

You can possibly perform this procedure by taking control of the PC remotely using a service like TeamViewer.

Otherwise, you can buy the application from a PC via a proxy to make Google believe you are an authorized country.

Yes, you can upload it here.

It is a pdf printout of the online Help, FAQs and tips. We highly recommend to upload it if you sail offshore with no Internet connexion.

The free version is limited to :

• access to 2 days weather forecast only
• access to the GFS model only on SailGrib servers
• no current atlases for European coasts
• routings of less than 50 nautical miles
• 10 routings between 50 and 150 nautical miles
• no navigation panel
• no NMEA or AIS data
• no nautical charts
• no race tracking

Starting with V3.0, your device must run Android 5.0 or above.

If you have an Android 4.4 device, you can still run V2.4.6 but you will not be able to update it or reinstall it from the Play Store. I highly recommend that you make a backup of the app using an app like  App Backup Restore.

No, it is not possible to buy the app outside the Google Play Store.

No. Today, SailGrib WR only runs on Android:

• phones and tablets (Samsung, Sony, Motorola, Huwei, LG,...)
• Chromebooks supporting the Play Store. You will find the list by following this link

No. Today, SailGrib WR only runs on Android:

• phones and tablets (Samsung, Sony, Motorola, Huwei, LG,...)
• Chromebooks supporting the Play Store. You will find the list by following this link

On a PC, you can install an Android emulator that will allow you to install SailGrib WR but you will have a degraded experience of the app. You will find a list of Android emulators by following this link.

Yes! We publish 3 other app for boaters and racers:

• SailGrib, our weather and tide app.
• SailGrib AA, our anchor alarm app. With this app the position of your boat will be constantly monitored. In the event of a confirmed alarm, an alarm will sound and you will receive an SMS. Leave a phone plugged into your boat and you have an anti-theft alarm!
• SailGrib RS, our regatta start app. With this app and its simplistic design, you'll know in real time where you are positioned in relation to the line and whether you're early or late for the start of the regatta.

Visit our Google Play Store page to install them!

Yes!

• Directly in the app, go to the menu and press Quick Start
• Watch the Quick Start Guide and other videos on our YouTube channel.

Before contacting us, please read the help and FAQs carefully. Most of the time, you will find the answer to your questions.

If you have not found the answer, send us an email using the Contact us menu of the app.

We usually answer questions very quickly. If not, we're probably at sea testing the latest developments!

Thank you for your patience.

The free version is limited to :

• access to 2 days weather forecast only
• access to the GFS model only on SailGrib servers
• no current atlases for European coasts
• routings of less than 50 nautical miles
• 10 routings between 50 and 150 nautical miles
• no navigation panel
• no NMEA or AIS data
• no nautical charts
• no race tracking

The number of days can be changed in the Grib query parameters.

If the number of days automatically returns to 2, you are still using the free version. Uninstall this free version and use the paid version. Everything should work fine.

Only the GFS model has forecasts beyond 8 days.

To obtain more than 8 days of forecasts, you must either select in the Grib request menu:

• Source SailGrib and one of the GFS models
• Source SailDocs and the GFS model.

And ask for up to 16 days.

By default, the area that the app will retrieve and display corresponds to the map you have on the screen.
You can pan and zoom it.

You can also request an ad-hoc zone.
To do so:

• Long press the screen
• Press the Set grib zone menu
• Adjust the zone by moving the upper left and lower right corners

No, SailGrib cannot read zygrib files.

No, SailGrib cannot read files in grib1 format

Grib files weather data are derived from mathematical models. They're not always accurate!

In addition, it is necessary to match the chosen model with your type of navigation.

The GFS model covers the entire earth with a grid of 0.25° (about 15 NM). It will not be able to take into account local phenomena. And even offshore, the GFS could be wrong! They're just forecasts.

One of SailGrib's strengths is that you have access to several models!

For a coastal navigation, you can for example choose the high resolution models;

• in the US, the NAM models from the NOAA.
• in Europe the Arpège Europe model from Météo France.
• in France, you can get the Arôme model from Météo France, a very high resolution model.

You probably picked the wrong model.

Choose SailGrib as source and model

• Choose SailGrib as the source and the ww3_global model or SailDocs and the GFS model.
• In both cases, check the "waves" parameter.
• In the grib display menu, also check one of the "waves" options.

• install the iridium Go! app on your device.
  install link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iridiumgo

• install the iridium Mail and Web app as well.
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iridium.mailandweb
• Register with iridium to get a specific iridium email address
  registration link : https://www.iridium.com/mailandweb/

• in SailGrib WR, you will get the grib file through a mail exchange.
  You have to use SailDocs (or Great Circle) as the source of your grib files.
  The Source is set in the grib request parameters.
  In practice, to request a grib:
  • set your Source to SailDocs
  • set your model generally to GFS
  • check at the bottom of the screen the box “Make your request with iridium”
  • enter your iridium email address just below
  • Request the grib. A mail is prepared and sent to the iridium Mail and Web app.
  • Go to the iridium Mail and Web app and send the email through the iridium network
  • wait for 5 minutes
  • Get your mails in the iridium Mail and Web app, you should receive a mail from SailDocs in your mailbox. Show all the details of the mail: tap the Menu button and show all details. The attached file will be shown with a download button.
  • Save the grib file which comes as an attachment.
  • Open the file in SailGrib.

Be careful that the max size should be around 70kb for the grib file.

To get the entire Atlantic, set the grid resolution to 2.5° with a 6 hour timestep or 1° and a 12 hour timestep

And most importantly, train before you set sails. First with WiFi, to make sure you set the correct parameters to get a grib file size of 50kb or less. Second, with the Go! to get an actual file.

If you do not have an external antenna for the Go!, it will work better when the Go! is outside with a clear sky view.

Access to the included current atlases, that permit the integration of the tidal currents along the European coasts for weather routing, is restricted to the paid version of SailGrib WR.

Upgrade!

The access to the Copernicus Mercator Ocean currents grib files is restricted to the paid version of SailGrib WR.

Upgrade!

Yes, if you have the Paid version or the Premium option, SailGrib WR comes with the iPolar module developed by KND for iOS . 

KND is a world leader in sailing performance analysis with over 15 years of experience in the field of speed prediction programs (VPP) for racing yachts.

We thank Dimitri Nicolopoulos-Salle, founder of KND, for giving us access to the iPolar code.

iPolar computes the performance polars of a given boat as a function of a reduced set of parameters:

- Length Overall (LOA)

- Waterline Length (LWL) if unknown, iPolar will make the assumption that LWL is 95% of LOA

- Displacement 

- MainSail Area 

- Jib Area 

- Symmetrical spinnaker area (optional)

- Asymmetrical spinnaker area(optional)

Limitations of iPolar:

- Currently only handles monohulls 

- LOA ranging from 8 to 20m

Accuracy: 

iPolar is a very simple Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) which predicts the polars of a boat based on a very limited range of parameters: length, displacement and sail area .
This simplicity implies some restrictions : iPolar is meant to predict reasonably accurately polars for production cruisers and cruiser racers - it is currently limited to mono-hulls. 

For boats significantly outside of the iPolar parameter range and for racing polars accuracy, the use of more complex VPP tools is required. KND-SailingPerformance uses the NorthSails VPP, developed through several cycles of America's Cup, relying for each boat on the generation of a large matrix of hydrodynamic forces (through Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD methods) and advanced sails models. In case you would be interested in such a VPP for your yacht, contact us directly. 

When you run a routing, do not start or end inside a bay. If you wish to make a routing ending in the bay of Ajaccio, add a waypoint at the entrance of the Bay South of the “Sanguinaires Islands . The routing should work.

broad question... with many potential answers.
Here are the most likely:

• The wind does not match forecasts.
• The boat speed does not correspond to the polar: optimistic polar, navigation in "cruise" mode, dirty hull, worn sails, sea state... you can edit the polar or simply play with the 2 efficiency parameters.'
• do not forget the maneuver’s time at the exit and at the entrance of the harbor or anchorage; I typically add 1 hour.
• presence of current: did you load a current grib?

You have 2 possibilities:

• move the waypoint directly on the screen.
  • Make sure the route is loaded 
  • Long press the screen and select Manage route /Edit route mode
  • Press any waypoint and hold it and move it.
• Edit the waypoint coordinates
  • Make sure the route is loaded 
  • Long press the screen and select Manage route /Edit route mode
  • Press the Edit button
  • Press a waypoint 
  • Edit its coordinate
  • Press Ok
  • Press Open

You have 3 possibilities:

• Long press the small square summarizing the routing in the top right. A menu pops up, unload the routing.
• Go to the menu, press Load Routing. Select the one or ones you want to display.
• You can reset all the loaded data (grib, route and routings): long press the screen and choose the Reset all menu.

Yes since the Boating app was updated in July 2019.
- Export the route from the Boating app, a list of applications is displayed.
- Choose your file manager and save the route in the download directory of your Android device.
If you do not have a file manager, install the Mi File Manager app
- Rename the file if you want.
- In SailGrib WR, long tap on the screen > Manage Routes > Import a route in GPX format and choose the file to import.

No, Navionics does not allow route imports.

A SailChart in SailGrib WR is a table that indicates the optimal sail for a given wind speed (TWS) and wind angle (TWA).
The optimum sail is then displayed in:
- weather routings
- the measuring tool to determine, for example, the best sail on the next leg
- the quick measuring tool

Yes, the algorithm can evaluate if the boat is sailing in a "crossed sea" and, if so, degrade the polar by a certain coefficient.

To consider that the sea is crossed, we need the following conditions:
- the significant height of the total sea is greater than a certain threshold
- the angle between the direction of the swell and the wind waves between 45° and 135°.

You can also use the following method:
Load a wave grib file (ww3 model) and study the waves forecast. If the waves are too strong, you can either:

• limit the maximum wind speed
• create restricted areas
• add a waypoint to your route
• use pivot points to avoid these areas

No go zones are polygons created by the user that will be avoided by the routing algoritm if selected.

They are frequently used to avoid sailing in Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), avois shalow or danger areas...

To create the no go zones:

- I recommend that you first select the option to enter waypoints and other "points" on the map at the center of the screen as opposed to where you pressed the screen. The input, if less natural, is more precise. To do do go to the General section of the Settings menu and select the Waypoints at screen center option.

- center the map where you want to start your no go zone

- long press the screen

- select the "No go zone" menu

- select the "Create a no go zone" menu

- enter a name for the no go zone or leave the default one and press Ok . The first point is created

- move the map  where you want to continue your no go zone

- long press the screen and select "Add a point to the no go zone"

- repeat the 2 previous action until your no go zone is complete

Then in the routing menu, make sure you have checked the "No go zones" option.

No, this is not possible, you must be connected via WiFi.

Yes, you must install an app like Bluetooth GPS and designate it as the mock location provider in Android.

This works perfectly and saves the mobile phone battery.

You can use an ultra-precise bluetooth GPS that picks up Galileo satellites and supports EGNOS technology in Europe and WAAS in the United States. You should get an accuracy of less than one meter. The best one today is the GNS2000 Plus that you will find for about 100€.

To use it, you need:
- load a Bluetooth GPS application
- Allow Developer Mode: In the Android menu, go to: System / General Settings / About Device / Tap up to seven times the Build Number to unblock Developer Options.
- in the Options menu for developers, choose Bluetooth GPS as the "dummy position provider".
- then, like any Bluetooth device, pair the GPS and the phone.

You need to uncheck the mobile data on your phone.

Check the following points:

• You are connected to the WiFi network broadcasting NMEA data
• Mobile data are off if you use a phone
• You have allowed mock locations and SailGrib WR is the mock location provider
• You have activated "NMEA and AIS Connection" in "NMEA Settings"
• You have selected the correct NMEA data source. If your device is not referenced, you have filled in the 3 fields: protocol, IP address and port.
• Stop and restart the NMEA service in "NMEA Settings". You should see the last 10 NMEA messages received.

The Navygatio service offers the following services :

• Record all your sailing in SailGrib WR and Weather4D
• Save them on a server
• View them in near real time on www.navygatio.com
• Replay them at any time on www.navygatio.com
• Share your navigations with your friends registered on Navygatio

Today in Beta version, you will soon be able to :

• analyze your performance
• share your navigations publicly
• enter your log directly into SailGrib WR or Weather4D and on navygatio.com
• illustrate your navigations with photos

Here is for example the track of the SunFast 3200 "SailGrib" during the Gascony 45/5 race in May 2019.
The data was recorded every second.

In SailGrib WR

• Press the + button at the bottom right and then the Preferences button
  
• Select Navygatio
  
• Press the Connect button
  
• Select your Google Account
  
  
  
• Your account is created on Navygatio with a boat "My boat" and an activity "My activity
  You can then modify these names, add other boats or activities on the navygatio.com website.
  For example, I named my boat "cdc3" and an activity "Regatta".
  

Once you have created an account, as soon as you start a navigation, its data will be recorded and transferred in near real time to the Navygatio servers.

• Data is recorded every second. The frequency can be adjusted in the Navygatio configuration screen.
• If your device has an Internet connection, data is transmitted to the Navygatio server every 10 minutes. The frequency can be adjusted in the Navygatio configuration screen between 1 minute and 6 hours.
  If you're going offshore, it's best to change this transmission frequency to 6 hours and uncheck the transmission option. You can check it again when you reconnect to the Internet and the files will be uploaded to the Navygatio servers automatically.
• Sf you lose your Internet connection, your data will be transmitted as soon as you regain a connection and SailGrib WR is open. For example, if you connect your phone to an internal on-board network to receive NMEA data, most of the time it will lose its connection to the Internet. As soon as you disconnect from that internal network and connect back to the Internet, your navigation data will be uploaded to the Navygatio servers.

Simply enter your boat's MMSI number in the boat configuration screen accessible by clicking on your profile picture at the top right of the navygatio.com home screen

Once your MMSI is registered in Navygatio, as soon as your ship's AIS is visible on the AISHub network, the transmitted AIS messages will be stored on the Navygatio servers.

Upon first receipt, an AIS tracking activity and a Track event will be created for your vessel.

You will then have access to your track.

1/ Enter the phone number of your Iridium Go in the Navygatio website

Enter your boat's Iridium Go phone number in the boat configuration screen accessible by clicking on your profile picture at the top right of the navygatio.com home screen

The number must be entered in international format without the + or 00.

For example :

881631015375 for standard Iridium numbers that start with 881

or

12126981315 for US flex numbers marketed by Pivotel

2/ Configure tracking in the Iridium Go

• On your Android (or iOS device), install the Iridium Go app from the Play Store (or App Store)
  

  

• Start the Iridium Go
• Connect to the Iridium Go WiFi network
• Launch the Iridium Go app and connect to the Iridium Go
• Go to the Settings > Track menu
• Choose a Tracking Frequency
  We recommend 30 minutes for long crossings, you can go down to 5 minutes.
• Enter the tracking email address in the Tracking recipient field
  iridium@navygatio.com
  
• Press the back button then Save
• Make sure that the GPS of the Iridium Go is activated by going to the menu Settings > Power

3/ Sail

When sailing, keep the Iridium Go on, an SMS will be automatically sent every n minutes depending on the tracking frequency you choose.

If you have an unlimited data subscription, which we recommend, your package includes unlimited SMS and you will not have any additional cost.
If your subscription does not have unlimited data, you will be charged for each SMS sent, ask your provider for the cost.

4/View your track on Navygatio

During your first sailing trip, after receiving 2 tracking messages from your Iridium Go, an Iridium tracking activity and a Track event will be created for your boat.

You will then have access to your track.

Or for a friend's boat

The management of your account is done on navygatio.com

Navygatio uses a mechanism that allows immediate synchronization of your information between the different media (website, SailGrib and Weather4D).

For example, if you add a boat on the website, you can immediately select it in SailGrib.

- My account

- Your boats

Add, edit, delete your boats

- Your followers
To view a friend's sailing trip, you and your friend must be registered with Navygatio.
Ask your friend to add you to his list of friends by telling him what e-mail address you used when you registered.

Activities

You navigations belong to one activity.
You can create as many activities as you want. For example: Cruising, Racing, Training...
To create an activity, press the + button under the last created activity.

Navigation
When you activate the Navigation mode in SailGrib WR, a new navigation is created in Navygatio in the activity selected in SailGrib's Navygatio Settings screen.
This new navigation is immediately added to navygatio.com.

When you point your mouse on a navigation, 3 dots appear on its right side which allow you to open a menu.

You can then:
- duplicate it
- change the activity
- add it to another navigation
- rename it
- delete it