Frequently asked questions

Getting started

• What do I need to try Dinghy Coach?

  An Android phone per boat (second-hand handsets work well), a waterproof case, and a tablet or laptop for the debrief. The debrief tool opens in any modern browser — no installation required.

• Where do I start?

  See the first-session guide for a practical walk-through of what to prepare, how to record, and how to open the debrief afterwards.

• How long does setup take?

  For a solo session: charge and mount a phone, open the app, start recording — under 5 minutes. For multi-boat or coached sessions with push-to-talk and marks setup: allow 15–20 minutes the first time, less once the routine is familiar.

• Do I need to create an account?

  No. Dinghy Coach does not require accounts or login. Tracks are identified by the device that recorded them. The debrief tool opens from a link — no sign-in needed.

Connectivity and data

• Do sailors need mobile data on the water?

  No. Recording works fully offline. Tracks upload automatically when mobile data or Wi-Fi is next available — usually when sailors return to the club or shore.

• What about coach mode — does that need internet?

  Push-to-talk coaching, start sequences, and coach commands all work over a local Wi-Fi network or portable hotspot. A portable hotspot on the coach boat is sufficient. No internet access is required while on the water.

• Can we use a club Wi-Fi hotspot?

  Yes. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot works well. For coach-mode sessions, all devices — coach and sailors — need to be on the same local network for discovery and voice comms. Club-shore Wi-Fi networks work fine for uploading tracks after the session.

• What if the network drops during a session?

  Recording continues unaffected — it is fully local. Coach-to-sailor connectivity will pause and auto-recover when the network is back. Acknowledgment indicators show which sailors are currently unreachable.

Devices and platforms

• Which Android versions are supported?

  The app targets Android 9 and above. Older flagship devices (2017–2019) generally work well. Very old budget handsets may have lower GPS accuracy or smaller batteries; test before relying on them.

• Is there an iOS app?

  Not currently. Recording requires the Android app. The debrief tool works on any device — including iPhone and iPad — in a browser.

• What device do I need for the debrief?

  Any modern tablet or laptop with a browser. The debrief tool is optimised for landscape tablets (10–12 inch) and works on desktop. It also adapts for mobile browsers when needed.

• How accurate is the GPS track?

  Designed to be robust and useful for debrief rather than racing-grade precise. Typical accuracy in open water is around 1-5 metres. Phone placement and conditions affect results. It is more than sufficient for comparing lines and reviewing decisions.

The debrief tool

• How do I open a session in the debrief?

  Once tracks have uploaded, open app.dinghy.coach in any browser, search for your tracks by device or time, and select them to load the debrief.

• Can I import from other devices (Vakaros, GPS watches, GPX)?

  Yes. The debrief tool accepts GPX files from any device, Vakaros CSV exports, and generic CSVs with latitude, longitude, and timestamp columns. Import converts them to the same format as native tracks.

• Can I save and share a debrief session?

  Yes. Sessions with track selections, course data, segments, annotations, and voice notes can be saved and shared by link, WhatsApp, email, or native share. Anyone with the link can open the session in the debrief without an account.

• Do we need every boat to record?

  No. Even a single track is useful for self-review. Comparison becomes more valuable as more boats take part — patterns and differences become easier to see and discuss.

Next steps