Getting started

What you'll need

Your first session: step by step

1. Install the Android app

   Install Dinghy Coach from the Google Play Store on each boat's phone. Sign-in is not required — the app is ready to use immediately.

2. Charge and mount

   Charge phones fully before the session. Fit waterproof cases and mount securely on each boat. Start the Dinghy Coach app to make sure it is running and GPS has a fix before launching.

3. Start recording

   Press and hold the start button (1 second) to begin recording. The app runs in the background — sailors do not need to interact with it during the session.

4. Sail the session

   Sail as normal. Keep mobile data or Wi-Fi off if you want to save battery — recording works fully offline.

5. Stop recording

   Stop the session when finished. The track will upload automatically once mobile data or Wi-Fi is available. You can also upload manually from the app's past sessions screen.

6. Open the debrief

   On your tablet or laptop, go to app.dinghy.coach. Search for your tracks by device identifier or by time, select them, and load the debrief. No login required.

7. Review and agree one takeaway

   Replay 1–2 key moments while everyone is still together. Use the timeline to navigate. For multi-boat sessions, compare lines and timing. Agree one thing to work on next session.

If more than one boat recorded

• Load the boats together in the debrief
• Compare lines and timing from the same session
• Use one or two moments as the focus

Tips for a smooth first session

• Test the mount before the session — check nothing snags, and the phone won't move
• Start recording before leaving the pontoon — it takes a moment to get a GPS fix
• Tracks upload quickly once on Wi-Fi; aim to debrief within 30–60 minutes of finishing
• For your first debrief, pick one clear moment: a start, a mark rounding, or a key decision
• Keep the first debrief short — 15–20 minutes is plenty to start building the habit

Adding coach mode

Once basic recording and debrief are working, you can add coach mode for push-to-talk voice communication, synchronised start sequences, and course mark setup.

Coach mode requires all devices to be on the same local Wi-Fi network. A portable hotspot on the coach boat is all you need — internet access is not required on the water.

See the Coach page for a full overview of what's available.

Common first-session issues

• Track didn't upload

  Check the past sessions screen in the app. If upload is pending, connect to Wi-Fi or enable mobile data. The app retries automatically — no need to do anything else.

• Can't find the track in the debrief

  Use the device identifier shown in the app's About screen to filter the track library to your device's recordings. Check the date range if nothing appears.

• GPS track looks inaccurate or jumpy

  Check the phone wasn't deep inside a bag or turned face-down during recording. Outdoors with open sky gives the best fix. Older phones may show lower accuracy in marginal conditions.

• Sailors can't connect to coach mode

  Confirm all devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Some hotspots have client isolation enabled by default — this prevents device-to-device communication and needs to be turned off on the hotspot settings.

Next steps