About
Flying Start is a comprehensive sailing race management platform that replaces expensive dedicated GPS hardware and fragmented club software with a single connected system. At its core is a GPS-powered race countdown timer providing six live data points every second: Distance to Line (DTL), Time to Line (TTL), early/late indicators, OCS alerts, and VMG — the same intelligence found in a Velocitek ProStart, but running on the iPhone and Apple Watch you already own for just £19.99/year. For yacht crews, Crew Sync keeps the whole boat in sync via peer-to-peer wireless with no internet connection required (iOS only). For dinghy sailors, the Apple Watch acts as a fully standalone instrument with haptic countdowns through gloves and Water Lock support — no phone on the water needed. Race officers and clubs get a completely free race management suite: create series, capture finishes on iPad, score automatically, publish results instantly, run live GPS tracking, replay races, manage online entries, and import/export Sailwave files. Event organisers running regattas of up to 200 boats can replace paid platforms like eStela and Kwindoo at zero cost. Hardware partners and sponsors can integrate via NMEA, Signal K, and BLE. Flying Start is built for every role in sailing — racer, crew, race officer, club administrator, and spectator — within one unified ecosystem.
Key Features
- GPS Start Line Intelligence: Six live data points updated every second — Distance to Line, Time to Line, early/late indicator, OCS alerts, and VMG — delivering dedicated GPS unit performance on your existing iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Apple Watch Standalone Mode: The Apple Watch operates as a fully independent race instrument with haptic countdowns that work through sailing gloves, Water Lock, and OCS alerts — no phone required on the water.
- Crew Sync (iOS): Peer-to-peer wireless synchronisation keeps every crew member on the same countdown with no internet connection needed, ideal for offshore and coastal racing.
- Free Club Race Management: Create series, capture finishes on iPad, auto-score, publish results instantly, manage online entries, and import/export Sailwave files — entirely free for clubs and race officers.
- Live GPS Tracking & Race Replay: Racers' GPS tracks feed a live map for race officers and spectators on shore, with full race replay available after each event. Supports fleets of up to 200 boats.
Use Cases
- Yacht racers replacing a dedicated GPS unit to get precise start line data (DTL, TTL, OCS alerts) on their iPhone or Apple Watch at a fraction of the hardware cost.
- Dinghy sailors using Apple Watch as a standalone race instrument for haptic countdown feedback and OCS warnings without carrying a phone on the water.
- Sailing clubs and race officers managing entire race series — scoring, finish capture, results publishing, and live tracking — using a free integrated platform instead of multiple paid tools.
- Regatta and championship organisers running live GPS tracking and public event pages for fleets of up to 200 boats, replacing paid services like eStela or Kwindoo at zero cost.
- Sailing hardware manufacturers and sponsors integrating branded instruments onto iPhone and Apple Watch via NMEA, Signal K, and BLE connectivity.
Pros
- Dramatic cost saving over dedicated hardware: Replaces a £769 Velocitek ProStart with a £19.99/year subscription, using the iPhone and Apple Watch sailors already carry.
- Fully integrated ecosystem: Connects racers, crew, race officers, and spectators in one platform — eliminating the need for separate scoring, tracking, and timing tools.
- Free race management for clubs: The club-side tools — scoring, live tracking, results publishing, online entries — are permanently free, lowering the barrier for any sailing club to modernise operations.
- Works on hardware sailors already own: No new gadgets required; the app runs on existing iPhone, Apple Watch Series 6+, and Android 8+ devices.
Cons
- Crew Sync is iOS only: The peer-to-peer boat synchronisation feature is not yet available on Android, limiting its use for mixed-device crews.
- GPS intelligence requires a paid Pro subscription: The core start line data (DTL, TTL, OCS alerts) is behind the £19.99/year Pro plan; the free tier lacks these critical racing features.
- Requires relatively recent hardware: Full functionality demands iOS 17+, Apple Watch Series 6 or later, or Android 8+, which may exclude sailors on older devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flying Start Pro and how much does it cost?
Flying Start Pro is the paid subscription tier priced at £19.99 per year. It unlocks GPS start line intelligence on your iPhone and Apple Watch, including Distance to Line (DTL), Time to Line (TTL), early/late indicators, OCS alerts, and VMG — the same data as a dedicated GPS unit.
Is Crew Sync available on Android?
Currently, Crew Sync — the peer-to-peer wireless boat synchronisation feature — is available on iOS only. Android users can access the race timer and other features, but not Crew Sync at this time.
Do I need an Apple Watch to use Flying Start?
No. Flying Start works on iPhone and Android without an Apple Watch. However, for dinghy sailors especially, the Apple Watch companion app offers standalone GPS mode with haptic countdowns, so you can leave your phone ashore.
How does the free race management system work for clubs?
Race officers can set up their club at rc.flyingstart.app for free. The system supports creating series, capturing finishes on iPad, automatic scoring, instant results publishing, live GPS tracking, race replay, online entries, and Sailwave file import/export — all at no cost.
What do DTL, TTL, and OCS mean?
DTL stands for Distance to Line, TTL stands for Time to Line, and OCS stands for On Course Side — a penalty for crossing the start line before the start gun. Flying Start calculates and displays all three in real time using GPS, helping sailors time their start perfectly without being over early.
