Everything you need for smarter starts, live tracking, and race management — from the iPhone in your pocket. No $1,249 device. No $149/year per-boat subscription.
An honest, side-by-side look at what each platform offers sailors, race committees, and spectators.
| Feature | Flying Start | Vakaros |
|---|---|---|
| Start Line Intelligence | ||
|
Distance to Line
Real-time meters to the start line
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
Time to Line
Seconds to line at current speed/course
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
OCS Detection
Alert when you cross the line early
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
GPS Accuracy
Positional precision for line calculations
|
~1.5–3m (dual-freq phone GPS) | ~25cm (dual-band GNSS) |
|
Start Rating
Quantified 0–100 score for every start
|
✓ | — |
|
Early/Late Indicator
Visual red/green timing feedback
|
✓ | — |
|
VMG to Line
Velocity made good toward start
|
✓ | — |
| Race Timer | ||
|
5-4-1-Go Countdown
Standard RRS start sequence
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
Multiple Start Sequences
3-2-1, 1-Go, Quick Start, Pursuit
|
✓ | — |
|
Pursuit Race Mode
Staggered handicap starts
|
✓ | — |
| Live Tracking & Replay | ||
|
Multi-Boat Live Map
Spectators watch the whole fleet in real-time
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
Multi-Boat Race Replay
Playback with speed controls and timeline scrubbing
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
TV Results Display
Clubhouse leaderboard on big screens
|
✓ | — |
|
Works Without Cellular
On-water tracking with no phone signal
|
— | ✓ |
| Race Committee | ||
|
Fleet-Wide OCS Detection
RC sees every boat's OCS status on a tablet
|
— | ✓ |
|
Finish Capture
Record finishes with timestamps
|
✓ | ✓ |
|
Full Scoring Engine
Handicaps, discards, RRS Appendix A tie-breaks
|
✓ | — |
|
Online Entry Forms
Web sign-up with confirmation emails
|
✓ | — |
|
Results Publishing
Push notifications + web-viewable standings
|
✓ | — |
|
Race Notices
Push notices to racers' phones
|
✓ | — |
|
Admin Dashboard
Web-based club/event management
|
✓ | — |
|
Public REST API
OpenAPI 3.1 for third-party integration
|
✓ | — |
|
Sailwave / CSV Export
Results export in standard formats
|
✓ | — |
| Multi-Device | ||
|
Apple Watch App
Standalone + tethered with haptics and complications
|
✓ | — |
|
Crew Sync
Wireless multi-iPhone sync, no internet needed
|
✓ | — |
|
Lock Screen Live Activity
Countdown visible without opening the app
|
✓ | — |
| Cost | ||
|
Hardware Required
|
None | $749–$1,249 |
|
Annual Subscription
|
$19.99/yr | $149/yr per device |
|
Free Tier
Basic functionality at zero cost
|
✓ | — |
Every start scored 0–100 based on time, distance, and line discipline. Track your improvement across a season. No other system quantifies start quality.
Full standalone watch app with countdown, DTL, OCS haptics, always-on display, and complications. Glance at your wrist instead of looking down at a mounted screen.
Connect multiple iPhones wirelessly — helmsman runs the race, crew see the same display. No internet needed, works via peer-to-peer.
Online entry forms, finish capture, full scoring engine with handicaps and RRS tie-breaks, results publishing with push notifications, Sailwave export.
Put live results on a screen in the clubhouse. Auto-scrolling leaderboard with series standings, wind data, and auto-refresh.
Staggered handicap starts with individual countdown per boat. Plus 3-2-1, Quick Start, and custom sequences — not just the standard 5-4-1.
Drag the slider to see what equipping your fleet actually costs.
Vakaros: $749 Atlas Edge + $149/yr RaceSense per boat. Flying Start: $19.99/yr per person.
We believe in honest comparisons. Here's where dedicated hardware genuinely wins.
Vakaros achieves ~25cm accuracy with dual-band GNSS and differential corrections. Modern iPhones with dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) achieve ~1.5–3 metres in open water — no buildings means no multipath interference. For official, authoritative OCS calling at championship level, that precision matters. Our OCS is great for self-awareness — theirs is referee-grade.
Vakaros shows the race committee every boat's OCS status simultaneously. Our OCS alerts are sailor-side only — the RC doesn't see who crossed. For events that want automated, official OCS calling, Vakaros is purpose-built for it.
Vakaros uses a proprietary mesh network — live tracking works miles offshore with zero phone signal. Our live tracking needs cellular coverage. GPS recording still works offline, but spectators won't see real-time positions without signal.
A 4.4" sunlight-readable screen with Gorilla Glass and 100-hour battery is hard to beat. Phones are good, but they're still phones. You'll want a waterproof case and a mount.
Race at club level and don't want to buy dedicated hardware.
Want a complete race management system — entries, scoring, results, not just start line tech.
Sail multiple boats or classes and want one app that works everywhere.
Want Apple Watch on your wrist and Crew Sync across the boat.
Run a club and need an affordable system the whole fleet can adopt overnight.
Race at championship level where official, referee-grade OCS detection is required.
Your class association has mandated Atlas hardware.
You need wind, depth, and load cell instruments integrated into one device.
You race in areas with poor cellular coverage and need mesh-based tracking.
Budget isn't a constraint and you want the highest possible positional accuracy.
Download Flying Start free. Upgrade to Premium for $19.99/year and get DTL, TTL, OCS alerts, Start Rating, Apple Watch, Crew Sync, and full race management.