Anyone who organises regattas in sailing clubs knows the problem: many things are still done manually, in parallel on several devices or via improvised processes between the starting boat, evaluation and participants. This is exactly where Regatta Hero comes in. The smartphone-based software from developer Kristian Raue from Kirchzarten bundles central race management tasks in one application - from start organisation and GPS tracking to automatic results calculation. According to the provider, the system is now used by more than 200 clubs worldwide.
One smartphone is enough
The basic idea: race courses, start lines and finishes are created digitally in advance and the start sequence is then run via an app. Formats such as kangaroo starts and rabbit starts are also supported. The start signals and countdown are displayed synchronised on the smartphone for the participants. This makes the solution particularly interesting for smaller clubs that want to digitise regattas without having to invest in expensive special hardware first. The usual smartphone GPS is sufficient for this.
During the race, the app records the positions of the boats via GPS. According to the provider, the typical accuracy on the water is around three metres. This is sufficient for tracking, course control and evaluation, but is expressly not intended as a precision system suitable for umpiring. Regatta Hero therefore sees itself as an organisation and analysis tool, not as a digital referee. This distinction is particularly important because the usual rules and decisions on the water still apply in the event of tight roundings or protest situations.
For all common handicap systems
The scoring page should be of particular interest to clubs. Regatta Hero supports common handicap classifications and promises automatic recording of finishes. The system is coordinated via a server in the cloud, which is provided by Regatta Hero or sailing associations. Sailors and race organisers do not have to worry about operating, configuring or maintaining the server themselves; this is largely handled by the system. All that is required is the login information for the respective server, i.e. the name of the organisation and passcode.
With version 3.2.28 released on 12 February 2026, Regatta Hero has placed a noticeably stronger focus on race officers and organisation teams. New features include centralised management of the entry data for all boats. In addition, the individual start time differences for kangaroo regattas are displayed directly in the list of participants. Another new feature is an AI assistant, which Regatta Hero only recently announced. According to the provider, the chatbot knows the manuals, the blog and the content of the website and is designed to help users find answers to questions about using the software more quickly.
With the newly released version 3.2.28, Regatta Hero has placed a noticeably stronger focus on race officers and organisation teams. New features include centralised management of the entry data for all boats. In addition, the individual start time differences for kangaroo and pursuit regattas are displayed directly in the list of participants. Another new feature is an AI assistant, which Regatta Hero announced on 10 February 2026. According to the provider, the chatbot recognises the manuals, the blog and the content of the website and is designed to help users find answers to questions about using the software more quickly.
Free download
The bottom line is that Regatta Hero is increasingly developing from a pure tracking solution into a digital toolbox for regatta organisation in the club. The main appeal lies in the fact that the software brings together many classic race management tasks in a structured way and can therefore simplify processes. For clubs that want to organise regattas in a more modern way with limited personnel, this is at least worth a closer look.
The Regatta Hero app is available in the App Store and Play Store. According to the provider, Regatta Hero can be used free of charge by regatta participants and non-commercial sailing clubs.
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Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
