Bluecruise sailing app: A wide range of features at an affordable price

Anyone who wants to use their smartphone as a standalone tool for everyday sailing will soon realise that they are faced with a jumble of different app providers: one app shows the weather, the next acts as an anchor watch or helps with navigation. Bluecruise is now set to combine several functions into a single programme. The app is available in the Google Play Store Available for Android devices. The version for Apple is due to follow shortly. For an annual fee of 23.99 euros, the app offers a considerable range of features – at least on paper.

Several app features integrated

Bluecruise’s real strength lies in its systematic integration of data sources that would otherwise be managed separately. The home screen provides an overview of the current position, the planned route – including an integrated weather forecast for each waypoint – nearby harbours and other features. A fixed main menu at the bottom of the screen allows skippers to switch quickly between the core sections. The app is equipped with a range of features, from digital gadgets to useful sailing tools.

In addition to an automatic logbook, maintenance lists for on-board repairs and a GPS-based anchor watch with an SMS alert function, the developers state that a tool for creating 3D reconstructions of routes sailed is also available. The system is also designed to record the boat’s sailing characteristics in the background in order to generate a personalised polar diagram. A camera function with an integrated data overlay and a list of Scandinavian SOS emergency numbers are also included. According to the manufacturer, the ‘Connect’ tab allows sailors to organise themselves into groups and exchange information with one another. Furthermore, the recorded data is automatically backed up to the cloud and can be synchronised across multiple devices simultaneously.

Mobile phone measurements instead of fixed on-board sensors

A key difference compared with some established systems concerns the data available. Bluecruise does not have an NMEA interface and does not connect to the physical instruments on board, such as the anemometer or the log. Position determination, as well as the measurement of speed over ground and heading, are handled by the GPS receiver in the smartphone. In the event that the GPS connection is lost, the developer has incorporated a GPS alarm.

Another fascinating feature is the calculation of the individual sail profile, known as the ‘Soft Polar’. The app uses a statistical method for this. Bluecruise continuously compares the boat’s speed, measured via GPS, with weather data retrieved online. From this combination, the app creates a dataset intended to represent a statistical performance pattern of the boat over time. If this feature is accurate enough to, for example, provide reliable estimated arrival times for various waypoints during route planning, it would be a practical tool for planning routes more effectively and better aligning them with the weather.

The unknown factor in automatic routing

In the paid Premium version, the App It also features an auto-routing function. However, it is not known what data this algorithm is based on, nor how the system is able to suggest automatic routes. According to the manufacturer, it does not use certified nautical charts. It stands to reason that the system draws on open-source data such as OpenSeaMap in the background. You can find out how such systems work here read more.

However, Bluecruise strongly recommends using the app only as a supplement to existing systems. The app cannot therefore replace reliable navigation systems such as those from Garmin or C-Map. Skippers can, however, set the waypoints for their route entirely manually, but should check these against official nautical charts.

Bluecruise: Availability and trial phase

The app is fully functional and has already undergone an intensive testing phase. Around 20 Danish sailors tested the system under real-world conditions prior to its release. Whilst members of the Danish class association “LM Clubs“Whilst members receive free premium access, external users pay an annual subscription fee of 23.99 euros or 4.99 euros per month. This is a price that is certainly competitive, considering that for a Logbook or anchoring app will have to pay more in some cases. It’s a good deal, provided the promised systems actually work properly.

You might also be interested in:

• ​Free nautical chart: Access BSH data for free via your browser or app
• ​The 20 best sailing apps for 2026: Everything you need to know about the weather, navigation and trip planning
• Sailing Apps 2026: The 15 best apps for navigation and safety
• ​On-board instruments on a tablet: 11 apps for monitoring vessel data