Sailing navigation for Android

Android navigation

Active navigation is available exclusively in the Android app. After plotting a route, press Start in the route preview. BayPilot shows the boat's current position, a COG line indicating its direction of movement and the plotted route. Course, speed, distance and estimated arrival time are updated continuously.

Data while underway

The key information about the vessel's motion, active route and estimated time of arrival. Data is updated using the GPS signal and the planned route.

COG — Course Over GroundThe vessel's actual direction of movement over the ground, determined by GPS. It shows where the vessel is actually moving, including the effects of wind and current.
SOG — Speed Over GroundThe vessel's actual speed over the ground, calculated using GPS. It includes the effect of current and may differ from the vessel's speed through the water.
BRG — BearingThe bearing from the vessel's current position to the next active route point. It indicates the direction of the next waypoint.
DTD — Distance To DestinationThe distance remaining to the end of the active route. The value decreases as the voyage progresses.
NEXT — Next PointThe distance to the next route point. Once it is reached, navigation advances to the following point.
TIME — Time RemainingThe estimated time remaining until the route is completed. It is calculated from the remaining distance and the current SOG.
ETA — Estimated Time of ArrivalThe predicted arrival time at the destination, calculated from the current position, remaining distance and vessel speed.

From route to navigation

  1. 1

    Open the Android app and calculate a route with at least two points.

  2. 2

    Choose a position source and wait for a current GPS/NMEA fix.

  3. 3

    Press Start in the route preview.

  4. 4

    Watch the position, active route section and top-bar data.

Orientation and COG line

In the Android app, choose North Up to keep north at the top or Course Up to rotate the map with the course. The COG line can project movement for 1, 3 or 6 minutes or use the extended setting. These settings are not available on mobile web or computers.

Track — the route actually sailed

During navigation in the Android app, Track records successive boat positions. After navigation is stopped, the track can be saved to the archive and shown on the map later. Mobile web and computers do not offer track recording in navigation mode.

Position source

Navigation in the Android app uses the position selected for Route: the phone GPS or a supported external NMEA source over Wi‑Fi (TCP/UDP). Before pressing Start, check that the selected source provides a current position.

Mobile web and computers do not have Start or COG line and map orientation settings. Planning, online route calculation, saving and GPX export remain available. The Navigation map view is still available — it is a way of displaying the map, not active route guidance.

Navigation mode supports guidance along a prepared route, but it does not replace official charts, observation of conditions or the skipper's decisions.