NextMarkUnambiguous course navigation for distance races

Background

In distance races, course marks are not always clearly visible buoys directly ahead of the boat. Shoreline landmarks, geographic points and long course legs often play an important role. A text-only description leaves room for interpretation: which landmark is meant, is it further left or right, and which position actually belongs to the course?

This uncertainty consumes attention and can add unnecessary miles. Briefings can also become discussions about competing assumptions instead of the decisions that matter on the water.

The requirement was therefore a simple shared course reference that can be prepared before the race, distributed to any number of participants and used directly to navigate to the next defined mark.

Defined solution

NextMark combines two deliberately different workflows: detailed course planning on desktop and focused navigation on a smartphone.

A course consists of official marks and optional intermediate waypoints. Each point has a name, type, position and sequence. The application calculates the course legs and changes of course and displays the complete route on a map. The finished course can be shared by link or QR code and exported or imported as NextMark JSON.

The course data is contained directly in the shared link, so it can be opened without a NextMark account. A course change intentionally creates a new link and QR code, making it clear which version has been distributed.

Desktop: prepare and publish a precise course

The desktop version is the course configurator used during preparation. Marks can be placed on the large map, intermediate waypoints can be inserted into course legs and coordinates can be edited directly. The order can be changed by drag and drop or arrow controls, while important positions can be locked against accidental movement.

The side panel shows the total distance, course changes and complete sequence. Changes are saved locally. For handover to the fleet, NextMark generates a link and QR code containing the course name, coordinates, point types and their order.

This makes the desktop interface especially useful for course planning, skipper meetings and race instructions: define the course once, make it visible and distribute the same version to everyone.

Mobile: navigate to the next mark on the water

The mobile version focuses on active navigation. It displays exactly one target mark and connects the current position to that point. Visible values include distance and time to the mark, target course, COG, SOG and the required correction to port or starboard.

Session History complements the current navigation state with the progression of SOG and COG over time. Average and maximum values, distance sailed and recorded duration make the current session directly understandable on the smartphone.

The map can be oriented north-up or along the direction of movement. The target changes manually with Next Mark or Previous; NextMark never assumes that a mark has been rounded. The crew remains in control of that decision.

On a smartphone, NextMark is therefore not simply a smaller course editor. It is a reduced, quickly readable navigation view for use on board.

Value for organisers

For organisers, NextMark provides a straightforward way to publish a course as a shared digital reference. The course link or QR code can accompany the race instructions and can be opened by the entire fleet without registration.

This reduces questions and misunderstandings: all participants receive the same marks, coordinates and sequence. Discussions can focus on weather, tactics and safety instead of which landmark was probably intended.

Use is free and not tied to user licences. There are no accounts, seats or per-participant fees, so the same course can be opened by an unlimited number of crews.

Data and privacy

NextMark is local-first. Courses, settings and recorded track points stay in the respective browser. A shared course link contains only the course data, not a crew's live position or recorded track. Navigation calculations run on each smartphone.

Normal use therefore requires neither a user account nor a server-side session. The crew keeps position and track data on its own device.

Outcome & value

NextMark turns race instructions into an unambiguous and directly usable course view. Organisers can publish one shared reference, crews can inspect the course before the start and navigate to the next mark with a focused view on the water.

The practical benefit is clear: less room for interpretation, fewer unnecessary miles and less debate about where a particular landmark ashore might be. Instead of guessing, everyone sees the same defined point.

Technical implementation

NextMark is a responsive web application and Progressive Web App designed for browser and smartphone use. Desktop course planning and mobile navigation each use a map view optimised for their task. Mapping and navigation calculations run client-side.

Courses are stored locally in the browser. For sharing, the required course information is encoded in a link; live positions and track data are not part of it. GPS and, optionally, the smartphone compass supply the mobile navigation values when the corresponding browser permissions are granted.