How To Use a PaddlePLAN® on Apple Watch

09 September, 2024 – Off the back of celebrating it’s 10th year on the water, Paddle Logger is excited to announce the launch of PaddlePLAN®, a new feature, designed to enhance the way all paddlers navigate and explore new and favorite places to paddle. The result of Paddle Logger’s commitment to providing the paddling community with tools that combine safety, simplicity, and adventure, PaddlePLAN® delivers a paddling experience like no other.

PaddlePLAN® is designed to reduce the likelihood of paddlers getting into difficulty on the water by encouraging you to stay on track and nudging you if you drift off course. Feedback from our community has shown that a PaddlePLAN® can be particularly useful when:

Navigating rivers with many creeks, helping you take the correct route
Paddling A to B during downwind runs, ensuring you head in the right direction and aim for the end point
Planning a route in unfamiliar waters
If you stop to take some photos and don't realise you're gently being blown out to sea by the wind
Tidal currents could be strong and pulling you away from where you want to paddle

Before paddling

Before heading out you are presented with local Tide and Wind data, helping you to decide whether it's safe to head out on the water today
Once you have made this assessment, you can plot a route on iPhone or on Apple Watch by placing waypoints on an interactive map
1. To plot your route on iPhone, tap PaddlePLAN®, then the + icon and set your waypoints. Once you're happy with your route and the calculated distance tap Save. Once you're ready to go, tap the ... next to the plan, and Send to Watch. You'll then be able to tap the PaddlePLAN® icon on your Apple Watch and find the route under the list of Your Plans. Hit GO to begin tracking.
2. To plot your route on your Apple Watch, tap the Plan icon, then scroll to tap +. On the watch you can plot your waypoints and once you're happy with the route and distance, tap the tick icon. Find your route under the list of Your Plans and hit GO to begin tracking.

While paddling

There are new, easily scrollable Tab screens on Apple Watch. These are specifically designed to aid navigation in what can sometimes be a challenging environment. By rotating the crown (not needing to turn off Water Lock), you can choose from:

Your regular tracking screen with the timer, distance, heart rate, speed, pace and race conditions. If you're following a PaddlePLAN®, you'll notice a directional arrow and the distance to your next waypoint in the top right of the screen, designed to help you stay on course. If you're using PaddleLIVE®, you'll see the PaddleLIVE® icon and the circle outline slowly decreasing as you get closer to your Amber and Red Alerts.
A highlighted Map View clearly showing your planned route and route to next waypoint.
A navigation screen that provides a large directional arrow and distance - perfect for exploration in less favourable conditions where you just need to keep paddling and not stop to interrogate a map.
An option to skip the next waypoint if you're exploring and don't want to be nudged to head back to the route.

What happens if I paddle off course?

If you head in a direction more than 90 degrees away from your next waypoint, for more than 3 minutes, we'll nudge you to head back towards the waypoint with haptic feedback (Apple Watch vibration). You'll see a big arrow on the screen of your watch showing you the way, but don't forget you can still scroll using the crown to either view your other stats, view the map or skip the waypoint.