Uploading from Garmin, Apple Watch, GPX, FIT, TCX, or Vakaros

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Uploading from Garmin, Apple Watch, GPX, FIT, TCX, or Vakaros

Dinghy Coach accepts GPS tracks from most popular sailing instruments and sport watches. Here's how to get your track out of each device and into the debrief tool.

Supported formats

Format Extension Common sources
FIT .fit Garmin watches, handhelds, and chartplotters
GPX .gpx Most GPS devices; universal exchange format
TCX .tcx Garmin Connect, some training apps
Vakaros CSV .csv Vakaros Atlas (headered export)
Vakaros VKX .vkx Vakaros Atlas (binary export)
Generic CSV .csv Custom loggers, spreadsheet exports
DTRK .dtrk Dinghy Coach Android app

Garmin watch (FIT)

  1. Connect your Garmin watch to your computer via USB, or open Garmin Connect on your phone.
  2. Find the sailing activity in Garmin Connect → tap the activity → tap the ⋮ menu → Export to FIT (or Export Original).
  3. Upload the .fit file at app.dinghy.coach/import.

On the watch as a USB drive, activities live in the GARMIN/Activity/ folder as .fit files.

Garmin handheld GPS (GPX)

  1. Connect the device via USB — it appears as a drive.
  2. Navigate to the Garmin/GPX/ folder and find the track or current file.
  3. Upload the .gpx file at app.dinghy.coach/import.

You can also export tracks from Garmin BaseCamp if you manage your routes and tracks there.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch doesn't export FIT files directly, but you can get GPS data out via a third-party app:

  1. Use a sailing or workout recording app that supports GPX export (e.g. WorkOutDoors, Strava, or similar).
  2. Export the activity as a GPX file from the app's share sheet or website.
  3. Upload the .gpx file at app.dinghy.coach/import.

Alternatively, some apps (like Strava) let you export from the website — find your activity, click the ⋮ menu, and select Export GPX.

Vakaros Atlas

CSV export:

  1. In the Vakaros app, open your session.
  2. Tap Export → CSV.
  3. Upload the .csv file at app.dinghy.coach/import.

VKX export (binary):

  1. In the Vakaros app, open your session.
  2. Tap Export → VKX.
  3. Upload the .vkx file at app.dinghy.coach/import.

Dinghy Coach reads both Vakaros export formats. VKX files include more raw data; CSV is fine for debrief purposes.

Generic CSV

If your GPS logger or instrument exports CSV files with latitude, longitude, and timestamp columns, Dinghy Coach will attempt to auto-detect the column headers. Upload the file at app.dinghy.coach/import and the importer will identify the format.

How the upload works

All conversion happens in your browser — the file is converted to Dinghy Coach's internal format (.dtrk) on your device before uploading. Nothing is processed on the server. Once uploaded, the debrief view opens automatically.

File not recognised or upload failing? See Upload failed and Poor GPS data in Troubleshooting.

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