Liana Engibarjan tests the Tresco TrackPilot
More and more skippers hear colleagues talking about TrackPilot. And the same questions keep coming up: is it safe? Do you give up control? Can you always intervene? And does it really save fuel?
That’s exactly why Liana Engibarjan went on board to test it in practice. In an extensive video, she tries TrackPilot together with Niels, skipper on the Turais (Universe Shipping), who has been sailing with the system daily for years.
Below, we answer the most important questions skippers ask when considering TrackPilot, based on what you can see in the video.
“Do I give up control with TrackPilot?”
No, you don’t give up control when using Tresco Trackpilot . It’s a feeling many skippers share. Liana too: “At first I found it a bit scary. I thought: I have to hand over full control.”
But in practice, it works differently. You plan the route, you decide when to activate TrackPilot, you stay present in the wheelhouse — and you can always correct immediately. TrackPilot doesn’t make decisions for you. It executes your course with precision.
“Is sailing with TrackPilot safe?”
TrackPilot was developed with safety as a starting point. It has a built-in automatic watch alarm that keeps you alert as a skipper.
What you can clearly see in the video: the watch alarm is active by default, if you don’t take action for too long you receive a signal, you don’t leave the wheelhouse, and when you touch the pilot you immediately take over again. Liana also deliberately lets the alarm sound in the video. TrackPilot is not an autopilot you can walk away from. It’s a steering aid for those who keep watching and thinking along.
“Can I always intervene when needed?”
Yes, a skipper can always and immediately intervene. Touch the pilot and you’re steering again. No delay, no menus, no arguing with the system. TrackPilot assists as long as you want it to. At any moment, you can take full control of the helm again.
“What does TrackPilot actually do while sailing?”
In the video, you can see step by step how TrackPilot works: you sail towards your planned line, once you’re within ±5 metres you can activate TrackPilot, the system keeps the vessel tightly on course, and small corrections happen continuously and automatically.
What stands out to Liana: bends are taken more smoothly and tightly, there are fewer rudder movements, and there is less resistance on the vessel. And that’s exactly where the advantage lies.
“Does TrackPilot really save fuel?”
TrackPilot ensures you take bends more tightly and make fewer rudder movements. Depending on your route and sailing conditions, this can save up to 20% on fuel.
Many skippers notice that they zigzag less, sail a more consistent course and have calmer sailing behaviour. That combination leads to lower consumption, less wear and less fatigue at the end of the day.
No miracles — every voyage is different (loaded or unloaded, upstream or downstream). But fuel savings are a logical result of more precise navigation, and that is exactly what TrackPilot guarantees.
“Is TrackPilot also for experienced skippers?”
Absolutely! Experienced skippers in particular notice the benefits. In the video, two people with years of experience are sailing: Niels, who has been using TrackPilot for two years, and Liana, who has been sailing for years and also made the switch. Their conclusion is the same: the system doesn’t replace skill, it supports it.
As Niels puts it: “Once you’ve tried it, you don’t want to go without.” Not because you have to do less, but because sailing becomes calmer and even more enjoyable.
Watch the full hands-on video
Want to see for yourself how the watch alarm works, how quickly you can intervene, how tightly the vessel stays on course, and how skippers experience it after years of use?
👉 Watch the full TrackPilot video here
