Plain-English guides
Short, practical explainers on the topics behind our apps: keeping score in sport, life and connectivity at sea, and getting the most out of a small data plan. Written by StratPollen Studio, with worked examples you can check yourself.
Sports & scores
Sports & scoresHow to calculate winning percentage, including drawsThe formula, four ways to count draws, worked examples and how to round.Sports & scoresHow different sports count ties and drawsFootball's 3-1-0, the NFL's half win, hockey's loser point, chess's half point and more.Sports & scoresGames behind: how to read a standings tableWhat GB means, the formula, why half games happen and how magic numbers work.Sports & scoresPythagorean expectation: what a team's scores say about its recordEstimate a 'deserved' winning percentage from points scored and allowed.Sports & scoresTiebreakers: how leagues separate teams that finish levelGoal difference, head-to-head and other ways leagues break ties, plus rules for your own league.Sports & scoresElo ratings explained: how chess and esports rank playersThe expected-score formula, how K works, worked examples and how Elo differs from win percentage.Sports & scoresWhat is a good win rate?Why the average is always 50%, rough benchmarks, and how many games you need before your number means anything.Sports & scoresStrength of schedule: why some records are harder than othersOpponents' winning percentage, the RPI formula, how the NFL uses it and how to work it out for your league.Sports & scoresHow to run a round-robin league for your clubHow many games you need, a clash-free schedule with the circle method, points, tiebreakers and dropouts.
Life at sea
Life at seaHow ships get internet: VSAT, Starlink and crew Wi-FiGeostationary vs low-orbit satellites, why crew Wi-Fi feels slow, and what the MLC now says about access.Life at seaStaying in touch with family from a shipAgreeing a rhythm, handling time zones, choosing calls vs voice notes, and making port calls count.Life at seaHours of rest at sea: the 10-hour and 77-hour rulesThe MLC and STCW limits, rolling 24-hour windows, worked watch examples, exceptions and record-keeping.Life at seaStress and anxiety at sea: signs, coping and helpCommon pressures on board, signs to notice, what helps, and free 24/7 support for seafarers and families.
Data & privacy
Data & privacyHow much data does messaging really use?Kilobytes vs megabytes, what each kind of message costs, and what eats your plan.Data & privacyHow to save mobile data at sea, abroad and on small plansPhone settings, app habits and offline tricks that make limited data last.Data & privacyEnd-to-end encryption, explained in plain EnglishWhat it protects, what it doesn't, and how to check your chats are secure.