NORDR is a North Sea surf intelligence app for iPhone, built by Pelagic Labs. It combines machine-learning surf forecasts, NOAA buoy observations, and weather model data to help surfers read the North Sea. NORDR is an information tool, not a safety device, and does not provide guarantees about ocean conditions.
NORDR has no accounts, no advertising SDKs, and no analytics. This policy explains exactly what data NORDR handles and how.
1. Data Stored On Your Device
NORDR stores a small amount of data locally on your iPhone using React Native AsyncStorage. This data is protected by iOS Data Protection encryption and never leaves your device unless you choose to share it.
1.1 What is stored locally
- Forecast cache: Recent surf forecasts, weather, and buoy responses, cached so the app works offline and loads quickly
- Surf alert preferences: Your notification thresholds (minimum score, preferred spots, quiet hours)
- Session matches: Local records of forecasts that matched your alert criteria, used to suppress duplicate notifications
- Unit and theme preferences: Your chosen units (metric/imperial), language, and appearance
- Selected spots: Which surf spots you have favorited or set as default
1.2 What we do not collect
NORDR does not collect personal identifiers, advertising IDs, device fingerprints, contact lists, photos, or usage analytics. There is no user profile, no email collection, no behavioural tracking.
2. No Accounts
NORDR does not require or offer user accounts. There is no login, no registration, no email collection, and no password. You install the app and use it — no identity required.
3. No Analytics or Tracking
NORDR ships with no analytics SDKs, no advertising SDKs, no crash reporters, and no third-party tracking code. No Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Sentry, PostHog, or similar services. We have no way to observe how you use the app.
4. Location Data
NORDR uses your device location to find nearby surf spots and fetch local forecast data. This is the only personal data the app actively processes.
- When-in-use only: NORDR requests “While Using the App” permission. It does not request always-on or background location
- Transient use: Your location is used in the moment to look up the nearest spot and fetch forecast data, then discarded
- Coordinates only: NORDR sends approximate coordinates (latitude/longitude) to its forecast backend. No name, address, or device identifier accompanies the request
- Permission required: Location access is fully optional. You can use NORDR by selecting a spot manually instead, and you can revoke location access at any time in iOS Settings
5. Forecast Backend & Upstream Sources
Forecast data is fetched from the NORDR backend, which Pelagic Labs operates on Railway. The backend acts as a privacy-preserving proxy that fans out to the underlying weather, ocean, and machine-learning data sources.
| Service | Purpose | Data sent |
|---|---|---|
| NORDR backend | Forecast aggregation, caching, ML proxy | Coordinates, spot ID |
| Open-Meteo | Weather and marine model fallback | Coordinates only |
| NOAA buoy network | Buoy observations | Buoy ID (no user data) |
| BluePulse ML | Machine-learning surf forecasts | Coordinates (proxied via NORDR backend) |
| Apple Push Notifications | Surf alerts (optional) | Anonymous APNs token, if you enable alerts |
The NORDR backend keeps short-lived caches of forecast responses keyed by region, not by user. Server logs may briefly retain IP addresses for abuse prevention and are rotated. We do not build user profiles from these requests.
6. Notifications
Surf alerts are entirely optional. If you enable them:
- Local scheduling: Notifications are evaluated and scheduled on your device based on the forecast cache and your alert preferences
- APNs token: If push notifications are enabled, an anonymous Apple Push Notification token is registered with the NORDR backend. The token is not linked to any account or personal identifier
- Revocable: You can disable notifications at any time in iOS Settings or in the NORDR alert settings
7. Children’s Privacy
NORDR is rated 4+ on the App Store. Because the app does not collect personal data or require accounts, there is no mechanism through which children’s data could be collected or transmitted.
8. Apple Privacy Manifest
NORDR ships with Apple’s required privacy manifest declaring its limited data use. The app declares no tracking and no data linked to user identity. This manifest is verified by Apple during App Store review.
9. Data Retention & Deletion
- On-device persistence: Cached forecasts and preferences remain on your device for as long as the app is installed
- Complete deletion: Deleting the NORDR app from your iPhone removes all locally stored data permanently
- Backend caches: Backend forecast caches are short-lived (minutes to hours) and contain no user-linked data
10. Your Data Rights
Because NORDR does not store data linked to your identity, traditional data-access and deletion requests do not apply. You can:
- Access: All your preferences are visible in the app at any time
- Delete: Remove the app to delete all on-device data
- Revoke permissions: Manage location and notification access in iOS Settings
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Because NORDR does not collect email addresses, we cannot notify you directly — please check this page periodically.
12. Contact
For questions about this Privacy Policy:
- Email: contact@pelagiclabs.io
- Company: Pelagic Labs