Embedded Files
No production for the foreseeable future.
NEW Tactical Wind Shift Compasses. Superior to Electronic Compasses in 12 respects!
Wind shifts At-A-Glance
The position of the central pointer gives you the wind shift information At-A-Glance! Here wind is in from the right. This Ansar 4 Compass is designed to be read from around the boat's center line. The Ansar 2 compass you read from windward.
Velocitek Prism 2018. Blast from the past - China year 1000
Effortless, simplest Set Up/Read/Reset - No numbers or calculations involved!
Compensation for the change of tacking angle with wind speed. Keep shift history on compass cupola. Remote Control possible! At last an At-A-Glance Compass allowed for all - as non electronic.
A large Digits Compass planned. Make the most of the wind shifts!
Video: Ansar Compass 4 overview
Very Large Digits
Well, well. It is tactically not more helpful than the chinese compasses from 1000 years ago. You have to remember or note Maximum Lift/ Zero Lift/ Maximum Header for both tacks. And recalculate them when the mean wind direction changes... Good luck. I don't know anyone who can do it in his head.
It has big figures but is not more readable at a distance than the Ansar Compasses. Compare with compass left!
Shows same digit on opposite tacks.Planned.
Models - See more information further down for respective model
Table under Construction. Links are underlined, open in new window. Edited in Google Chrome.
New! Automatic Compensation for the change of tacking angle with wind speed.The Electronic Compasses don't have it! Ansar 4 Compass. Mainly for keel boats, boats that heel more when wind speed goes from very light to moderate. No need for manual compensation in light gusty wind. The size of the compensation is user adjustable. Read as animation above shows. Video
New! Write a record on the compass cupola to recognize trends. Especially for the the compasses with movable markers.
New! Remote Control. Ansar 4 Compass. The compass is set up and readjusted with the lines. It is read as animation upper left shows. To be read from around the boat's center line. Video: Set Up and Read Remote Control Compass
New! Remote Control. Ansar 2 Compass. The compass is set up and readjusted with the lines. It is read basically as shown upper left. To be read from windward. Work in progress.
Ansar 2 Compass, to be read from windward.
Ansar 1 Large digits. Shows same number on opposite tacks. Only one available. Price see below.
New! Ansar 1. Extremely Large Digits. Planned. Using digits, instead of e.g. 32, makes it possible to user larger figures. Digits, 0.8 inch, 20 mm, on a 4 inch, 100 mm, diameter Compass. Shows same digit on opposite tacks. Suitable for e.g. 2 men dinghies, catamarans.
Read as shown left. The Yellow Marker marks white pointer position for Maximum Lift.
To succeed in Sail Racing, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about Wind Shifts.
A quote, Paul Getty, where "business" has been changed to "Sail Racing" and "Wind Shifts".
For You to succeed in Sail Racing You must know the features of available Tactical Compasses. Read first table below!
Video: Ansar Compass 4 overview
Superior to Electronic Compasses in 12 respects!
Comparison with the Electronic Compasses
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The Electronic Compasses require you to sail in Maximum Headers for Set Up: 1. This is OK if you have 30 minutes available before the start. Otherwise no tactical indications - just a Plain Compass as while racing you can't sail in the Maximum Headers. 2. This also means you can not reset the compass, to a new Mean Wind Direction, while racing. Again you have just a Plain Compass, basically what the Chinese invented one thousand years ago! For even more on this crucial subject see Table 2. 3.
The position of the central pointer gives you the wind shift information At-A-Glance! Here on starboard tack.
1. Maximum Lift, Zero Lift or Maximum Header.
2. If the Pointer goes beyond the Maximum Lift Marker the Lift is larger than before and it is the Visual Alert for a possible Shift in Mean Wind Direction. See Table 2, 4.
3. You can easily judge the relative size of the Lift or Header because you see where the Maximums and the Zero Lift are. See Table 2, 6.
Remote Control Tactical Compass. The compass is set up and readjusted with the lines.
It is read as shown to the left.
Gain 30 % on the windward legs by tacking on the oscillating wind shifts!
Under construction.
I may be able to make an Ansar 1 Tactical Compass, shows same number on booth tacks, with large digits. See more below under Compass models. A mock- up shown.
Compass with Automatic Compensation for the change of tacking angle with wind speed. No need for manual adjustment in light gusty wind. The compensation is user adjustable. Video. See more about this and Ansar 4 Compass under "Models and Three extras", below. Note written record of recent Maximum Lifts on starboard tack, from 10 to 12 o'clock. Click on image to enlarge. Pen: uni Posca, PC-1MR 0.7 mm. Water resistant and writing can be removed with wet cloth.
Page about Automatic Compensation.
Initially the compass is presented to the 2.4 M Class small keel boat which needs a simple to operate At-A-Glance accurate tactical Compass as they are sailed single handed and the potential for gaining on wind shifts is unusually large because their loss in tacks is unusually small. Also they heel up to 45 degrees which the compass can handle (will possibly be increased to 55 degrees). Availble as 70, 100 or 125 mm diameter models.
Sail racing is full of decisions - simplify the very important wind shift part with the right compass!
A compass that is easy to set up according to the wind shifts throughout the race and therefore continuously gives you the most accurate information.
A quote, an Electronic Compass: The buttons are hard to sort out, and take some memorization to use effectively while in high-stress situations.
The points above are described in detail in Table 2, next below.
As you see above the Ansar Compass is adopted for the Racing Sailor's requirements and needs!
No need to write/view/compare readings with notes on a pad. All you need to know is shown directly by the compass! It can increase your performance to the tipping point: Success leads to success, it's proved!
Maybe the designers of the Electronic Compasses had limited knowledge of the realities of sail racing.
"It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.”
― Malcolm Forbes
Technology frightens me to death. It’s designed by engineers to impress other engineers. And they always come with instruction booklets that are written by engineers for other engineers — which is why almost no technology ever works. –John Cleese
Table 2. Points in table above in detail
The upper arrow shows Mean Wind Direction.
Boat "Thick Line" tacks on plus/minus 15 degrees wind shifts. Boat "Thin Line" ignores the shifts. When "Thick Line" arrives at the top mark "Thin Line" still has the distance of the broken line to go. That is 1420 m, 1577 yards, of the total of 4000 m, 4400 yards, windward legs.
To get the most out of the wind shifts you need to know accurately where the Mean Wind Direction is. The Ansar Compass displays it with a minimum of effort from your side.
Gains from tacking on oscillating wind shifts of different size. Loss from tacks not deducted. Total length of windward leg/s is 4000 m, 4400 yards.
You can keep a At-A-Glance record of the wind direction over time by simply writing on the compass. Here the Maximum Lift on starboard tack has increased 15 degrees from 10 to 12 o'clock. Click for a larger picture.
This can also be a safety back up if Markers are accidentally moved.
Pen: uni Posca, 0.7 mm. Water resistant and can be removed with a wet cloth.
1. Way simplest Set Up for tacking on oscillating wind shifts, just move the Markers. Video: Ansar Compass overview
2. No numbers to write, or memorize, and compare. No calculations! See video link just above. With an Electronic Compass, e.g. beating to windward before the start, one shall read the compass and gradually work out the six numbers for Maximum Lift, Zero Lift and Maximum Header, for each tack. Most people are not capable of doing this without taking notes. I have a Finn Dinghy Gold Cup winner friend. He is now racing a Laser - and takes notes!
3. The Ansar Compass requires only sailing in the Lifts for set up. See Video link under 1. just above.
It seems to me that the electronic Compasses have been designed by people who have too little knowledge of the realities of sail racing:
There are two methods given to set up the Electronic Compasses TackTick Race Master and Velocitek Shift
One is where you sample the close hauled course for two minutes on each tack. The compass then uses these courses to show you how much you are lifted or headed. But there is a big fundamental problem: Those two courses are not the required Mean Wind Direction. To find out the Mean Wind Direction you need to sample the Wind Direction for at least some 20 minutes. The settings you get in 2+2 minutes are as reliable as if you play darts blindfolded.
You need accurate settings to get accurate - not misleading - results!
The other setting up method require sailing in Maximum Headers and Lifts, for some 30 minutes, and noting them. Then calculate the Mean Wind Direction.
This is fine if you have some 30 minutes
available before the start of the race and the windward leg. But if you don't you can't use this method as you can't sail in the Maximum Headers while racing.
Also you can't use this method:
A. If the race starts with a non windward leg e.g. a Round Island race. You will not win sailing in the Maximum Headers!
B. The Mean Wind Direction changes - which it practically always does. You can't sail in the Headers to get the numbers for the new settings if you want to win!
4. The Ansar Compass has At-A-Glance Alert for possible change in Mean Wind Direction: The Pointer goes under the Yellow Marker. You will not miss it if you simply look at the compass now and then.
6. At-A-Glance indication of the Relative Size of the Lift or Header because the Yellow Markers show you the positions of Maximum Lift and Maximum Header. The Electronic Compasses doesn't show these positions.
When you have the relative size of the Lift/Header it is easier to weigh it against all the other important factors of sail racing.
Image. You can judge the relative size of this Lift indication, on starboard tack, (i.e. Lift is Maximum when White Pointer touches Right Yellow Marker). For clarity here a white line has been drawn at Zero Lift. Result: The Lift is some 30% of Maximum Lift.
Scenario: You are in a bit of a tight spot, getting somewhat disturbed wind from a boat ahead. If Lift was Maximum, say 10 degrees, you would carry on. The Skipper/Helmsman asks Tactician: Do we have Lift, how much?
Some 10% of 10 degrees. I suggest we tack for free wind!
See also Video link under 1. above.
In order to get the relative size of the Lift/Header with an Electronic Compass which shows you Lift/Header in degrees you must know, or have noted, the Maximum Lift/Header and compare the reading with this by a mental calculation.
Further for the You can not rely on the bar graph as it is, at its suggested interval of 5 degrees, far too coarse to judge relative size of the Lift/Headers.
And mind you all above requires that you have the Mean Wind Direction accurately set.
7. Resolution of the At-A-Glance indication is One Degree.
For the TackTick compass it is recommended you set resolution of the At-A- Glance bar indicator to five degrees. This means that you will see no change in indication even if there is a sizable, very useful lift or a very harmful header, of almost 5 degrees - and at other times it looks like you got a lift of 5 degrees when in reality it was only a fraction of a degree.
Maximum Resolution, Accuracy, is needed! Because you must be able to tack accurately on 5 degrees shifts! On a total of 2.5 miles, 4 km, beats you make some 750 yards/m, by tacking on 5 degrees shifts - excluding loss in tacks. With the Electronic Compass bar indicator you can not make those gains. Remains to revert to working with numbers, that is without the simplicity of the At-A-Glance indication.
8. Automatic compensation for change of
tacking angle with wind speed, mainly for keel boats. Increases accuracy some 8 crucial degrees. Sometimes you tack on 4 degrees shifts. If you then are 8 degrees wrong you are totally lost!
A young Star-boat Class crew after a race in light variable winds: It is difficult to compensate for the changes of tacking angle, especially in stressed situations.
Video. The size of the compensation is user adjustable. Tacking Angle in light wind is assumed to be 90 degrees. Inquire about larger angle e.g. for multi-hulls. Page about Automatic Compensation.
With an Electronic Compass:
A. In light wind with gusts you have to add the compensation in the gusts on one track and deduct it on the other. Do you know on which tack to deduct?
B. When there is a more permanent change from or to light wind you must not forget to adjust the Electronic Compass.
If you forget one or both of those two above then the sailors who ignores the wind shifts will overtake you!
9. You can keep a record of the change of the wind direction directly on the Compass. See second and third images in left hand column above.
10. The Ansar Compass has no problem reading with polarized sunglasses. Below a screenshot from a Velocitek Shift Company produced video. Not clear! Ad droplets of water, distance, polarized sunglasses..... Less clear!
* In very light wind, larger tacking angle.
For non light wind half the tacking angle is assumed to be 38 degrees. With a leeway of 10 degrees the course from the wind is 48 degrees. In the bottom row, very light wind, that angle is assumed to be 55 degrees, 45+10.
How to determine start line bias - without a compass - no need to fiddle with Electronic buttons: Hold one 2 seconds, press another one.....
Under construction
Click for larger images.
You have two bearings marked on the boat e.g. by two patches of tape for each side. (Details comes with the compass.)
You sail close hauled past either end of the starting line. And there will be three cases, as illustrated below.
Here an Ansar 2, 110 mm Compass, is set on a Star Class boat.
Also available in 125, 100 and 70 mm size. Note the clear symbols, Red, White and Yellow, used to indicate the wind direction. Click for larger picture.
Ansar 4 Compass is an ideal fit for the 2.4 m Class Boat.
The boat is a small one person keel boat with the busy helmsman/tacktician/crew seated just behind the compass. He can easily reach the compass when adjustment is needed.
He can easily write on the cupola to keep track on wind shift tends. See 3rd Picture above
These boats sail with up to 45 degrees heel and a standard compass with maximum heel of 45 degrees would sometimes get disturbed. Compasses modified for a larger heel is planned. Click for larger picture.
Here the White Pointer has gone under the Yellow Marker which means you have more lift than before (here starboard tack, wind in from the right).
See also Video link under 1. above. Electronic Compasses require you comparing current lift with earlier Maximum Lift, the numbers, not the bar graph because it is too coarse. Everybody need to engage the brain for this. And most people need taking notes for it.
There are two reasons why you must not miss that the Mean Wind Direction may be changing:
A. If you decide it is changing you should sail out to the side where the new wind direction is coming from. This way you will later be to windward of those who didn't go to this side.
B. If the Mean Wind Direction is changing you must adjust your compass or it will give you false readings - making you loose instead of winning when tacking on the wind shifts.
TackTick Race Master's method to detect that the Mean Wind Direction is changing is totally useless - you reset it when the compass shows only Lifts or Headers, that means you been sailing with the compass wrongly set up to the full shift, e.g. 15 degrees. With this gross miss setting the compass leads you solidly to the back of the field. Behind those who don't tack on the wind shifts. And you didn't realize the Mean Wind Direction shifted until it shifted 15 degrees, while those who spotted the Mean shifting 5 degrees are since long out on the winning side of the course.
5. For resetting to a new Mean Wind Direction, just move the Markers. See Video Link under 1. above. For the Electronic Compass, when/if you somehow realize it is not correctly set (maybe you have just lost ten places tacking on the indications of the Electronic Compass :) ) there is no usable method given for resetting while racing as the method involves sailing in the Maximum Headers. You can no longer use the compass' tactical functions. If you want to use it it will be back to basics, the way you use e.g. a basic magnetic compass: Note course readings on each tack calculate and figure out what is lift and what is headers.
1. Your markings on the boat lines up with the starting line. This means the starting line has no favoured end.
At last an Non Electronic At-A-Glance Compass with Remote Control!
Which means there is now an At-A-Glance Compass which can be mounted on the center line of the craft and adjusted from the usual sailing position, e.g. hiking, that is allowed in most racing classes.
A compass for those millions of sailing dinghies, catamarans etc. where electronic (tactical) compasses are not allowed.
For dingies, like Laser, Finn, 5o5 and catamarans a new era has begun. While hiking fully you can set the compass up. When you notice it needs resetting to a new Mean Wind Direction you do it still hiking fully - not loosing an inch. No need to memorize or take notes, compare with compass readings - engage the brain.
I would have loved to have this compass when I was racing my Laser dinghy!
2. Your markings on the boat points like this in relation to the starting line. Your course is more to the right than when the starting line has no bias. The wind comes from the right. The right hand side of the line is favoured! You can estimate by how much in yards or meters by judging the distance to windward from the far end of the starting line and your sightline. The Electronic Compasses just gives you an angle, not the favour in distance.
11. Maximum heel is 45 degrees. Some compasses can be tweaked to 55 degrees. Useful e.g. for 2.4 M Class which heels 45 degrees in strong wind. The occasional heel to 50 degrees will not disturb the compass. Electronic compasses get stuck at 20 or 30 degrees heel. Which is too little for many types of boats. If you don't notice you are working with irrelevant numbers.
12. Allowed in most Classes. That is also those where Electronic Compasses are banned.
13. Available with Remote Control.
14. If a solar powered electronic compass has a flat battery you can not just change the battery. You have to charge it in Sunlight - nothing else. Electronics have problems with water: Velocitek Prostart waterproofing kit.
A friend has borrowed me a Electronic Compass, a TackTick, for me to evaluate. The battery is flat, its cloudy, my windows face north, no sun. I plan to take it for walks on sunny Days - it takes 2 Days for a full charge.....
3. Your markings on the boat points like this in relation to the starting line. Your course is more to the left than when the starting line had no bias. The wind comes from the left. The left hand side of the line is favoured! You can estimate by how much by judging the distance in yards or meters to leeward from the far end of the starting line and your sightline. The Electronic Compasses just gives you an angle, not the favour in yards or meters.
See also "Some more" table just below.
You can confidently tack on the wind shifts. Confidence improves your performance.
Made to order - Custom Made to suit your boat. Limited production. Contact now!
Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Some more
A. This is so far you can get with a Compass-only-system. If you want a self adjusting compass, electronic, you come to another level as you need a computer and sensors for boat speed and wind speed and angle.
B. If you have a crew which can "crunch the numbers" for setting up and readjustment of an electronic compass throughout the race get an Ansar compass and let him/her use the brain for more important things like: Keeping an eye on the competition, watch the wind direction of other boats, check tell tales to see if sails are properly trimmed....
C. Very stable in waves. Card's pitch and heel movements are heavily damped with an internal modification. Course reading is not damped for no delay in showing shifts.
Detail of Ansar Compass shows the very clear display with Yellow Markers and a White Pointer. Here indicating Maximum Lift on star board tack. What does the LCD display, next above, indicate?
Compare readsbility with this video of an Ansar Compass: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uJXpldiT-dY
D. Clear view, big real symbols. No LCD, no problem viewing with polarized glasses. Check this Velocitek produced video of an unreadable Shift compass: https://youtu.be/cRzUExsOHUU.
Also check beginning of this video of an electronic compass with LCD display at normal viewing distance. Later close ups are shown: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HzMNw71P28
The LCD display at normal viewing distance.
Click for larger image. Compare with Ansar Compass display just below.
G. No buttons to press, or press and hold 1 second or was it 2, and release - or how was it? You need a trained an alert crew to handle an Electronic Compass! The Ansar Compass on the other hand is intuitive. There are no buttons, only markers to move. Watching the overview video, under 1. above could be enough instruction.
.
"Velocitek ProStart Waterproofing Upgrade Kit".....
E. No batteries to charge - "For a completely flat battery the Tacktick Micro Compass should be left in the sunlight for 4-5 days."
X. No batteries that can run flat.
F. No electronics that can get damaged by water - there is a
I. The Ansar compasses with movable markers are mechanical computers. You feed them with Maximum Lift, only, on each tack and they display where lift is between Maximum Lift and Maximum Header on the current tack. Some models also mechanically compensates for decreasing Angle Between Tacks with increasing wind speed. You can see it as an Mechanical Application, App, for a compass.
H. Especially on long wind ward legs, or several races after each other you can keep a record of the varying Maximum Lift marking the Pointers Positions on the cupola with a suitable pen together with the time. E.g. uni Posca, 0.7 mm. Water resistant and can be removed with wet cloth.
Speed of response. Not better for Electronic Compasses as claimed. "aerospace-grade heading indication...."
In the Velocitek Shift manual it is claimed, in the first paragraph, that "the compass response is much faster and smoother than the traditional compass." On http://www.velocitek.com/shift it is claimed: The result is aerospace-grade heading indication that is smoother and more responsive than any other tactical compass on the market. Well, well, the traditional compass has absolutely no delay. Because the compass card and the liquid in the housing don't move when the course changes. Only the housing and the lubber line rotates giving instant response!
These compasses are all Mechanical and superior to Electronic Compasses. The designers of upmarket mechanical watches can't beat the Electronic ones when it comes to functions.
There are "indispensable" and "truly revolutionary" gadgets for sail racing tactics to use with a compass
E.g. the "indispensable tool" TackingMaster and the "truly revolutionary" Wot-Tac .
The Ansar 2 and 4 Compasses have the most straight forward approach: The aid is incorporated in the compass not requiring manual information transfer back and forth between compass and gadget.
NEW! Remote Control Classic Tactical Compasses - World´s First, as far as I know
A second version of Remote Control is now designed for the model with Automatic Compensation for tacking angle.
Sorry to keep you waiting this long - TV remote control arrived already 1950. -:)
When I search Google for Remote control tactical compass for sailing, in June 2014, this page comes up first and is the only relevant hit.
Ansar 4 compass
The position of the pointer between the yellow markers gives all the lift/header information you need when sailing to windward in oscillating wind shifts. Starboard tack shown. (Animation.)
Video, Set Up and Reading:
Page: Set up and read Ansar 4.
Indispensable in boats where you can't reach the compass for adjustments. E.g catamarans, Moth Dinghies...
An advantage in boats where you lose speed when you must stop hiking fully to reach:
1. The compass for adjusting to a new Mean Wind Direction.
2. The pad where you note Maximum Lifts and Headers and calculate Mean Wind Directions.
Examples are: Star Boats, Dragon, Etchell, catamarans, dinghies, Moths, Laser Dinghy, 505, Snipe, OK, Land Yachts, Ice Boats ...
The control can be from several different places for each tack. So either helmsman or crew can make adjustments. Also anyone of them can read the compass.
Some preliminary thoughts on mounting the Remote Control compass in various boats.
Contact now if you are interested. andersansar@gmail.com
Ansar 4. This model is designed for reading from around the boat's center-line. The sector is at least 20 degrees both ways from the boat's. center-line. Usually 30 degrees. Lines going through white clam cleats are setting the Yellow Markers.
Read as animation below shows, starboard tack.
Ansar 2. Starboard tack. This model is designed for reading from the windward side of the boat, in at least the sector 20 to 55 degrees from the boat's center-line. Usually 10 to 65 degrees. Lines going through white clam cleats are setting the Round Markers.
There is plenty to gain from wind shifts
Benefits of Ansar compass no:
Set up and read:
Automatic compensation for tacking angle, Ansar 4
How bad are the Electronic Compasses? A comparison with Ansar Compasses
The modification takes plenty of time
Video, Set Up and Reading
Reading: When the White Pointer is at the Yellow Marker Lift is Maximum. When the pointer is right in between the Yellow and Red Marker lift is zero. When the pointer is at the Red Marker Header is Maximum.
Starboard tack.
Price ideas. Production months. See further down for second hand compasses available now.
The compasses are custom made and differs inside and outside the compass cupola depending on: Keelboat, Dinghy, Catamaran, Reading sector, e.g. around the boat's center line or around 35 degrees from the boat's center line or larger e.g. for catamarans. Remote control or not. Also depending on your possible requirements. There is not a "Fits all boats model". That may be the reason why contacted compass manufacturers haven't showed interest.
Converted Silva/Garmin 100 compasses, capsule diam. around 95 mm, maximum heel 30 or 45 degrees: USD 1290
Converted Silva/Garmin 125 compasses, capsule diam. around 120 mm, maximum heel 45 degrees: USD 1690.
Converted Silva/Garmin 70 compasses, capsule diameter around 70 mm, maximum heel 30 degrees may be an alternative if space/weight is a problem. Price: USD990.
There have been comment like "A bit expensive for a couple of markers on the compass." But the main work is to equip the compass with the internal pointers. More on the work involved.
Most Silva/Nexus/Garmin compasses can be converted. If you have a compass with cupola facing upwards inquire. It looks like I can convert Autonautic compasses.
Typical production months are June, July, August, December, January and February.
Note: Second hand compasses below.
Regarding Remote Control. As not yet fully developed, will also depend of type of boat, customers in the Stockholm area are given priority.
For Remote Control ad USD 250.
(Later maybe available for other magnetic zone than the MN, Magnetic North, ad USD 250.)
For sales to/in European Union countries VAT will be added. Freight and possible insurance extra.
Prices and Specifications are subject to change without notice. Price is non-binding until confirmed by seller.
Production of a compass takes some 3 weeks. Sometimes a shorter time is possible.
See below for some second hand compasses, ready for quite immediately delivery.
Below are shown two different Garmin/Silva/Nexus bodies which are most suitable for conversion. For other enquire.
I have two bodies of this discontinued type. They have a cover on the back.
I have modified compasses for decades. The internals have stood the test of time, the right materials and workmanship. Email: andersansar@gmail.com
Notable buyers of Ansar Compasses, Ed Baird, Iain Murray, Peter Norlin
Yes buyers, at full price, production too small to allow for giving away samples.
Ed Baird and Iain Murray. Ansar 1 Compass
The famous Sydney Skiff and 12-meter Class sailor Iain Murray bought this compass when he was sailing skiffs. He is tactician of Wild Oats, multiple winner of line honors in the Sydney to Hobart race.
These two are still active competitive sailors. They have one thing in common: Ready to try new tactical compasses.
Peter Norlin, Ansar 4 Compass
"It helped me to gain at least three or four places in each major regatta", writes Ed Baird, about the Ansar 1 compass, in his book on Laser sailing.
He was helmsman for the 2007 America's Cup-winning Alinghi syndicate.
End of 1999, Ed was sailing an America's Cup boat in Auckland.
In 2011, Baird skippered the US-flagged, Quantum Racing TP 52 to win both the Audi MedCup Series and the TP 52 World Championship.
I can't promise you a similar career if you now start to sail with an Ansar compass. But it is of course possible. :-)
The world famous Swedish sail boat designer and racing sailor Peter Norlin bought this compass for his 2.4 Meter R Yacht. He has won two world championships in in his 2.4 Meter R Yacht.
Ansar 2 compasses were bought for the Swedish Olympic sailing team by the Swedish Sailing Association. Used in more than thirty racing classes.
My design Ansar 1 compass has been/is copied by the big manufacturers Silva, Plastimo, Ritchie and Riviera.
But they all missed a very important point: Their compasses can't be adjusted for angle between tacks - so they will show the same figure on opposite tacks only when the tacking angle fits the built in one. So you better be good at making calculations with your brain.
On one tack you have to ad a correction. On the other subtract a correction, e.g. 0.75 units.
Ansar second hand Compasses for sale
Second hand Ansar 2 or 4 Compass
A converted Silva 100 compass. Compass housing diameter at bezel some 95 mm, 3.74 inch.
Maximum heel 30 degrees. Weight 2 lbs, 0.9 kg.
It is here rigged as an Ansar 4 with remote control, to be read from around the center line of the boat. It can also be rigged, with remote control, for viewing from the windward side of the boat. See photo top right. And it can also be delivered with markers that are moved with the fingers.
It is most suitable for boats that don't heel, e.g. dinghies and catamarans, because half of the pointers don't extend upwards so the markers are above these pointers when used in a heeling boat. This can be compensated for by imagining and extension upwards of these pointers.
See more about Ansar 2 and 4 under models below.
Price USD 1150 plus any taxes.
Under construction
Ansar 1 Compass, Shows the same figure on each tack - less numbers to keep track on. Opportunity - the last of its kind!
A converted Silva 70 compass. Compass housing diameter at bezel some 65 mm, 2.6 inch.
Maximum heel is unlimited. Weight lbs, kg.
The compass is unused.
For more see Compass Models, Ansar 1 below.
Its maybe suitable where low weight and or compactness is essential.
Price USD 995 plus any taxes.
This is the view of the sailor, from behind and to windward of the compass.
Here you see the design of the compass with its two transparent cupolas viewed from behind.
(Not up to date Price, specifications, how to select)
There is plenty to gain from wind shifts
Benefits of Ansar compass no:
1 Showing same digit on booth tacks.
Set up and read:
Automatic compensation for tacking angle, Ansar 4
A comparison with electronic compasses
The modification takes plenty of time
Small scale local distributors wanted!
Three New Extras
1. Remote Control - work in progress
2. Auto Compensation for the Change of Tacking Angle with Wind Speed
3. Keep a Record of Wind Shifts by writing on the compass cupola
1. New! Ansar Compasses with Remote Control. A world's first for Classical Compasses as far as I know. Still a bit in the development phase.
Prototypes. The remote control of these compasses are a bit in the clean up phase.
Some preliminary thoughts on Mounting the Remote Control compass in various boats.
Read more in forth frame from top.
Starboard tack, viewed from windward. This Compass is designed for reading from the windward side of the boat, in the sector 20 to 55 degrees, either side of the boat's center-line. Lines going through white clam cleats are the adjustment lines for the Yellow Markers. You put the clam cleats where they are easy to reach.
I am just working on making the arrangement of the movable markers more smooth working.
Read more in second frame from top.
This Compass is designed for reading from around the boat's center-line. The total sector is 40 degrees. Lines going through white clam cleats are the adjustment lines for the Yellow Markers. You mount the clam cleats where it is suitable.
Read more in second frame from top.
2. New! Automatic Compensation for the change of Tacking Angle with Wind Speed. One less thing to tend to - worry about!
The Electronic Compasses don't have it! Video.
A world's first as far as I know, for a simple only compass system, not systems with a computer and sensors for relative wind direction and for speed of boat and relative wind.
Sailing boats typically sail 45 degrees from the wind in very light winds (indicated on a compass, not an GPS, which also includes the leeway). Also typically they sail around 37 degrees from the wind when the wind is more than very light. So the difference is some 8 degrees, very substantial in terms on tacking on wind shifts.
An indication that is 8 degrees wrong doesn't lead you to the top of the field!
If you are using an Electronic Compass or a Classical Compass and you want to have useful wind direction information you have to deduct 8 degrees on one tack and add the same on the other tack if you sail in very light wind with gusts.
Some Ansar Compasses, mainly those for keel boats, are now offered with Automatic Compensation for change of tacking angle with wind speed. Meaning you get an accurate indication of where the wind direction is between Maximum Lift and Maximum Header in very light winds with gusts.
Ansar 4 Compass with Automatic Compensation for the change of tacking angle with wind speed. The compensation is user adjustable.
3. New! Write a record on the compass cupola to recognize trends
Here starboard tack Maximum Lifts are noted from 10 to 12 o'clock. There is a shift in Mean Wind Direction to the right.
If it continues it pays to go out on the right hand side of the course - and you will be to windward of those on the left side.
This kind of record keeping is not possible on other compasses, classic or Electronic! For those you need to keep a separate record of compass courses and their respective time, somewhere. Then look back and forth, read the compass, compare with the notes. With the Ansar compass you have it all on the compass!
Pen: uni Posca, 0.7 mm. Water resistant and can be removed with a wet cloth.
Compass models
NEW! Ansar 4, wind shifts at a glance. Simplest presentation! See animation right. Read from around boat's center line.
The position of the center white pointer directly gives total wind shift information! This model has the most straightforward display. I think a four year old can read it.
Designed to be read within some 20 degrees from the boat's center line, that is a 40 degrees sector.
Available with Automatic Compensation for the change of Tacking Angle with wind speed. Adapted to an Angle to the Wind of (the typical) 45 degrees in very light wind. User adjustable to the Angle to the Wind of her/his boat in above light winds, typically 35 to 40 degrees. Available with diameters 100 or 125 mm.
Ansar 2 , wind shifts at a glance. See animation right. Read from the windward side of the boat.
The position of the right white pointer directly shows where the wind direction is between best lift and worst header.
Here it is rigged with a "Long Red Marker" making it suitable for reading from windward and around 35 degrees, the sector is from 20 to 50 degrees, from the center line of the boat. Here viewed from windward on starboard tack.
If it is rigged with a "Short Red Maker" (some 10 mm, half inch, long) it is suitable for reading within some 20 degrees from the boat's center line, that is a 40 degrees sector.
When racing a dinghy, e.g. a Laser Dinghy, you may not want to stop hiking fully to readjust the compass. One Laser sailor reports that if there are new maximum lifts he just remembers them, which is quite easy. E.g. one Pointer width more lift on starboard tack, same less on port tack. Later, e.g. on the downwind leg he adjusts the Markers.
The world famous Swedish sail boat designer and racing sailor Peter Norlin bought this compass for his R 2.4 Meter Yacht.Available with diameters 100 or 125 mm.
Videos: Read the Ansar 2 Compass. Set up the Ansar 2 compass. Detect a larger than before wind shift. Video for Ansar 4 compass, works the same way
Ansar 1 shows same large digit on booth tacks
It helped me to gain at least three or four places in each major regatta", writes Ed Baird, about the Ansar 1 compass, in his book on Laser sailing. The famous Sydney Skiff and 12-meter Class sailor Iain Murray bought this compass when he was sailing skiffs.
I may be able to produce a model with some twice as large digits, height some 0.8 inch, 20 mm
Having digits instead of the traditional two or three figure number dramatically increased the possible size of the symbols, resulting in a compass that was much easier to read. It is adjustable for tacking angle from some 70 to 95 degrees. The picture shows the compass viewed from behind and the starboard windward side, the compass has transparent cupolas facing starboard and port. That type is not current butiIt can also be made with a rear facing cupola.
Available with diameters 70, 100 or 125 mm with a transparent cupola facing backwards as the all transparent model is no longer available.
I may be able to produce a model with some twice as large digits, height some 0.8 inch, 20 mm. See mock-up right.
The models 2 and 4 above can also be made with an upward facing cupola. This makes it possible to make a compass that can be read at e.g. around 45 to 90 degrees from from the boat's center line. Useful e. g. for catamarans.
An Ansar compass according to your ideas?
What information is your ideal compass giving you? Please let me know, even if you have no intention of ordering one.
Your ideas can help me to design better tactical compasses. Looking forward to hear from you! Email.
You race to win! It becomes easier with an Ansar Compass!
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Modified Sept. 2020.
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