• • • Under construction

    • 1. The set up of an electronic compass requires you to sail to windward (at least 20 minutes I say) before the start to find out the Maximum Lifts and the Maximum Headers. Then calculate the two Mean Wind directions.

    • If you don't have this time or the race starts with a non beat followed by a windward leg, e.g. a Round Island Race, you can not use the tactical functions of the compass as it haven't been set up. You can't of course not sail in the Maximum Headers when racing.

    • 2. Are these electronic tactical compasses functioning as claimed? E.g. are some of them able to set themself up as claimed? The answer is No!

Comparison with Velocitek Shift

Under construction

Abstract

The Velocitek Shift Manual, my bold font: "There are two reference angles, starboard reference angle and port reference angle. The reference angle is a user input heading that is the optimal heading on a given tack." What they call reference angle is commonly known as Mean Wind Direction. To get the Mean Wind Direction you have to sail to windward for at least half an hour and take notes and make calculations.

The Ansar 2 and 4 compasses have a Revolutionary simple Set Up and Readjustments while racing - just move the markers!

The Velocitek Shift Manual, my bold text:

http://www.velocitek.com/assets/files/manuals/Shift/Velocitek%20Shift%20User%20Manual.pdf ,

"Reference Angle There are two reference angles, starboard reference angle and port reference angle. The reference angle is a user input heading that is the optimal heading on a given tack."

I don't know what "the optimal heading on a given tack" is. And a Google search does only comes up with those words in that manual. And the manual doesn't tell you how to get those angles. So I don't see how to set up the compass up!

Further you can't readjust it to a new Mean Wind direction. This means you can't use it for wind shifts!

Comparison with Velocitek Speedpuck

Under construction

Abstract

The Speedpuck is absolutely not able to (automatically) show "how far you’re up or down." when sailing in oscillating wind shifts. Because its automatics, looking for 20 seconds, does not get the Mean Wind Direction needed for this. To get the Mean Wind Direction you have so observe the direction for some 30 minutes. Instead it gets an arbitrary Mean Wind Direction and because ot this displays useless information!

The Ansar 2 and 4 compasses have a Revolutionary simple Set Up and Readjustments while racing - just move the markers!

From Velocitek's site: http://www.velocitek.com/speedpuck/features/#see_feel My bold font.

"Features Speed puck

Automatic shift tracking.

The SpeedPuck’s shift tracker locks on to the mean heading for your tack and then shows deviations from that heading with an easy-to-read bar graph. If you tack or jibe again, the shift tracker detects this, resets the bar graph and locks on to your new tack.

All this happens 100% automatically; you don’t need to press any buttons to make it happen. The SpeedPuck constantly crunches the numbers for you in the background so that, whenever you happen to glance at the instrument, you can see how far you’re up or down."

It reads "resets the bar graph and locks on to your new tack." If it shall be able to show you how far you’re up or down from the Mean Wind Direction it has to know the Mean Wind Direction.

But that isn't something you find out after a 20 seconds on a tack. (Speedpuck 1.3 manual: http://www.velocitek.com/assets/files/manuals/SpeedPuck/SpeedPuck_1_3.pdf reads: "The trim angle is set when the sailor is trimmed at a heading for over 20 seconds.")

I say it is common knowledge that it takes at least some 30 minutes to find out the Mean Wind Direction in an oscillatling wind stream. Some in the know says the oscillations can be with a frequency of 30 minutes....

So the Speedpuck does not dispay what you need. It just shows you an deviation from an abitrary automatic setting.

Comparison with Tacktick Race Master

Under construction

Abstract

The manual, my bold font: "Sail upwind for several minutes to determine your average close-hauled heading on each tack."

I would say at least 20 minutes. You have to take notes and make calculations. And imagine you don't have time before the start "to determine your average close-hauled heading on each tack". To be able to set up the compass this way while racing you have to sail also in the maximum headers. Certainly not the way to win.

The Ansar 2 and 4 compasses have a Revolutionary simple Set Up and Readjustments while racing - just move the markers!

From Tacktick Race Master Manual, http://www.tacktick.net/pdf/tacktick-RaceMaster_ug.pdf

"Setting up the wind shift display

1. Sail upwind for several minutes to determine your average close-hauled heading on each tack."

So if you don't have time for this upwind sailing before the start, you can't in practice set it up while racing, as you can't win a race sailing in the Maximum Headers. So with no sailing time, say at least 30 minutes, before the start, no set up procedure given.

If you had the time to set the compass before the race there is still no instruction how to spot and readjust it to a new Mean Wind direction.

No set up, no useful display!

The Ansar 4 and Ansar 2 compasses, on the other hand, only requires sailing in maximum lift for adjustment. This you can do while racing without losing.