What electronic equipment is best for racing?

[Steven Gautney]

I am thinking speed and depth instruments will be helpful when racing. Several have timers for starting/elapsed time. How useful are wind direction and electronic compass's? What do most sailors use? How useful is a GPS and can it take the place of a speed indicator?

 

[Robert Polk]

Compass, Instruments, GPS in that order

1)Compass - So you know which way to go when you round marks and to identify headers, lifts and wind direction changes. I always used a KVH 103AC electronic since it automatically displays lifts and headers and is easy for the entire crew to see. 2) Boatspeed, depth and wind instruments so you can guage the impact of trim changes and establish target speeds and pointing capability in various conditions. This will help yo to learn to generate the best boatspeed or VMG to weather while racing and stay off of the bottom. These must be of high accuracy and well adjusted or they will be of no value. 3) GPS to provide range and bearing to next mark and to find marks. This is very important if you are the lead boat. Helps to keep you from overstanding the lay line on weather legs. Provides info on when to jibe on downwind spinnaker legs to maximize VMG to the leeward mark. It will also provide Speed and course over the ground (COG and SOG) so you can compare to the boat speed and direction for the instrumnets and calculate tide speed and direction. Tides are a major component to be considered in tactical racing decisions. 4) Polars for the boat so you cam take advantage of 3.

 

[Les Blackwell]

Another thought

All your electronics become important at some time in your racing career. I've raced for 35 years and have used them all. The GPS is my favorite at this time since speed over ground is the most important object in your racing. Readjust your sails and see in your speed goes up or down. Move the crew around and see if your speed goes up or down. Depth is only necessary in these parts as to how close to land you want to go if you want to stay inshore to stay out of the currect. But your GPS will also help in this area. While I have never used it in racing (just got it last year) I think the radar would be helpful where you can mark the other boat and see if your are going to clear or not. Or if they are gaining.But I have raced with and without electronics--it has been all fun. I had a good competetor who once got a depth sounder and I asked him what he though of it. He said that before he bought it, he never hit the bottom, after he bought it , he hit bottom a number of times. He said it gave him too much confidence. Have fun.

 

[Tony Re]

RACING !!

I use B