I would add a small chart plotter GPS over a handheld. I sail the Chesapeake Bay and have found the Chart Plotter to be very accurate. It has an electronic compass built-in (as long as you are moving, GPS units don't show static direction on direction of motion).
Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD #4795 [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: into the wind Windspeed is the biggest waste of money I've done yet on my boat. Depth is really all you need. If you really want an electronic compass, just get a handheld GPS off Ebay! Save your bucks for the important things - new(er) sails! Bob -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Jim Bernstorf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gosh, that's more than I paid for this great running boat that only lacks a compass and working electronics! If I keep the boat and don't move up to a 30 footer I will start adding some of that stuff. Jim _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of The Emmerichs Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:56 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: into the wind Jim, Your twirly-do gives you apparent wind. When a puff hits, the apparent wind moves back and you can come up a little. To determine your real tacking angle, you need a compass. But wait a minute, why replace your analog compass with another one. These things in various forms have been around for 1000 years more or less. This is 2008, the age of computers, cell phones, iphones, blackberrys, ipods, etc. Ray Marine makes a nice depth, wind, speed package for about $1600. But you still need a compass so you can add an electronic compass for another $500. Then you will find yourself with more data in front of you than you can ever hope to absorb. John Emmerich C27TR Louisville, KY -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jim Bernstorf Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 10:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: into the wind Following up.There was a thread a month or so ago relating to apparent wind that talked about the apparent wind changing as the boat picks up speed. That didn't make sense to me at the time but by this logic of vectors, as the boat speed increases, the apparent wind angle would move away from the boat allowing one to sail tighter into the wind. By experience, that is what happens which would be explained by the vector thing.I guess. Jim _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 8:50 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: Jim Bernstorf Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: into the wind Jim, Apparent wind is the right answer. Do you remember high school physics and vectors? The actual wind is moving in a given direction at a given speed. So is your boat. If you add the two vectors together, that is your apparent wind. A simple example (I think), if the actual wind is blowing at 5 knots directly abeam and your boat is moving at 5 knots, the apparent wind will be 45 degrees off your boat direction toward the wind. Of course, I'm ignoring that your boat really won't be going straight ahead, but sliding sideways a bit. Many of us learned to judge the wind by the masthead and telltales on the shrouds, but a captain taught me a while ago to observe the direction of the wave swells on the water. They will be perpendicular to the actual wind. Sorry, can't address the 150 vs 120 genoa question. Fair winds, Ken -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Jim Bernstorf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> OK.it is quiet so let me pick your collective brains. I just hoisted a friend of mine nearly 40' to the top of my TR mast to install a wind direction twirly-do (note the technical terminology). The box had a template to set the aft pointing guide things ranging from about 55 to 75 degrees. I set mine at 60 since I didn't know the right answer. Now, it has been my understanding that most boats cannot sail effectively in the 90 degrees into the wind area so the tight tack is basically 45 degrees off the wind to either side. My boat is pretty comfortable with the bird flying on either guide depending on which side of the wind I am on. Theoretically that would seem to mean that I can tack 30 degrees off the wind instea d of t hat theoretical 45. Yippee!! I'm a great sailor on a great boat. But wait. My boat doesn't have a working compass so I have to visually guestimate what angle my tack actually takes based on sig hting to the shore, or buoys or something. Depending on how fickle my lake wind is, it is pretty obvious that I am not able to sail as tightly as 60 degrees and sometime it seems it is a struggle keeping it at 90 degrees. So here is my question for the brain trust. Is this a function of apparent wind and I can do 60 degrees based on apparent wind but more like 90 degrees on actual wind? I had assumed that apparent wind related to how the sails moved the wind as it crossed over the boat. The twirly-do is above the sails and probably wouldn't be impacted by them so that would imply that apparent wind would be some sort of geometric interaction of boat direction (and speed) and actual wind direction. I'm having trouble getting my arms around that one. The other thing that is making me scratch my head is that (still without a compass) it appears that I can sail tighter into the wind with my 150 genoa than with the 120 that I use on heavier wind days. That goes against everything I have read before. Is this typical of C27 TR boats or is this an anomaly or do I just really need to replace my bad compass?? The other option is to just enjoy it and forget the logic of it all! Thoughts?? Jim Jim Bernstorf Jules Distribution 6025 Cloverland Drive Brentwood, TN 37027 615.833.1848
