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    Posted: 01 Nov 06 at 4:27pm

Originally posted by BigFatStan

I have used the Suunto Regatta watch which was great (although the compass was a waste of battery). It does the countdown and sync thing and better yet, you can change the battery without invalidating the warranty! I haven't tried the M3 or its bigger brother because they are MENTAL expensive

Oh and it has a sort of sweep for the last minute - segments round the outside of the face - really good for a quick glance.

I think the M3 was cheaper than the Regatta on eBay ...

Gold Rolex - even if I could afford one I wouldn't ...

Rick
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Rick, it sounds like a gold Rolex is the only option for you
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Posts: 78 		Post Options Post Options   Quote BigFatStan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Nov 06 at 4:00pm
I have used the Suunto Regatta watch which was great (although the compass was a waste of battery). It does the countdown and sync thing and better yet, you can change the battery without invalidating the warranty! I haven't tried the M3 or its bigger brother because they are MENTAL expensive

Oh and it has a sort of sweep for the last minute - segments round the outside of the face - really good for a quick glance.


Edited by BigFatStan
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Posts: 750 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Hector Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Nov 06 at 2:56pm

The old Memosail was an analogue watch purpose made for Sailing .  It only counted down from 10 minutes and had no sync button. The 10 minutes were on a disk that rotated so that every minute, a number dissapeared. So for instance, at 3 minutes, 3-2-1 showed but at 1 minute only the number 1 was showing! It's best feature was a big bright orange sweep second hand that was fantastic for 'seeing' the last minute and in particular the last few seconds.

For a laugh, actually I think beer was at stake) we once tested how easy it was to read vs a digital by stopping both (at the same) random time, and covering / uncovering it for a very short time. The Memosails' analogue sweep hand was far, far easier to read quickly. In fact, it was virtually impossible to uncover and re-cover the watch without the time to go being seen and understood. The digital however took far more time to see and read. In short, the merest glimpse of the sweep hand resulted in an accurate time whereas the digital display had to be seen for considerably longer to have any chance of being read.

These watches were however expensive and like most analogues didn't last. I had such good memories of my Memosail that when one came up on Ebay a year ago, I bought it.

Mistake!

It leaked, wasn't reliable (the disk kept jamming or jumping  a minute) . I quickly remembered that most Memosails suffered like this even when relatively new and it soon gave way to a modern digital.

My perfect starting watch would incorporate a modern Digital (with all the usual digital features such as sync, adjustable timing etc) but with large analogue sweep hand. If anyone can also make that look good I'll be amazed.
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Posts: 962 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Nov 06 at 12:53pm
Originally posted by m_liddell

I tried digital watches for a while and once forgot to change my watch from my usual analogue one so I used the second hand. My starts were consistantly better! It is probably due to 'seeing' how much time is left rather than it just being a number. This is also why flying instruments are very often still like this despite being on digital displays - it puts the value in context.

I'd be interested if anyone else has had this happen or if I'm just weird

My big brother said this to me once when I crewed for him years ago. I didn't understand it than and not sure I do now - I always put it down to age (and what you grew up with - digital watches were pretty neat when I was growing up)! I've never owned an analogue watch and struggle to find the second hand with a quick glance when looking at someone elses. I just know where I have to be relative to the line at about 1:30 to go and committed by the 1 minute gun. 



Edited by Matt Jackson
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Posts: 408 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tickel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Nov 06 at 8:10am
A cheap electronic kitchen timer, which counts down, stuck on where you both can see it. We used to use one of these. Sometimes they play a pretty tune when they go off which boats near you can hear. This calms the tension of the start line and cheers us all up. The problem is that they are not very waterproof so usualy need replacing every capsize. Good for a wayfarer but crap for a moth.
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Posts: 1146 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Prince Buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Oct 06 at 6:38pm
Originally posted by Paul B

Rick,

I've been using a Timex Bodylink system which has a GPS unit and heart rate monitor that it interfaces with (GPS unit size of 2 matchboxes - goes in pocket of spray top easily).

I've found it really interesting sailing with this as it will give you a countdown for a race, then time the race.  If you then stop the timer at the end of the race, it will give you all the data for the race such as max heart rate, av heart rate, av speed, max speed, distance sailed, etc etc.  Also gives up to three lines of data (you can choose) in real time, which has been an eye opener.

OK, I know GPS is banned from most dinghy classes, but I'm only using it for interest purposes rather than advance navigation and then only in club racing.

On an hours club race at low water (creek crawling) it's the equivalent of a good hour work out at the gym, according to the watch.

Oh, and you can also add a data logger to it if you want.  Same size as the GPS unit again, and records well in excess of what most sailors require.

Not cheap, but a good fun toy.

best regards

Paul



It costs how much??
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Oct 06 at 5:50pm

Anyone got/used one of these?

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/product_short.jsp?CONTENT% 3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673959341&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852 723697223384&bmUID=1162316923952

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Posts: 181 		Post Options Post Options   Quote vscott Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Oct 06 at 4:49pm

I would agree with m_liddell that a second hand is far easier to 'read' for starts than digital.

I use the cheapest Timex in the sale that was water resistant but looks reasonably tidy in everyday life, so I don't have to have two watches.

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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Oct 06 at 4:47pm

Originally posted by bovlike

Do harken not do one rick? everything else you wear is Harken!!

The don't do watches

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