Change the PY System?

Originally posted by sandgrounder Originally posted by RS400atC ....... local inshore clubs where the patterns of windshifts and bends are handed down through the generations. Under PY, in such a place, a TackTick is very useful for speeding up the learning process. I'm intrigued and would appreciate if you could elaborate. Are you saying that the Tacktick will speed up the learning process relating to information passed down by my great uncle Bertie, or indeed as indicated by my flappy sail? Because if that's the case then I want some of that. Or is it that the Tacktick simply confirms the information which I've already been provided with? Or is it simply the case that you're an employee of Raymarine?

I have nothing to do with Raymarine. My TackTick pre-dates their involvement!
My use of digital compasses goes back further, with B'n'G systems on bigger boats.
Personally I find there are a lot of people I will never overtake in a straight line 'drag race', but if I get the shifts better than them I'm in with a chance.
All of the books will tell you how important shifts are.
A digital compass is IMHO, way superior to an analogue one.
For starters, you can read it from any angle and get an answer to the nearest degree.
This makes it much easier to discuss the trends with the crew, or to remember actual numbers.
Some places are deceptive. You sail toward the shore and the perspective makes you think you've been shiftted, the tacktck tells you the wind is the same. Sometimes you can feel the quick random shifts and miss the slower, underlying change. Or the bend which generally present when the wind is blowing down the shore.

Originally posted by RS400atC Originally posted by sandgrounder Originally posted by RS400atC ....... local inshore clubs where the patterns of windshifts and bends are handed down through the generations. Under PY, in such a place, a TackTick is very useful for speeding up the learning process. I'm intrigued and would appreciate if you could elaborate. Are you saying that the Tacktick will speed up the learning process relating to information passed down by my great uncle Bertie, or indeed as indicated by my flappy sail? Because if that's the case then I want some of that. Or is it that the Tacktick simply confirms the information which I've already been provided with? Or is it simply the case that you're an employee of Raymarine? I have nothing to do with Raymarine. My TackTick pre-dates their involvement! My use of digital compasses goes back further, with B'n'G systems on bigger boats. Personally I find there are a lot of people I will never overtake in a straight line 'drag race', but if I get the shifts better than them I'm in with a chance. All of the books will tell you how important shifts are. A digital compass is IMHO, way superior to an analogue one. For starters, you can read it from any angle and get an answer to the nearest degree. This makes it much easier to discuss the trends with the crew, or to remember actual numbers. Some places are deceptive. You sail toward the shore and the perspective makes you think you've been shiftted, the tacktck tells you the wind is the same. Sometimes you can feel the quick random shifts and miss the slower, underlying change. Or the bend which generally present when the wind is blowing down the shore.

The Solo handicap dropped loads fairly recently. Not surprised by it might be causing boats not to win at a trot now, so bounce a little.

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Originally posted by RS400atC Originally posted by sandgrounder Originally posted by RS400atC ....... local inshore clubs where the patterns of windshifts and bends are handed down through the generations. Under PY, in such a place, a TackTick is very useful for speeding up the learning process. I'm intrigued and would appreciate if you could elaborate. Are you saying that the Tacktick will speed up the learning process relating to information passed down by my great uncle Bertie, or indeed as indicated by my flappy sail? Because if that's the case then I want some of that. Or is it that the Tacktick simply confirms the information which I've already been provided with? Or is it simply the case that you're an employee of Raymarine? I have nothing to do with Raymarine. My TackTick pre-dates their involvement!My use of digital compasses goes back further, with B'n'G systems on bigger boats.Personally I find there are a lot of people I will never overtake in a straight line 'drag race', but if I get the shifts better than them I'm in with a chance. All of the books will tell you how important shifts are.A digital compass is IMHO, way superior to an analogue one. For starters, you can read it from any angle and get an answer to the nearest degree.This makes it much easier to discuss the trends with the crew, or to remember actual numbers.Some places are deceptive. You sail toward the shore and the perspective makes you think you've been shiftted, the tacktck tells you the wind is the same. Sometimes you can feel the quick random shifts and miss the slower, underlying change. Or the bend which generally present when the wind is blowing down the shore. And I'd add that mid fleet sailors are not usually masters at spotting wind shifts, a TackTick should definitely help them spot shifts more accurate/frequently. If they get 10% better at spotting favourable shifts they will definitely get 'round the course faster.

Fascinating. So will this TackTick also tell you what the wind is doing further up the windward leg, or across the other side of the course, or does it simply give a snapshot in time at your particular discrete location on the course?

Sorry, I just get fed up with the "it'll never be perfect so there's no point trying to improve things, and they're volunteers don't you know" line of argument.