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Setting courses using a GPS |
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Stuart O
Really should get out more Joined: 22 Jul 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514 |
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Topic: Setting courses using a GPS Posted: 24 Mar 08 at 6:30pm |
Several of the cat long distance race eg East Coast Piers Race do use GPS positioning for the approx position of the marks...most useful IF you have a GPS.
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ChrisJ
Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 23 Mar 08 at 7:44pm |
I know some clubs that have buoys scattered over 6 or 7 miles of an estuary, that are retrieved each year for maintenance. They use a GPS to get them back in the right place for the next year. They can then plot the buoys on a chart, and then calculate the 16 fixed courses they use. The Race Officer then reads the wind from the compass, and sets the course appropriately, knowing that a lot of effort (??) has gone into getting the best course for that wind direction. |
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Mar 08 at 7:50pm |
as I thought.... We do have a long distance race on our calendar that has the same course layout each year, a borrowed one might prove useful for that. |
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Contender443
Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Mar 08 at 8:31am |
For dinghy courses a trained eye, wind direction indicator, local knowledge and a rib are all you need. Any RO that uses a GPS to set a course is too picky in my opinion. It will take longer to calculate the positions required than actually setting the course. Also if the wind direction changes then they will need to recalculate the GPS positions. |
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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 Mar 08 at 5:45pm |
Several people at the club have mentioned that a GPS could be used for laying out courses. I'm not sure what the benefits would be unless course length was important.....Anyone out there using or thinking of using GPS
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