How To Use Your Tacktick Race Compass
Not to be used for navigation
Your instrument
To switch on:
Press the
mode
button
To switch off:
Press & hold down the mode button until display clears. The Race Compass will power down automatically after 7 minutes if it
detects no movement
There are 2 modes for the Race Compass : Timer & Compass modes:
Use the mode button to switch between functions
Timer:
timer functions are labelled above the keys
Compass
: Compass functions are labelled below the keys
True Wind Direction
You can tell
the Race Compass
that a permanent wind shift has occurred by adjusting the true wind direction with the
back
and
veer
buttons. To briefly display the true wind direction press the
back
or
veer
buttons once.
Press the
back
button
to adjust the wind
direction down.
One press = 5°
Press the
veer
button to adjust the
wind direction up.
One press = 5°
If you can’t work out the shifts, just press the
back
and
veer
buttons until the chevrons move in the
desired direction!
Reading the Shifts
Having set the two close hauled headings
the Race Compass
will show your headers and lifts on the unique chevron graphs.
Each chevron is a 5° shift so the bar will reach its full extent with a lift or header of 25°.
To reset one or both close hauled headings at any time, simply sail close hauled and making sure you are in compass mode,
press the
c.h.
button once.
the Race Compass
’s unique close hauled detection software will automatically recognise which
tack you are sailing and overwrite the previously stored heading for that tack. Don’t be tempted to sail on the bar graphs - you
must sail on the wind and the bar graphs will then show you how the wind has shifted.
Advanced Operation
The Race Compass
automatically switches into downwind mode when your true wind angle moves aft of the beam. In this
mode
the Race Compass
shows a zero lift / header when you are 20 degrees away from the mean downwind.
Remember even downwind you must sail
ON THE WIND and
the Race Compass
will then show you the shifts (lifts bring the bow up wind and take you away from the
downwind mark - headers help you towards the downwind mark).
Being on the wrong side of the shift downwind will take a long time to correct as you are moving with the wind pattern and so
stay with each shift for longer.
Setting Up - Method 1
Setting up is best done before the race starts, but can be done at any time.
1 Make sure you are in compass mode.
2
Sail close hauled and ensure the boat
is steady on her course.
Now you are ready to set the close hauled
headings from which your
the Race Compass
will
detect and calculate wind shifts.
3 Press the
c.h.
button once.
You will hear a double beep and
the bar graphs will flash once.
4 Tack through the wind.
5
Sail close hauled and ensure the boat
is steady on her course.
6 Press the
c.h.
button once.
