30
31
English
40° − 45°
40° − 45°
Wind
Starboard tack
Port tack
Wind
Wind
Wind
Start line
Most present-day yachts are capable of sailing at 45° to the wind.
To be in a position of being able to read the Wind Shift at the start of a race, make
several runs before the race matching your course as close as possible to the red (or
green) bars on the left (or right) upper portion of the watch face.
By using the rotating bezel in the following way you can determine the angle between
the start/finish line and the direction from which the wind is blowing.
The start /finish line is set at right angles to the direction of the wind, but because the
wind is always shifting direction, it is a rare occasion when a true 90° angle is achieved.
In view of this condition, line up the white triangle at the 12 o’clock position on the
watch with the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Sail from one end of the start/finish line to the other, using the white lines marked (at 3
or 9 o’clock) on the watch to site your destination.
If the course steered falls on the plus (+) side of the white line, you are on a favorable
heading to start the race when you cross the start/finish line.
If the course steered falls to the minus (-) side of the white line on the watch, you know
it is favorable to cross the start/finish line on a heading from the opposite direction.
