Anna,
Yes, knowing where you are in the fog on SF Bay is important and the
compass can help with that, but it's important for racing, too. Lifts
and headers change the compass reading. Electronic compasses have
software built in to tell you that as you tack up the course.
Mechanical compasses can do the same if someone's paying attention to
them.
It's important to prepare the compass and yourself. Make sure any
stray electrical impulses and ferris metals are kept away - usually
about 3'. Be aware of declination/variation (here's SF).
Swing the compass to calculate deviation card and know how to use it.
Here's an example.
Pat
On Aug 23, 2013, at 9:02 PM, acalderkamp at gmail.com wrote:
> Hi Rande,
> I would certainly have a compass if you're sailing on the SF Bay.
> We've been surprised by fog a few times and then a compass is a
> must. I have a digital compass, a Tacktic Micro compass, that is
> clicked in a holder onto my mast under the boom. Not the cheapest
> option ~ $350 , but very nice especially for racing. FYI i also
> tried a much cheaper digital compass, but that didn't have any
> precision and was useless,
>> Cheers,
>> Anna
>> On Aug 23, 2013, at 2:54 PM, Mark Langer <scautobody at aol.com> wrote:
>
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