Direction: Navigational bearings are most often
given in terms of degrees.
North: 0° East: 90° South: 180° West: 270°
Starboard: The right-hand side of a yacht when
looking forward.
Port: The left-hand side of a yacht when looking
forward.
Using the rotating bezel (1)
1. Before a race, determine the direction of the
wind from the direction and position of the
windward marker.
Line up the number representing the wind direction
(in degrees) in the bezel with the triangle (∆)
mark at 12 o’clock (eg. northeasterly wind at 45°).
2. The course bearing from the windward mark to
the wind mark (starboard reach) is read off the
bezel, in degrees, at the green triangle (∆) on the
bottom left side of the dial.
3. The course bearing from the wind mark to the
leeward mark (port reach) is read off the bezel,
in degrees, at the red triangle (∆) on the bottom
right side of the dial.
4. When sailing from the windward mark to the
leeward mark, the small white triangle at the
bottom of the watch dial becomes the reference
point for determining course bearings.
Note that the above explanation is only valid for
ø
times when the
angle is 45°. At 60°, use the
values lying above the red and green triangle, and
at 30° the values lying below the two triangles.
Using the rotating bezel (2)
Most present-day yachts are
capable of sailing at 45° to the
wind.
To be in a position to be able to
read the wind shift after 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.
Using the rotating bezel (3)
By using the rotating bezel in the following way you
can determine the angle between the start/finish
and the direction from which the wind is blowing.
The start/finish line is usually set at a right angle to
the direction of the wing, but because the wind is
always shifting direction, a true 90° angle is rarely
encountered. In this case, line up the white triangle
at the 12:00 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 3:00 or 9:00) on the watch to the
white line, you are on a favourable 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
favourable to cross the start/finish on
a heading from the opposite direction.
* Use any one or a combination of the
three methods described above to
help you manoeuvre your boat into
and maintain the position you feel is
the most advantageous during a race.