Clipper Wind Direction and Speed Why do I need it

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

useless

I disagree, equally vehemently!
I the 18 years that I have been either a trainee or an instructor on small dayboats,with Glenans Irish Sailing Club, or latterly, Centre Nautique Les Glenans, ( Baltimore), I seen nothing else used, (apart from occasional improvisations using strips of J-Cloth !)
A Wind Instrument or a Windex will tell you what the wind is doing at the masthead, whereas what you need is an indication of what is happening at the level of the Centre of Effort, which is much closer to the boom, and a general indication is all you'll need, the sails and the boat will tell you the rest.
A Wind Instrument is useful in a sheltered harbour or marina, to let you know when the wind has risen to Gale Force, hence making it inadvisable to go out

 

[Daydream believer]

I disagree, equally vehemently!
I the 18 years that I have been either a trainee or an instructor on small dayboats,

Sounds as if I might have been an instructor at Bradwell before you were borne :sleeping:
Cannot recall if they had such things as a Windex then !! Would not be without it now though.
My Phantom has 2 modified versions fitted to the mast just in front of the gooseneck with the arms mounted at the approx tacking angle. Saves the neck.:encouragement: