Ketch wind direction help

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
Rhoda Rose, our 'new to us 'Colvic Watson 28' ketch has no wind direction indicators. Having a wheelhouse I am finding gauging wind direction problematic. Licking a finger and poking it out of the window is not effective.

I have attached a foot long ribbon/tape to the main shrouds, port and stbd but this is not ideal as the leeward ribbon is masked by the sails and I suspect there is an element of deflection on the windward one too.

Ideally a mast head unit, with a display in the wheelhouse would be the answer but I am out of boaty funds having just bought her! Also I do not fancy climbing the mast nor do I fancy parting with a couple of hundred pounds having the yard unstep and restep the mast.

The Mizzen mast however is not too big to lower by hand. So, what are the opinions of the panel to fitting a Hawk Windexy thingy atop the mizzen? It is well aft of the mainsail especially at the top. Would it suffer deflected wind effect?

I would still have to pop out of the wheelhouse to see it but it might be a solution.

Any thoughts welcome, or any other ideas would be useful, maybe a large version of a dinghy burgee hoisted up a flag halliard perhaps.

Cheers all

Steve
 
Sophie19 said:
Rhoda Rose, our 'new to us 'Colvic Watson 28' ketch has no wind direction indicators. Having a wheelhouse I am finding gauging wind direction problematic. Licking a finger and poking it out of the window is not effective.

I have attached a foot long ribbon/tape to the main shrouds, port and stbd but this is not ideal as the leeward ribbon is masked by the sails and I suspect there is an element of deflection on the windward one too.

Ideally a mast head unit, with a display in the wheelhouse would be the answer but I am out of boaty funds having just bought her! Also I do not fancy climbing the mast nor do I fancy parting with a couple of hundred pounds having the yard unstep and restep the mast.

The Mizzen mast however is not too big to lower by hand. So, what are the opinions of the panel to fitting a Hawk Windexy thingy atop the mizzen? It is well aft of the mainsail especially at the top. Would it suffer deflected wind effect?

I would still have to pop out of the wheelhouse to see it but it might be a solution.

Any thoughts welcome, or any other ideas would be useful, maybe a large version of a dinghy burgee hoisted up a flag halliard perhaps.

Cheers all

Steve
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No point at all on the mizzen it will be affected by yjr mainsl.
the only place is clear air on the mainmst
 
How accurate do you want it to be. Use the ribbons for general direction. (Probably no worse than an analogue dial anyway) then chuck plenty of tell tails on the genny for more precise info and Robert is your aunts new toy boy lover.
 
Rhoda Rose is not exactly what one could refer to as a close winded racing yacht, so a rough estimation is all that is needed. I had forgotten about genoa tell tales, had none on my late lamented gaffer, good idea. Thanks.
 
what about a dinghy burgee on the pulpit out beyond the stem head ? Right in front of your eyes, cheap, and easy to stow away when not needed.

The only snag is that at about 8ft above sea level it will show apparent rather than true wind - but it will give you a very good indication.
 
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I always sailed Kindred Spirit by a traditional burgee at the main masthead, but I reckon for a boat you steer from inside a shed (:p) an electric wind indicator is the right way to go. Maybe stick with the ribbons on the shrouds until funds permit?

Pete
 
sarabande said:
what about a dinghy burgee on the pulpit out beyond the stem head ? Right in front of your eyes, cheap, and easy to stow away when not needed.

The only snag is that at about 8ft above sea level it will show apparent rather than true wind - but it will give you a very good indication.
Click to expand...
Please tell us where you put a flag which shows true wind when the boat is sailing.
 
Burgee or long tell tales on the bowsprit. Ketch masthead no use I'm afraid. I have a tacktick thingy but used to look back at the ensign and then use the genoa tell tales. The tacktick thingy is worth the dosh for a wheelhouse yacht when the pot refills.
 
NormanS said:
Please tell us where you put a flag which shows true wind when the boat is sailing.
Click to expand...

Elliptical comment from me again. I meant that the apparent wind at 8 ft will be different from the apparent wind at 35ft.


A touch of the Farages; apologies.
 
jac said:
How accurate do you want it to be. Use the ribbons for general direction. (Probably no worse than an analogue dial anyway) then chuck plenty of tell tails on the genny for more precise info and Robert is your aunts new toy boy lover.
Click to expand...
Agreed, remember you can also have telltales on the mainsail and mizzen leeches as well as on the headsail. A couple of metres of thin red ribbon or wool and a sewing needle and thread. And they work much more accurately than a 100x more expensive dial to trim sails properly.
 
Sophie19 said:
Rhoda Rose, our 'new to us 'Colvic Watson 28' ketch has no wind direction indicators. Having a wheelhouse I am finding gauging wind direction problematic. Licking a finger and poking it out of the window is not effective.

I have attached a foot long ribbon/tape to the main shrouds, port and stbd but this is not ideal as the leeward ribbon is masked by the sails and I suspect there is an element of deflection on the windward one too.

Ideally a mast head unit, with a display in the wheelhouse would be the answer but I am out of boaty funds having just bought her! Also I do not fancy climbing the mast nor do I fancy parting with a couple of hundred pounds having the yard unstep and restep the mast.

The Mizzen mast however is not too big to lower by hand. So, what are the opinions of the panel to fitting a Hawk Windexy thingy atop the mizzen? It is well aft of the mainsail especially at the top. Would it suffer deflected wind effect?

I would still have to pop out of the wheelhouse to see it but it might be a solution.

Any thoughts welcome, or any other ideas would be useful, maybe a large version of a dinghy burgee hoisted up a flag halliard perhaps.

Cheers all

Steve
Click to expand...

Couple of years ago the windex on top of my mast got blown away (gale) and because I couldn't be bothered to take the mast down before the end of the season, I put a replacement windex on the pulpit - worked remarkably well, you just need to make sure you don't damage it with the foresail....
 
Some interesting ideas. Just looked up the NASA Target wind instruments and not as dear as I thought but still have the issue of getting the unit up the mast. Think I will try sail tell tales and ribbon on the shrouds and see what Father Christmas might bring for next season!
 
Windex or burgee at masthead and tricolour light for night sailing as it illuminates the windex. Many people think wind instruments are essential but they are not, simply a successful marketing con. The things usually fail after a few years anyway as they are whirling around all the time. When I started cruising in the early 70's only heavilly funded racing yachts had electronic wind instruments. The rest of us used burgee, telltales and ribons. Interestingly, a professional racing sailor keeps his own boat across from mine - no wind instruments, just a windex.
A better use of any extra funds may be a window or hatch over the helm position so that you can see the set of the sails and windex / burgee.
 
Agreed.

True wind speed is useful to know, especially running down wind as you can get lulled into thinking it's better than it is. Direction is dubious. Tell tales for sail trim, observation of sails, ribbons etc to know which side the wind is coming from.
 
A better use of any extra funds may be a window or hatch over the helm position so that you can see the set of the sails and windex / burgee.[/QUOTE]

That is a very good idea! Apart from no wind on ones face, not being able to see more than a few feet of the mainsail is also strange.
 
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