Wind Transducer on Mizzen?

[global_odyssey]

Most jobs now done, antifouling finished, crane and truck ordered, berth secured. Launching next week, masts to go up soon after.... (An early start to the season - just a year later than hoped!)
Anyway, some advice needed, please...
My new ST40 wind thingie came with Raymarine's bulky upright-type wind transducer as standard (wouldn't look out of place powering a sign on a motorway gantry) rather than the more elegant forward-protruding type.
This is impractical at the masthead (light, aerial, windex, etc.) So instead, I've decided to stick it on the mizzen where it will add less to weight x height aloft. However, since my mizzen is about 2/3 of the height of the main, I am wondering if the wind direction/speed reading will be adversely affected / shielded by the mainsail when heading to windward.

Anyone got any views?



<hr width=100% size=1>I've got wind......................
...............................in my sails!

 

[johna]

I would have thought it would be affected in both speed and direction whenever the wind was forward of the beam.

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[Dominic]

My own opinion is decidely biased.

I prefer not to trust in electronics. As long as you have the right grade of moustache wax your own senses will give you information as accurate as the questionable electric systems; just feel for the waxed points to flicker over your cheek. Just turning your head until they flutter in a synchronised manner is as accurate as an ST400.

In more practical terms - and you can judge this better than I - As you sail along, look up at your mizzen masthead and consider how the air flow there might be affected, bent or distorted by the main sail.

I suspect that you would have to be wickedly close to the wind for the instrument to give a false reading.

Bearing in mind that the instrument, on either mast, is giving the apparent wind over the top of the mast as the boat rolls. Even if it was on the top of the main it would give the wind speed at 12 metres above sea level.

Thinking in terms of close hauled. Your mizzen should be in "clean air" - especially at the top. The lower part of the mizzen might be in foul air from the wider part of the lower main. You should know this already from sailing your ketch close hauled.

Can you set the mizzen sail so it draws without it being in a "burble" from the main ? And does this burble only affect the lower part of the sail.

There is your answer.




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[ccscott49]

Mine is on the mizzen, dont seem to have any trouble, but there again I dont really use it for sailing, prefer to look at my sials, tells me a lot more than any wind instrument.


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[global_odyssey]

I'll give it a whirl then!
The only benefit of these electronics for me is being able to steer to wind with the autopilot (Seatalk Inteface).
I don't have a moustache, and as seen on previous posts, my wife doesn't share my keen sense of danger so it's useful for me to be able to set the boat on the course I want for brief periods and allow her to keep lookout rather than concentrate on steering as well.
Alk is actually a yawl, so perhaps the mizzen is even further back from the influence of the main.

<hr width=100% size=1>I've got wind......................
...............................in my sails!