Setting the Perfect Line
Why a 360° wind meter is the tool for pinning down the Mean Wind Direction (MWD), and a genuinely square line.
360° Tech
Mean Wind Direction
1
The Bouncing RIB Problem
Try setting a square line in a 2-metre swell with a directional handheld meter. Every roll of the boat swings your reading. Point it, get a number, roll, get a different one. To set a fair course you need a reading that doesn't lurch every time the deck moves under you.
2
The "Mean Wind" Advantage
The useful number for race management was never the peak gust, it's the mean. A 360° meter that reads the wind whichever way the boat is pointing filters out the chop and lets you find the true centre of the oscillation, the Mean Wind Direction your whole course hangs off.
"A square line reduces General Recalls and ensures a fair start for the entire fleet."
Pro Tip: Stop "pointing" at the wind. Use a 360° fixed sensor on the Signal Boat to track trends while you focus on the flags.