GPS System

[GCushing]

I am looking at the Garmin 478. Is there a GPS system that is common or preferred by racers?

Thanks,

George

[richrand]

I've never used a GPS for course racing.

For cruising, I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76 that I got for about $120. It's not sexy, but it works and it's waterproof.

-r

[BarryE]

I have an even older Garmin 120 on a swing out bracket that swings into the companionway for viewing. I don't use it for short course racing, since it just gets in the way. For distance racing I use it for VMG, and estimated time of arrival. It really has no tactical value at all.

[Tim Bosma]

for short course - round the bouys - we turn on our Garmin GPSmap76 and let it track us. then we download the track to a PC and study it. I have tracks of the last 3 years of racing.

for distance racing, we plot the rhumb line and use it to determine how far off we are compared to vmg and targets to wind angle.

[GCushing]

Thanks for the feedback. We race an informal series in the summer months on Galveston Bay that uses fixed structures on a 13 mile course. With the coordinates of the structures we steer to the gps. There is also a long distance race that is coordinate dependent. I also use the gps for a speed indicator.

Tim, any literature you can reccommend regarding learning about use of the gps in the manner you describe ie. VMG and targets to wind angle?

Thanks for the replies.

George

[GCushing]

I did buy the Garmin 478 and I am happy with it. Large display for a portable and so waterproof that it is submersible. With an xm subscription and the optional antenna, it will receive radio and weather information via satellite.