wind indicator

maverick

New Member
I am relatively new to racing lasers and I have seen some guys with wind indicators and some without. are they useful or not?
 
It all depends on whether you find them useful. If you can figure out the wind without an indicator, then skip it. Personally, I find an indicator very helpful, especially in light, shifty winds. Of course, light shifty conditions are when an indicator does not work especially well.
 
I think they are very useful downwind as it is good to know how far dw or by the lee you are sailing. I don't think they are essential but I sailed for a while without one but now that I have a wind indicator I am used to it and miss it when I don't sail with it.
 
i think their worthless

It is worthless upwind.

Wow, those are some impressive arguments against the use of a wind indicator guys, you've completely convinced me.

For Sale* - One pre-loved Black Max wind indicator which no longer indicates the apparent direction the wind is coming from. Paid $30 new, selling for $1.99 or may be willing to exchange for a crystal ball :rolleyes:

* Note: This is not an actual offer for sale. I'm with Ross B. on this one, I won't sail without it.
 
I love my indicator going downwind, extremly helpfull, going upwind is only helpfull if the wind is under 5kts
 
I have found that I over-rely on the wind indicator if I use one, my results tend to be better when I don't use it and 'get my head out of the boat'.

If I was ever to use mine again (It is still sitting in the garage from 4-5 years ago) it would only be in light and shifty winds, but it only has limited merits even then.

If you have the presence of mind to ignore the wind indicator upwind and use it downwind (if you find it helps) then go for it. But personally I think I sail better without it
 
thanks for all the advice guys. Ive been doing pretty well without one. I think its better to sail by "feel" rather than relying to heavily on instruments.
 
I lost mine last week and I feel like something is missing. It looks like a personal decision to make, there is no NO and YES answer to this one it's only another tool to help like a car tachometer for instance, you don't need it but it could be useful too.
 
I have tell tails on my sail but i find i do better when i dont look at them. Again I have found it is better to sail by feel and keep your head out of the boat.
 
I've been sailing without one for the first year, but I find that sometimes I'm slow to notice big lifts. I'm going to add one to give myself one additional clue.

Agree with those who say keeping head-out-of-the-boat is most important. Some of my biggest gains are when sailing downwind, when it seems like I'm the only one on the course to look behind me to see where the next puff is going to come from, and position myself to take advantage of it. This leads to those magic "presonal-turbocharger" passing lane effects and is always great to watch.
 
Hey zoophyte, i wouldnt be talking, you're the one that has no life. What are you like a professional forum disser.
 
Hey zoophyte, i wouldnt be talking, you're the one that has no life. What are you like a professional forum disser.

What is the source of this anger? I found zoophyte's post in this thread to be ironically humorous. Contrary to popular belief, humor is allowed here. Saying that someone has no life, in anger, is bordering on a personal attack. That's not allowed here.
 
If there were only a way to mount a presidential candidate on the front of the mast.

Those guys can notice and react to the slightest chage in the wind
 
Hey zoophyte, i wouldnt be talking, you're the one that has no life.

Hey Fish, I have a great life actually but sincerely appreciate your concern for it.

What are you like a professional forum disser.

Thanks for asking and yes, I relinquished my amateur status recently for the fame and fortune of professional forum dissing. The hours are great, the pay is sensational and I get to work from the tranquility of a sunny beach.
 
Zoophyte ! does the 1.99$ include the shipping ?
Sorry :( See below:

* Note: This is not an actual offer for sale.

....though I'm thinking about adding a C-Vane indicator to my kit and keeping my Black Max as a spare. The Black Max is a great little indicator but I've lost count of the number of times I've had mainsheets snag on it and the ensuing chaos of trying to free it.
 
It sounds like the C-Vane becomes more popular because it's more solid ? I don't understand why the manufacturer does not add a piece of foam or anything equivalent so it could float instead of seeking, I don't know how many times I heard people saying I lost one, two ... indicators.

I still don't know why you say it's useless upwind !
 
It sounds like the C-Vane becomes more popular because it's more solid ?

As I understand it, the C-Vane's primary advantage is a mainsheet is unlikely to catch on it as the metal stay is above and below the vane itself. Whereas the Black Max or similar only have a single metal stay on the bottom thereby creating a giant hook for a mainsheet to catch on.
 

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Hey Zoop, I got the C Vane and like it, and you can buy spare arrows when
it goes in the drink. Hey keep up the intertainment you missed your
calling I don't care if there is 3,000 comedians out of work your good.
 
That's good ! where did you find it ?, on APS site I don't think they sell the arrow separately. I'd like to find an arrow for the little one. One sure thing they make money with the gadget, the difference in price between the two is about 13 $ ! it costs probably 2$ to produce it maybe less.
 
Sorry about that I just had a senior moment that is intensitysails,com,
the replacement arrow is almost 8 bucks. Yes they get you coming
and going I know I have a Harley and HD stands for 100 bucks....
 
Go under gear and eqipment for laser then find windvane clink on C Vane
click on that scrow down and there it is, i just left that site
 

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