no more guessing
Velocitek, specialists in GPS instruments for performance sailing, have announced the release of the Velocitek ProStart, the first self-contained sailing instrument designed specifically to provide accurate distance-to-line measurements.
We have one on the FT 10m Anarchy and it works really well. Just ping the ends and presto – it tells you how many meters you are from the line. It takes that critical guesswork of distance to the line out of the equation, and is really good for eliminating the traditional mid line sag. We use it, like it, and now consider it an essential ingredient in our starting process. Here’s what a few good sailors have to say about it…
"It’s the easiest thing to use out there right now and that is such a big help because there is so much stuff going on… they’re moving the start boat all the time and you’ve always got to be on top of it." – Jeremy Wilmot, tactician on Bliksem, 2009 Melges 32 World Champion
“Just got back from crewing at the Melges 32 and J-80 Worlds where we used the new Velocitek with great success. After a couple starting practices in the Melges 32, the new Velocitek was the clear winner for its simplicity in countdown timing and pinging the line and with very accurate results. We nailed several starts, by knowing the time to the start and distance to the line.” – Vince Brun, former Melges 24, J/24, Soling, Star and Etchells World Champion
"I think it’s a pretty good cheap version of what people are trying to do with computers on bigger boats. You’ll probably see it moving into bigger boats… maybe at first as a backup but then they might just ditch all the other stuff.” – Nathan Outteridge, 2 x 49er World Champion
The ProStart’s ultra-simple user interface is designed to minimize crew distractions during high-stress start sequences. The front of the ProStart is reserved for the three most important start-related buttons: the pin, boat and timer sync. The large size of these buttons makes them easy to press, even with gloved hands and easy to find in the midst of chaos. After the start the ProStart automatically switches to showing speed and heading. It also features a wind shift indicator that automatically locks on to your tack angle and shows lifts and headers on a bar graph that runs around the perimeter of the device’s over-sized LCD display.
In addition to providing easy to use real-time feedback, the ProStart automatically records a rolling 30 hour GPS data log of the user’s most recent races and training sessions. The ProStart works with Velocitek’s SpeedPlay race replay software, allowing racers to combine their GPS data with other boats and create race replays superimposed on a map background.
Priced at $599 the ProStart provides sailors with high-accuracy distance-to-line-measurements in a simple to use format at a fraction of the cost of high-end networked instrument systems.
The Velocitek ProStart is available at major marine outfitters and online. Click here for video of a demonstration of the Prostart. Comments please.
