Ritchie Compass Ritchie Xp-98W X-Port Tactician Compass - White

Ritchie Xp-98W X-Port Tactician Compass This compass is primarily designed for use in sailboat racing. I have sailed with Ritchie compasses for more than 20 years: they are durable, high-quality navigation instruments from a company based in one of the original 13 united states. I bought the XP-98W X-Port Tactician Compass because it has some novel and useful features that assist the helms[wo]man in shaping a consistent course through the water. Ritchie Navigation understands that sailors aren't always the brightest lights on the coast, so the installation instructions for all their products (this one included) are detailed, thorough and available in 5 languages. However. In the case of the XP-98W X-Port Tactician Compass, the _operation_ instructions are a bit too terse, poorly organized, and could use improvement. For example, here are the XP-98W operation instructions (American English version) as written in tiny print on the one-sheet/five-language installation instructions included in the manufacturer's packaging: _XP-98 Operation_ To see wind shifts (lifts and headers) The dial is divided into four sections, two blue and two white with 0 to 8 delineated in 5-degree markings. Sail upwind before the race on port tack and on starboard tack. Write down the median heading (blue 4 e.g.) on each. You should note the reading on port tack goes up when lifted and on starboard the reading goes down when lifted. The CourseMinder Bezel helps orient you to the racecourse. Dial in the course to the leeward mark and when you round the windward mark you know exactly where to head using the compass section on top. Also downwind you can use the compass portion to see lifts and headers downwind. Reminders: Tack on 5-degree headers and you will see a real improvement in your racing. Apparent wind forward is good. - - - - - - - Here's how I would re-word these instructions to be more helpful/explicit: The rim of the compass dial is divided into four quadrants, two blue and two white. Each quadrant is indexed from 0 to 8 (and back to 0) in 10-degree increments, with 5-degree marks shown as dots between the numerals. Before your race, sail upwind on port tack and on starboard tack. On each tack, write down the median compass heading (e.g., blue 4) as you sail upwind. Note that the lubber line will be in a different color quadrant on port and starboard tacks. Orienting to the racecourse: The CourseMinder bezel ring at the base of the compass helps orient you to the racecourse. As you sail upwind on the first leg, rotate the bezel ring so that the downwind course to the leeward mark is facing the stern. When you round the windward mark during the race, you know exactly where to steer: match the heading on the compass dial with the course you have "stored" on the bezel. To see wind shifts (lifts and headers) On port tack you will notice that the compass index goes up (i.e., from 4 to 5) when you're lifted as the wind shifts aft, while on starboard tack the index will decrease when lifted. Headers will have the opposite effect (port numerals decrease/starboard numerals increase). Tack on 5-degree headers and you will see a real improvement in your racing. After each tack the compass lubber line will be at the same number in the opposite color quadrant (blue 3 --> white 3). You can also use the compass quadrants to "see" lifts and headers while sailing downwind. Reminder: Apparent wind moving forward is good. (It usually means your speed is increasing.) - - - - - - -

I have wanted to add a tactical compass to my Tanzer 16 for some time. The Ritchie XP-98W Tactician(tm) looked like the perfect one. It was the right size, easy to read and looked good. When I saw it for sale on Amazon by GizmosForLife for an unbelievable price, I knew this was the time to buy. GizmosForLife shipped it quickly and thus far it has not disappointed. I got installed (very easy, just two screws) and now all I have to do is find some time to get the boat in the water to really put the compass through its paces.

I purchased this compass to race small sailboats at the recommendation of a respected racing buddy. The way I used to calculate my target headings (for tacking) was to read the current heading, subtract or add 90 degrees to obtain a target heading, tack, then set the new heading to the target. Example: current heading 334 deg, target heading = 334 + 90 = 64 degrees. Even though I got A's in math 30 years ago, performing accurate compass calculations when the Goddess of Wind is attacking you can be a challenge. With this new compass, I have eliminated the math and simplified my life. Example: current reading from compass = #5 (white), tack, target heading = #5 (blue). This works for all headings since all the numbers are 90 degrees apart. You really only need to remember a single number between 0-9 (example #5), then tack, then set to same again on other side. Simple. Now I can reallocate my brain power to more important things like setting the sails right so I don't go swimming. LoL

I use it with my Europa class sailing boat. Works fine and has the adequate size to track it while hiking.

Big single-digit numbers let you easily keep track of how you're doing on a leg. Easily seen from 10' away. Great for dinghy and high-performance boats where you can't be focussing too long on the compass.

I bought this for my father in law for his sailboat. He likes it. It was a good purchase for racing.

Nice compass. Unfortunately I broke it first use - the pavement was harder than the lense. Customer service worked with me to get a replacement. They were very nice and helpful. A happy customer.

Bought this for 1/4 the cost of an identical compass in a pro sailing magazine. Works great. It does leak a bit of... something out the bottom (feels oily). Not sure what that's about. But it works fine, regardless.