B&G Deckman User Manual

MANUAL
Deckman
User Manual
Premier Way
Abbey Park, Romsey
Hampshire, SO51 9DH, UK
www.BandG.com
© B&G Ltd. 2005
The copyright of this manual is the property of B&G Ltd.
HB-0914-02
Intentionally Left Blank
ii
Trademarks
All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of B&G.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. B&G reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make changes in the content without obligation to notify any person or organisation of such changes.
B&G, Deckman, Wave Technology Processor and WTP are all trademarks of Brookes & Gatehouse Ltd., and may not be used without the express permission of Brookes and Gatehouse Ltd.
SHOM tidal information © SHOM 2003. Reproduced with the permission of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service - France Contract no E32/2003 ­www.shom.fr
The French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) have not verified the data contained in this product and does not take responsibility for their accuracy of reproduction or freedom from modification.
The possession of this product from SHOM does not remove the obligation to use appropriate nautical documentation as required by national and international regulations.
iii
Product Liability and Safety Warnings
Product Liability
Brookes and Gatehouse Ltd. accept no responsibility for the use and/or operation of Deckman. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that under all circumstances the product is used for the purposes for which it has been designed.
Warning - Calibration
The safe operation of Deckman is dependent on accurate and correct calibration. Incorrect calibration of this product may lead to false and inaccurate navigational readings placing the yacht into danger.
Warning – Dongle Security
The Dongle is a security device that renders the software inoperable when not plugged into the computer. As such, the Dongle is of significant importance and care must be taken to ensure that it does not become lost or stolen. Replacement of a Dongle will require the full purchase cost of Deckman, as well as the cost of any charts that may have been purchased to run with Deckman.
It is recommended that all original CD’s, chart codes and user documentation be kept together to allow the simple re-installation in the event of a fault occurring with your computer.
To facilitate the upgrade process of Deckman, or to purchase new charts, record the Dongle Serial Number below:
Dongle Serial Number:
iv
Preface
This manual is written in two parts: the first is a general introduction to Deckman. The second section contains instructions on how to use Deckman.
Part 1: In the first chapter, a general overview of the Deckman display
screen is given with descriptions of the various parts.
Part 2: This section deals with the operation of Deckman. The first
chapters cover the installation and general use of Deckman. After this, there are chapters dealing with specific features.
The manual includes a full Contents and Index. Since many things are referred to in more than one place, it is advisable to check these if the information you need is not immediately obvious.
v
Intentionally Left Blank
vi
Contents
Chapter 1 : Deckman Introduction_______ 1.1
Chapter 2 : Getting Started ____________ 2.1
Deckman Installation......................................................................2.1
Installing charts ..............................................................................2.2
Connecting to the Instruments .......................................................2.7
Direct connection of GPS...............................................................2.9
Show incoming data .......................................................................2.9
Deckman re-installation over an existing version ........................2.9
Chapter 3 : Navigation ________________ 3.1
Introduction.....................................................................................3.1
Simulation .......................................................................................3.3
Selecting a route .............................................................................3.4
Quick route......................................................................................3.6
Sailing the course ...........................................................................3.7
Set DR position ...............................................................................3.9
List Route.........................................................................................3.10
What If? ...........................................................................................3.11
Planning ..........................................................................................3.14
Edit Marks .......................................................................................3.20
Tides ................................................................................................3.21
Navigation options..........................................................................3.25
vii
Display time .................................................................................... 3.28
General Layers ............................................................................... 3.28
Chart options ..................................................................................3.30
Chart Layers ................................................................................... 3.31
Zoom ................................................................................................3.33
Special chart views .........................................................................3.34
Chapter 4 : Start display ______________ 4.1
Start information.............................................................................4.2
Setting the start ...............................................................................4.3
Set windward/leeward ....................................................................4.5
Start options .................................................................................... 4.6
Start countdown ..............................................................................4.6
Hold wind ........................................................................................4.7
Wind calibration ............................................................................. 4.8
Advanced options............................................................................4.8
Chapter 5 : Data_____________________ 5.1
Time plot.......................................................................................... 5.1
Wind Plot......................................................................................... 5.2
Data Log..........................................................................................5.4
Boat parameters.............................................................................. 5.8
Extract logged data ........................................................................5.11
Speed Test .......................................................................................5.12
Show Data ....................................................................................... 5.15
Data averages .................................................................................5.20
viii
User variables.................................................................................5.20
Chapter 6 : Polars____________________ 6.1
Understanding Polars ....................................................................6.1
Managing polars.............................................................................6.4
Chapter 7 : Instruments_______________ 7.1
Configure comms ............................................................................7.1
WTP system .....................................................................................7.2
h2000 Performance Unit ................................................................7.7
NMEA FFD/h1000 .........................................................................7.10
Ockam Instruments .........................................................................7.11
Silva NMEA..................................................................................... 7.12
NKE NMEA .....................................................................................7.13
NMEA Instrument System ..............................................................7.15
Chapter 8 : Wind calibration ___________ 8.1
Wind shear ...................................................................................... 8.1
Wind speed and Wind angle...........................................................8.1
Chapter 9 : Wind and current forecasts ___ 9.1
GRIB viewer ....................................................................................9.1
Downloading GRIB forecasts ........................................................9.4
GRIB tools .......................................................................................9.8
Making wind or current Grids ....................................................... 9.11
GRIB routing................................................................................... 9.18
ix
Chapter 10 : Competitors______________ 10.1
Time-on-time handicap .................................................................. 10.1
Plotting competitors' positions ...................................................... 10.3
Chapter 11 : Networking ______________ 11.1
Using the networked version.......................................................... 11.1
Setup ................................................................................................ 11.2
Two-boat telemetry across a network ...........................................11.4
Chapter 12 : Deckman files ____________ 12.1
deckman.ini ..................................................................................... 12.1
Data files ......................................................................................... 12.5
j_varsXX.d....................................................................................... 12.7
User variables.................................................................................12.13
Example J_varsXX file ...................................................................12.27
x
Deckman Introduction
Chapter 1 : Deckman Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for choosing B&G Deckman, the world’s most advanced race navigation software. Deckman represents B&G’s commitment in providing software of the highest quality and performance.
To get the most from Deckman, take the time to carefully read this user manual so that you can fully appreciate its functionality.
Figure 1.1 shows a typical Deckman display and the table overleaf describes the functions of the labelled parts:
Figure 1.1
1.1
Chapter 1: Deckman Introduction
Data bar shows the value of any variable. You can select which
variables you want displayed: simply click on the top half of a particular box and choose from the menu. You can display either the present or damped value (time specified in minutes; variable is shown underlined): choose when first selecting variables, or change by clicking on a displayed variable and then enter the averaging time. You can also arrange variables in the data bar using drag and drop.
A new line of data boxes will appear when the last box on the previous line is filled, so make sure this is left empty if you do not want a new line of boxes.
Can be toggled on and off by selecting menu>view>Data Bar.
Tool bar gives shortcuts to frequently used tools.
Icon bar clicking on an icon will either access a display window
or provide a menu.
Status bar bar along the bottom of the display. Shows the latitude
and longitude of the present position of the cursor and also the range and bearing from the boat to the cursor (right hand side).
Also provides information about the effects of some menu choices when the cursor is held over them (left hand side).
Can be toggled on and off by selecting menu>view>Status Bar.
When using the program it is generally found best to have it set up with the main Navigation window covering the majority of the display. Behind this, but accessible, you could have things such as
What If?
, Planning and a wind plot, as in Figure 1.1. That way, you can always see your position on a chart, but are able to get to other information as and when required.
1.2
Deckman Introduction
Clicking unwanted lines or marks. If, for example, you want to view only the isochrones from the present plan, this is a useful function.
Throughout this manual, choices—are referred to. The > symbol is used when menu selections are being discussed. For instance, would mean clicking on
zoom
this is illustrated in Figure 1.2. Information regarding the effect of a particular command can be seen in the status bar.
menu>refresh
option from the pop-up menu, followed by
updates the display, thus getting rid of old or
bold
text is used when options—such as menu
menu>zoom>from boat to mark
menu
on the Icon bar and then selecting the
from boat to mark
Shortcuts
The following shortcut keys are available in Deckman:
Figure 1.2
F2 Next waypoint
Sh+F2 Previous waypoint
1.3
Chapter 1: Deckman Introduction
F6 Wind plot
F7 Start display
F8 Navigation display
F9 Next window (the least recently used of all the
windows currently open in Deckman)
Sh+F9 Previous window (the most recently used of all the
windows currently open in Deckman)
Hint: using the F9 and Sh+F9 allows you to toggle between two windows.
1.4
Deckman Installation
Chapter 2 : Getting Started
Deckman Installation
As previously mentioned, there are currently two versions of Deckman that support either the C-Map or Euronav charting systems. The install for each version varies slightly as detailed below.
Install Deckman by running the program on the CD-ROM. Note that for a Euronav version, there are two parts to the installation: Deckman itself and the Euronav Charting System (ECS).
Deckman requires a security device known as a dongle, and this will need to be connected to either the parallel or USB port of your computer before you go any further. Having connected the dongle, run Deckman from the new installation and put up a dialog asking you to install the driver for the dongle: the installation procedure is slightly different for the two different types of dongle, but for both simply follow the on-screen prompts.
If installing a C-Map version, then the necessary drivers will be found on the Deckman CD so you simply tell Windows to search on your CD drive. The Euronav dongle drivers are installed onto your hard drive with the ECS.
Start
button. At this point Deckman should recognize this is a
SetupDeckman.exe
installation
Once you have installed the dongle drivers it may be necessary to restart your computer.
Start Deckman again. The program will now go through the complete startup routine, and then ask you for a 16-digit security code – enter the code you have been supplied, then click navigation window with some initial waypoints in the English Channel.
2.1
OK
. You should then see the
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Installing charts
Deckman works with a variety of different chart formats, both raster and vector, and the installation of each is slightly different, so make sure you refer to the correct section below. If installing ARCS or Livecharts then this can be done from within Deckman (assuming you are using Deckman version 4 or later). For C-Map and Maptech charts (BSB, PCX or REML formats) the installation is done without Deckman running.
When you first start the program after installing new charts the effect of updating the chart folio may not be immediately apparent because the supplied charts do not cover the area of the English Channel occupied by the default waypoints. Use the zoom out tool: this works in the opposite way to zoom in—the image you are looking at now will be zoomed to fit the rectangle which you define by clicking and dragging. Then use the panning tool (the hand) and drag to different areas of the chart.
Note
C-Map
The installation of C-Map charts is via a separate CD which should have been supplied with Deckman. Note that you will need this CD to do any further chart installations, so make sure you keep it in a safe place. In addition, there are different CDs for different parts of the world so you may need more than one. Contact your agent or B&G if necessary.
Insert the CD into the drive. It should Autorun, but if not select
setup.exe
instructions to install the C-Map NT/PC Chart Selector program, and then run this program. This program then contains everything you need to browse the charts, select the ones you wish to install and order from C-Map. Once you have completed the process, close the Chart Selector program, run Deckman in the normal way and the charts will be seen in the appropriate areas.
. For Maptech charts, special action is required (see below).
from the
NT/PC Selector
folder. Follow the on-screen
2.2
Livecharts
With Deckman version 4 or later, the complete catalogue of Livecharts is supplied on the program CD. Charts can then be enabled by obtaining an unlock code from your local agent or B&G.
For help in choosing the charts you require, view the chart catalogue: open Deckman, select regular Deckman display updating and instead interact directly with the charting package. Hold down the right mouse button until a popup menu appears. Select box in the followed by OK and you will be presented with a toolbar that enables you to view details about different charts.
When you know the charts you wish to use, contact your local agent or B&G to obtain the unlock codes. Once you have the necessary codes, run the Explorer. The path for this is:
Unlock.exe
menu>charts>chart interaction
Properties>Chart Settings (Global)
Chart catalog viewing
program on your distribution CD from Windows
Installing charts
to stop the
. Check the
and then click OK. Select
View
Livecharts
D:\Livechart Archive\unlock (where 'D' is your CD drive)
The paths for the location of the charts on your CD and the desired destination should be displayed correctly automatically, but if not set these as follows:
Install charts from
Install charts to
For each chart you wish to install enter the unlock code (which will be supplied in four groups of characters) into the four boxes marked
1, Code 2
installing a folio of charts leave the final box empty). This procedure must be repeated for all the charts you wish to install.
… etc and the name (e.g. BA2045) into the fifth box (if
D:\Livechart Archive\charts\live_b (where 'D' is your CD drive)
C:\Charts\Live_b (where 'C' is the drive where Deckman is installed)
Code
2.3
Chapter 2: Getting Started
The next step is to tell the program where to find the charts. Choose
menu>charts>chart settings.
options for controlling the appearance of the charts. Select the
Directories
Browse
the
Select Path
C:\Charts\Live_b (where 'C' is the drive where Deckman is installed; if you specified an alternative destination for the charts in the
charts to
tab and set the directory for
button. Move to the correct directory and then choose the
button. The path for Livecharts should be:
box above, this should be entered here)
A dialog will pop up giving you all of the
Chart
Livecharts - Vector
by hitting
Install
Note
follows.
Close Deckman, enter the CD-ROM (or diskette) into the drive and follow the installation procedure. If you are prompted for a filename then use the 8 character names as follows: progra~1\BandG\deckman\charts\live_b. When you have finished, restart Deckman and chart folio.
If using versions 3 or earlier, the installation for Livecharts is as
ARCS charts
Deckman needs to be running for this installation. The first task is to install the permits: put the permits floppy disk into the disk drive then choose series of dialogs which help you do the installation.
menu>chart>install chart
Choose
select menu>charts>update folio
and you will be presented with a
Yes
to install new permits
to update the
Choose
Install permits from disk
Choose the
Now you will be asked to insert the CD-ROM (the CHART CD-ROM not the UPDATE). Select the install to begin. In the summary information you will see that some of the charts require an update; after you have hit the
Skipper
PRESS to Install Permits
permits
PRESS to start installation
2.4
button, then
button for the
Next
button you will
Next
.
Installing charts
be asked to insert the UPDATE CD-ROM. After clicking will be asked to update the folio again.
The next step is to tell the program where to find the charts. Choose
menu>charts>chart settings.
options for controlling the appearance of the charts. Select the
Directories Browse Path
button. The path for ARCS charts should be:
C:\Charts\ARCS (where 'C' is the directory where Deckman is installed)
tab and set the directory for
button. Move to the correct directory and then select the
Maptech charts
When using BSB, PCX or REML charts it is advised that these are copied onto the hard drive of your computer. It is possible to run Maptech charts directly from a CD-ROM, but Deckman will operate much more quickly if the charts are read from the hard drive. If you wish to read the Maptech charts directly from a CD, then go straight to
Updating the Folio
folder on your CD.
Finish
A dialog will pop up giving you all of the
HCRF - Raster
below. In this case the path to specify will be a
by hitting the
you
Chart
Select
If you wish to run the Maptech charts from your hard drive, copy the charts into a folder in the top level of the drive in which you installed the program, for instance:
Chart type Directory (where 'C' is the drive where the program is
installed
BSB C:\BSBChart
PCX C:\PCX952 (see below for more information)
REML C:\REMLChart
For BSB and REML charts simply copy the required charts into the folder and then go to
For PCX charts, the simplest thing to do is to copy the entire contents of the CD into a folder in the top level of the drive on which Deckman is installed. It is advised that this folder is called something like (where nnn is a reference number from the particular CD: if installing
Updating the Folio
below.
PCXnnn
2.5
Chapter 2: Getting Started
charts from a number of different CDs, it is advised that these be installed into different folders each with appropriate names/numbers for recognition).
However, if you are short of memory space on your hard drive, it is possible to copy only certain charts. This is more complicated because of the way Deckman interacts with the PCX chart format. Each chart is stored in a folder which has a corresponding chart header in the folder
Figure 2.1
Charthdr
on the CD-ROM. Both of these sections are required by Deckman and must be stored in the same structure as on the CD. You must therefore create a subfolder named
PCXChart
Charthdr
the
folder on your hard drive. The required chart headers from
folder on the CD must then be copied into here with the
Charthdr
within the
corresponding chart folders copied into the main PCX folder on your
2.6
Connecting to the Instruments
hard drive. An example of what a PCX folder might look like is shown in Figure 2.1.
Updating the Folio
Once all the required charts have been copied, run Deckman, select
menu>charts>use Maptech charts charts in preference to others
Select a dialog in which you must specify the locations of the Maptech charts. Click directories in which the Maptech charts are installed. Once you have specified the directories for all the Maptech charts you have loaded, click
Note
menu>charts>update chart folio
Add
Update
. For PCX charts, select the Charthdr folder as the path.
and then browse through the tree structure to specify the
and you will see Deckman running through all the charts.
and then check the
box to switch to using Maptech charts.
and you will be presented with
Use Maptech
Connecting to the Instruments
Initially Deckman uses the simulated yacht instruments which enable you to learn to use the program without having to be on the yacht. To change to use the boat instruments go to and you will be presented with a dialog so that you can select your instrument type. After clicking on OK you will be asked to set up the communications (for further details see Part 2, Chapter 7 on Instruments).
Select the COM port which is connected to your instrument system (usually COM1 or COM2 but Deckman can use any port up to COM10). Then set the protocol according to the table below.
Baud rate
Parity
B&G WTP
9600 9600 4800 4800
NONE EVEN NONE NONE
Performance
Processor
gmenu>change instruments
NMEA Ockam
Data bits
Stop bits
8 7 8 8
1 2 1 1
2.7
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Note.
connections are the same as for NMEA.
When you have specified the correct settings, click settings for your GPS (see below).
Note.
may be used without a dongle see
Wiring
The following table details the connections between different instrument systems and Deckman:
Instrument ground
Instrument transmit
For connection to an NMEA FFD, h1000 or Silva NMEA, the
Next
to specify the
To operate a working version in demonstration mode so that it
deckman.ini
Performance
Processor
11 7 black 5
10 3 green 2
in Chapter 12.
Ockam 9-pin to
Deckman
Instrument receive
join 7-8
Note.
and vice versa.
The instrument transmit is connected to receive on your computer
9 2 blue 3
Setting up the instruments
You must configure your instrument system so that it outputs information in the correct format for Deckman.
Performance Processor
You must set the system to 9600 baud, EVEN parity, 7 data bits and 2 stop bits.
On an FFD, select
calibrate>cal val1
waypoint>cross tr
on the other. Set the value to 0.
join 4-6,
7-8
on one section of the display, and
2.8
Direct connection of GPS
Now select
calibrate>cal val2
Ockam
To set the Ockam RS232 interface to 4800 baud, NO parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit, set both switches A and B to 9.
waypoint>cross tr
on the other. Set the value to 6.2.
on one section of the display, and
Direct connection of GPS
It is possible to connect your GPS directly to Deckman. The main advantage of this is that you can easily see if you lose GPS signal for any reason and Deckman may also receive the GPS data at a higher frequency.
After clicking you will be presented with a dialog which controls how your GPS is connected. Select instruments or
Next
Deckman
to setup the communications with the instruments,
Instrument System
for a direct connection, followed by
if your GPS is connected via your
Finish.
Show incoming data
After you have connected and correctly configured your instruments, and possibly GPS (if going directly to Deckman as described above), you may wish to check that the instrument data is being received by Deckman. Click
Data
the window of this dialog.
GPS Data
or
gmenu>show incoming data
followed by
Start
, select either
. You should then see the data in
Instrument
Deckman re-installation over an existing version
Note
version.
With Deckman running and with an instrument system connected, choose Communications dialog. For the old style dongle (serial number beginning 1071) you must also make a note of parameters: in Notepad open the the
. This section should be skipped if NOT installing over an existing
gmenu>configure comms
Deckman.ini
[livechart] path
file (see “
. Close Notepad.
and make a note of the settings in the
deckman.ini
” in Chapter 12) and note
2.9
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Next, you must remove the existing version. Select the then versions, both
Euronav Charting System
Run
Settings>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs
Deckman Vn.n
(where n.n is the version number) and
must be uninstalled.
Windows Explorer
and make copies of following files in the
subdirectory (see page 12.5) to somewhere other than the
Start
button and
. For Euronav
Deckman
directory:
Adjvt.d wind speed calibration
adjwa.d wind angle calibration
bgbounds.d B&G instruments data bounds
Bgcalib.d Calibration
Bgdamp.d Damping
bgout.d Output
databar.d Data bar settings
diamonds.d Tidal stream data
Data
j_nav28.d Layers information
j_way.d Waypoints file
Navpol.d Navigation polar
Ockcalib.d Ockam instruments Calibration
Ockdamp.d Damping
ockoptn.d Options
ockout.d Output
Perfpol.d Performance polar
report.d Reports file
shore.d Shoreline information
Startpol.d Start polar
Tides.d Tidal heights data
Once all these files are backed up, delete the
Deckman
directory (before doing this, it is just worth checking that no charts have been installed here: chart directories should be as described in ‘Installing Charts’ above).
2.10
Deckman re-installation over an existing version
Install Deckman by running the program on the CD-ROM. There will be two sections to the installation: Deckman and the Euronav Charting System which is automatic after Deckman.
Once installation is complete, if using an old dongle (SN beginning
1071), you must set the noted above.
Copy the files you backed up above into the new overwriting the files that have been installed with the new installation.
The remainder of the installation is as normal (as described at the beginning of this chapter). Run Deckman and connect to the appropriate instrument system. Select Communications protocol as noted in the first step.
[livechart] path
gmenu>configure comms
SetupDeckman.exe
in the
Deckman.ini
Data
and set the
installation
file to that
directory,
2.11
Chapter 3 : Navigation
Introduction
When you first run Deckman you will see a display something like that shown below in Figure 3.1
The best way to get to know how the program works is to run
Simulation
grips with some of the functions before trying to use them under pressure! If not already in Simulation mode select
instruments
(see next page). Here you can practice and start to get to
and then check the Simulation box.
Introduction
gmenu>change
Figure 3.1
3.1
Chapter 3: Navigation
The numeric keypad
Whenever Deckman expects you to enter a numeric value a keypad will appear like the example in Figure 3.2. The number you enter is shown at the top in larger size; a message is shown below which usually gives the current value.
Figure 3.2
The keys down the right have the following functions:
Escape: this exits without making any changes
Backspace: deletes the last digit entered
Minus: makes any value entered negative. For inputting West longitudes or South latitudes as these are both considered negative on Deckman.
Enter or Return: tells Deckman to accept the value entered
3.2
Simulation
When Simulation is running Deckman generates instrument data that you can use to practice running the other displays. In Simulation mode you can only control the boat's heading and the true wind speed/direction. Deckman then uses these to calculate boat speed and all the other variables.
As you will not be connected to any position fixer, such as GPS, when running in Simulation mode you will have to use Deckman's dead reckoning (DR) capabilities to set the position of the boat. This will be done automatically when you start the program.
When using DR, position is updated regularly according to the boat's speed and course and the tidal information. The DR position can also be set manually to the position of a mark or by specifying a latitude and longitude. The most useful function (especially in Simulation mode) is
menu> waypoint>set DR>DR at waypoint
mark. See
Set DR position
Simulation
to put the boat at the first
(on page 3.9) for more details on this.
To change the boat's heading or control the wind, choose
gmenu>instruments control
following dialog:
and you will be presented with the
Figure 3.3
3.3
Chapter 3: Navigation
The left pane controls the wind: click on a box to input the desired value. If both wind speed and direction.
On the right you can control the boat's heading: click on the box where the present heading is displayed, (000° in the example), input the new
heading on the numeric keypad and then hit the
Add wind shifts
is checked then Deckman will add changes in
Enter
key.
After you have made the desired changes hit you the option of viewing any of the variables from the database. Click one of the boxes when highlighted with the cursor over it and select a variable to be displayed from the list.
In some ways running Deckman Simulation mode is actually harder than when it is being fed data by a real instrument system on board as you have to alter the boat's heading (as described above) rather than this being done by the helmsman. It does, though, provide an excellent way to learn how to use the program.
Selecting a route
Before the race begins you will set up a route by choosing marks from the waypoint list, then during the race you only have to instruct Deckman to go on to the next waypoint and all of the calculations will be done with respect to the new mark. Deckman does not automatically advance to the next waypoint on a route when the current waypoint is reached.
OK
. The
Data bar
gives
The list of waypoints is divided into named sectors. The purpose of this is to divide up the waypoints to make them easier to manage when sailing in different places. When you first get Deckman you will find that there are sectors named Triangle, Solent_A-M, Solent_M-Z, Channel, Fastnet, Nioulargue, Porto Cervo, qkroute (these refer to Quick route, see next page); if you are sailing in any of these areas this list will cover most of the marks needed—though of course we take no responsibility for their accuracy. However, if you are sailing in another area then you will need to enter you own lists as described later in
Marks
marks which, though not marks of the course, are nevertheless useful as
(page 3.20). In addition you should also have entered subsidiary
3.4
Edit
Selecting a route
reference points on the plot—rocks and positions marking channels for example. Sometimes it is useful to make one of these marks a mark of the course because then you can relate laylines to that point and these will help in making tactical decisions regarding the course to sail.
To create a route select
menu>waypoints>make route
or click on the icon (shown left) on the tool bar. When you open the display you see the names of all the waypoint areas and below a list of waypoints in the area selected; click the arrows next to the name to move to a new sector. You can alter the order in which the waypoints appear: clicking on will display the waypoints alphabetically, whilst
unsorted
sorted
will show them in the order they were entered—useful if this is the order they will be needed in a particular race.
To make a route click on the waypoints from the lists in the order of the course beginning with the start mark. Those selected will then be displayed in the Route box and click
Route
delete
box on the right of the window; highlight in the
to remove. Also shown will be a letter P or S
indicating the direction of rounding—highlight a waypoint and click
switch rnd
to change this. If the start and finish are the same you do not need to select the finish because Deckman treats routes as circular: when it gets to the end it goes back to the beginning again.
The first sector in the list, Triangle, is a special list: in many races you have a triangular course, or some marks which will be set by the committee—almost certainly a leeward mark at the start, and often an initial windward mark—and to make it easy to set up triangular courses Deckman has special facilities to set a wing mark and a mark half way up the windward leg by simply specifying the range and bearing of the windward mark from the leeward mark. In addition, the positions of each end of the start line (see Setting the start on page 4.3) are stored in this sector so you can use these as marks of the course.
Note
. Do not remove the Triangle sector from the list.
3.5
Chapter 3: Navigation
Note
. You can edit the Triangle sector and change the names (to use a language other than English, say) but do not change the order of these waypoints—Deckman positions all the marks for triangular courses by using the order of waypoints.
Quick route
Selecting on the tool bar allows you to choose a route by setting marks using the position of the mouse. It is also possible to include fixed marks in a Quick Route – simply hold the cursor near an existing mark (it will turn red) and then click the left mouse button.
Once you make the selection the cursor will be accompanied by a box containing the range and bearing of the position of the cursor from either the boat (if the first mark) or from the previous waypoint. The value beside Total at the bottom of the box shows the total distance in the present quick route.
Click the mouse at the position you wish to set each mark and then double click at the final mark. You will then be given the following options:
Repeat allows you to repeat the above process
save as marks
menu>waypoints>quick route
puts the positions of the marks you've created into the waypoints file, where they can be edited or used in routes as normal.
or clicking on the icon shown
save as route turns the quick route into the present route, in
which case it will operate as usual.
With either of the second two options, the marks will be given the
names 'q1, q2....' etc though these can be changed to something more
meaningful in the Edit Marks window (see page 3.20).
Note.
zoom in and out. You can, therefore, zoom in to see the position of a mark accurately and then zoom out again to set the next mark.
While the Quick Route option is turned on, you are still able to
3.6
Sailing the course
Quick Route
The positions of waypoints (see also Sailing the Course below). Click on the Quick Route icon, point the cursor at the waypoint you wish to move (it will turn red). Hold down the left mouse button and drag to the required position. If you are moving a quick waypoint (q1, q2 etc), then the waypoint will be moved; if you try to move a fixed mark, then a new waypoint will be created in the position you drag to with a Quick Route name.
You are also able to add or remove waypoints from the current route using the select the Quick Route icon and then point the cursor at the waypoint after which you want to add the new mark (it will turn red). Without clicking the mouse button, move the cursor to where you want the new waypoint and double click, followed by waypoint, select the Quick Route icon and then highlight the waypoint you wish to remove from the route (it will turn red). Hold down the left mouse button and drag the waypoint to either the previous or next waypoint, release the mouse button.
Quick Route
facility also allows you another way to set the
facility. To add a waypoint to the current route,
save as route
. To remove a
Sailing the course
All of the above preparation should ideally happen before the race begins; during the race you then just instruct Deckman to go to the next waypoint and all calculations will be done with respect to the new mark (the name of the present leg is shown in the box at the top of the display):
next waypoint—clicking on this means all
(F2)
(Shift F2)
calculations are made with respect to the next waypoint.
previous waypoint—all calculations are made with respect to the previous waypoint.
3.7
Chapter 3: Navigation
There are, however, ways of changing the position of the current waypoint to make it fit in with your observations once you start racing. Choosing
menu>waypoints>set waypoint
shown left on the tool bar—gives you a number of methods to set/adjust the position of the current waypoint (usually, these would only be used with the movable marks in the shouldn't normally move!):
to boat sets the position of the current waypoint to the
—or by clicking on the icon
triangle
sector, as the fixed marks
position of the boat. For example, when rounding a particular mark for the first time or to set the start mark.
drag current waypoint
Ww/Lw from windward
triangle from lee
RB from prev WP
allows you to highlight and then click-and-drag and current waypoint only to a new position. Once you release the mouse button, you will be asked to confirm the move.
sets the position of the leeward mark and finish line by range and bearing from the windward; brings up a dialog exactly the same as that shown under
Setting the start
Set windward/leeward
(see
on page 4.3) except the bearing you set in the top box is from the windward to the leeward mark.
you position the windward mark by entering a range and bearing from the leeward.
set the position of the current waypoint as a range and bearing relative to the previous mark.
RB from boat set the position of the current waypoint as a
range and bearing from the boat.
3.8
Set DR position
Laser RB from boat
triangle from mid
by lat, long allows you to specify a latitude and longitude
Make sure that the waypoint you wish to position is the one currently selected—its name should be at the top of the navigation display. If used to set the windward and leeward marks in a triangular course then not only will the positions of these be changed, but the gybe and mid marks will also be set.
as above. For use with a laser range finder.
set the position of the current waypoint as a range and bearing relative to the mid mark
Set DR position
Choosing dead reckoning position by one of three methods:
menu>waypoints>set DR
position allows you to set your
DR at WP sets DR position to the position of the current
waypoint. This is particularly useful in Simulation mode when, having set up a course, you can put the boat at the position of the first mark.
DR at GPS
DR by lat, long
puts the dead reckoning position to the current GPS position. Especially useful to set a DR immediately if the GPS fails.
allows you to input your own dead reckoning position. This will generally only be used if running Deckman after a GPS failure.
3.9
Chapter 3: Navigation
List Route
Clicking
route
on the icon bar brings up a window containing information about the current route, as well as your present latitude and longitude—see Figure 3.4.
Figure 3.4
Three different positions are shown at the top of the window:
DR dead reckoning—calculated from the speed and bearing
received from the instruments
EP estimated position—DR position adjusted for whichever
current is selected in
options
window (see page 3.21).
Use Current
in the
Navigation
PF position as read from the position fixer, usually GPS.
Beneath this is a list of the marks showing on the first line of each entry the range and bearing from either the boat if it is the first waypoint, or from the previous mark. The second line has a letter (either P or S) indicating the direction of rounding, followed by the latitude and longitude of the mark from the waypoint file.
3.10
What If?
This displays all the information you might need for any of the legs of the course, using either the present information from the instrument system, or any other data you enter. This is what is meant by ‘What If?’—you can introduce any wind direction, speed, tidal component, etc. that you like to see what impact it would have on any leg of the course. Choose is shown in Figure 3.5.
The boxes on the left of the window allow you to move between legs of the course:
what if
What If?
from the icon bar to bring up the window—an example
next leg
Previous leg
Present leg
Figure 3.5
3.11
Chapter 3: Navigation
There are three rows of boxes to allow you to control the information used in the What If? calculations (values in the example in brackets):
C to make Course to make to the mark
Left Distance to the mark (2.40)
Middle Bearing to the mark (255°)
Right Automatic update or fixed (A)
grnd wind Ground wind
Left Ground wind speed (19.4)
Middle Ground wind direction (74°)
Right Automatic update or fixed (A)
current Water current flow
Left Water current speed (1.2)
Middle Water current direction (260)
Right Automatic update or fixed (F)
Click on any box to input a value you wish to try. The right hand column of boxes read either F or A and show whether the value has been fixed (F) by your entering a value or is being automatically updated (A) by the instruments. Initially, all will read A but will switch to F if a value is entered. Clicking on the A/F box allows you to switch between your values and those from the instruments.
Note.
Any changes made here affect only the What If? function; they do
not affect the Navigation display.
The bottom part of the display contains the calculated leg information for each tack, or for one tack if it is a free leg:
C to sail
Course to Sail: the course to sail for the indicated leg of the race, allowing for the current. If the leg is not a free leg then optimum or target values are used to calculate the courses for each tack or gybe.
Track direction of the track which the boat makes over the
ground if sailed on the above course.
3.12
What If?
Est VS Estimated Boat Speed; this is a speed through the
water.
AS Estimated Apparent Wind Speed.
AA Estimated Apparent Wind Angle.
TS Estimated True Wind Speed.
TA Estimated True Wind Angle.
Dist Distance to the laylines if the leg is not free; else
blank.
Time Time to the mark, or to the laylines if the leg is not
free.
3.13
Chapter 3: Navigation
Planning
This is Deckman’s optimum route finding program. Planning will give you the quickest route between the two selected marks, given any wind and tide information–see Figure 3.6 in which the optimum route is shown in heavy black, along with arrows representing the current at each point.
Note.
Deckman uses the background chart colour to determine where the land is, so before you choose the that all of the legs of the course for which you want to plan are visible.
Deckman will route around any land that lies in the way.
do isochrones
command, you must zoom so
Figure 3.6
3.14
Planning
Selecting
menu> planning>setup plan
allows you to prepare the variables for the Planning calculation, i.e. select the leg of the course, the start time, wind information and so on (see Figure 3.7 below).
At the top of the window is a box where you can select the leg of the
Figure 3.7
course on which you wish to run the plan—click on the arrow to the right of the presently selected leg to be given a list to choose from (as Deckman assumes all routes to start and finish in the same place, the last option may not be relevant). Click on mark for the present leg. The
Route to finish
reset
to calculate from boat to
check box makes Deckman run through the routing calculations for all the legs of the present course.
Which Wind?
In
you can choose between GRIB wind forecasts (where
you will be prompted to select the correct file; see Chapter 11 for more
3.15
Chapter 3: Navigation
information on these) or a wind table in which you must
predict wind
direction and strength at particular times, as shown in Figure 3.8.
Figure 3.8
Similarly, in
Which Current?
choose what source of current data you wish to use: Deckman's own tidal database, current GRIBs or your own predictions. An additional option will appear if the Local Knowledge server is enabled.
When entering information in the wind or current tables, the following applies: times of predictions should be entered in hours and minutes. If a prediction is 24 hours or more after the previous one, the time must be preceded by a number equal to the number of complete 24 hour periods that have passed since the last entry. Clicking on a value allows you to change it; clicking in the left hand column followed by insert allows you to add new entries. Note that if these tables contain only one entry then the values will be used at all times; if two or more entries exist, Deckman will interpolate between the values, and the times must cover the whole range of time for which you are planning.
3.16
Planning
Note I
f using Deckman tidal database this then please see Tides on page
3.21). If using GRIB forecasts, please see Part 2, Chapter 9.
Selecting further variables—see Figure 3.9. In
configure
from the bottom of the window allows you to set
initial course fan
you can adjust the limits, frequency and number of possible initial course headings to be tried. The left hand side of the fan is automatically set to fifteen degrees left of the bearing between the two marks but can be changed (for example to include possible tidal benefits outside this range) by clicking over the value bringing up the numeric keypad. If the leg is likely to involve tacking or gybing, then the left hand edge should be set to a value at least half your tacking or gybing angle to the left of the course. Starting from this course bearing Planning will calculate the route for all the bearings at intervals equal to the value set in
between steps in fan
and will do the number of calculations set in
angle
Figure 3.9
number of steps in fan.
This should be set so that the Planning calculation goes to a bearing that is at least as far to the right of the course to the mark as the start of the fan is to the left.
Below this you are given the option of setting the date and time of the start of the Planning calculations. You can also select the time interval between steps of the plan and the number of these time steps. Make sure
3.17
Chapter 3: Navigation
that the time interval between steps multiplied by the number of steps gives a time that is at least what you expect the leg to take. Obviously, for longer races the time between steps should be greater; trying to see too many different options at once merely makes things more confusing, not less so!
Once you have setup your plan choose
menu>planning>do isochrones
. You will then see Deckman draw all possible routes, with the optimum shown in red (heavy black line in Figure 3.6). You can then choose to view any or all of wind, current and isochrones by clicking on the following icons on the tool bar.
Show wind—lines point into the wind
Show current
Show isochrones
Show animation— see
Animation
below
edit GRIBs
setup—returns you to the Setup menu to change variables
Once you have a plan in place
menu>planning>optimum details
allows you to view conditions at each time interval during the leg (note that the
time
column here shows you both the day of the month and the
time).
Any number of plans can, and should, be tried to see how the optimum route would change in various different conditions. Then a decision can be made as to the most likely and a route chosen to match.
3.18
Animation
Planning
Clicking the
animation
icon on the tool bar allows you to move along the route and view how the wind or current will change with time. In Figure 3.10, you can see that in the bottom left corner, the date and time the display is illustrating can be seen. The two buttons to the right of this
Figure 3.10
give you the option of viewing either current or wind (usual symbols, see above). Three further buttons allow you a choice of what types of vectors are used: always the arrows point in the direction of flow. For the two arrows (left and middle), the size of the tip is proportional to the speed; for the feathered pointers the number of feathers indicates the rate—for wind one is equivalent to five knots, for tide one equals 1 knot. For each, half feathers represent half the value.
3.19
Chapter 3: Navigation
Edit Marks
The facilities for entering new waypoint sectors and waypoints described in this section are general purpose facilities intended for race or passage preparation. To make changes or additions to the waypoint list choose Marks window appear, as shown in Figure 3.11. The commands in the top right of this window are for editing waypoint areas; those at the bottom left refer to the actual waypoints.
menu>waypoints>edit waypoints
; you will see the Edit
Figure 3.11
To change the name of an area choose will then be prompted to enter a new sector name. Similarly, to add a new sector choose
If you have used the quick route method to create a set of waypoints you
rename
may automatically create a new qkroute area next time the quick route facility is used.
new
and then enter the name.
the qkroute area to your own area name. Deckman will
3.20
rename
when it is selected; you
Tides
To edit a waypoint—either name, short name, latitude or longitude— simply click in the box where you wish to make the change and then use the computer's keyboard. To enter a new waypoint click in the left hand column (the cursor will change to an arrow) on the row where you want to insert the new waypoint and then click the window. A new waypoint with the name 't' will be created; edit name or position as above. Names and positions can also be cut and pasted in the same way.
new
from the bottom left of
Note.
minutes. As always, positive values are North and East; negative are South and West.
Tides
To use the tidal facility in an area that Deckman’s tidal information covers, you have to enter the high water times and heights for the ports near to the area you are sailing in. Select and the dialog shown in Figure
3.12 will appear.
Put the date of the first high water you enter in the enter times and heights click over the value you wish to change and use the computer's keyboard (not the numeric keypad here). To insert additional entries, either between or after those already there, click in the left hand column (headed will see the cursor change to an arrow) at the position you wish to make the entry and then choose
new
column.
Positions are in the form: degrees, minutes and decimals of
menu>planning>edit HW
date
HW ,
. You can also cut and paste the entries by selecting them in the LH
box. To
where you
Figure 3.12
3.21
Chapter 3: Navigation
SHOM tidal information
The SHOM data is split into nine different areas; you will need to obtain the relevant files and release codes from your agent or B&G Ltd before use. The SHOM areas and relevant HW ports are as follows:
Name Areas covered HW ports
BaieDe Seine
Bretagne Nord
Bretagne Sud
49 29 - 49 48 N / 1 46 - 1 03W Cherbourg
49 38.5 – 49 40.8 N / 1 41.25 - 1 34 W Cherbourg
49 16 - 49 47.7 N / 0 19 W - 0 14 E Le Havre
48 36 - 49 09 N / 4 20 - 3 03 W Roscoff
48 35 - 48 58 N / 3 44 - 3 21 W Roscoff
48 48 - 48 51.5 N / 3 29 - 3 22.5 W Roscoff
48 45.7 - 48 46.6 N / 3 36.4 - 3 34.5 W Roscoff
48 37 - 48 46 N / 3 59 - 3 50 W Roscoff
48 42.5 - 48 46.5 N / 4 05 - 3 56 W Roscoff
48 43.4 - 48 43.9 N / 3 59 - 3 58 W Roscoff
48 43 - 48 43.6 N / 3 58.1 - 3 57.01 W Roscoff
46 43 - 47 52 N / 4 30 - 1 53 W Concarneau
47 15 - 47 34.5 N / 3 21 - 2 38 W Port Navalo
47 31 - 47 46 N / 3 36 - 3 18 W Port Tudy
47 38 - 47 54.2 N / 4 11 - 3 49 W Concarneau
Gascogne 42 49 - 48 30 N / 7 30 - 0 45 W Concarneau
Iroise
Normand 48 30 - 50 18 N / 3 10 - 1 20 W St Malo
47 45 - 48 46 N / 5 18 - 4 16 W Brest
48 16 - 48 34 N / 5 09 - 4 38 W Brest
48 00 - 48 50 N / 4 53 - 4 39 W Brest
48 16 - 48 24 N / 4 39 - 4 14 W Brest
48 00 - 51 53 N / 7 00 W - 3 00 E Cherbourg LaManche
49 14 - 50 10.7 N / 1 45 W - 0 24 E Cherbourg
3.22
Tides
Breton
PasDeCala is
Vendee Gironde
49 32 - 49 47 N / 2 20.14 - 1 44 W St Malo
49 21 - 49 30.4 N / 2 34 - 2 14.12 W St Malo
49 05 - 49 14 N / 2 13 - 1 54 W St Malo
48 47 - 49 28.5 N / 2 01 - 1 32 W St Malo
48 37.2 - 48 45.2 N / 2 19.5 - 1 45 W St Malo
48 31.4 - 48 42 N / 2 51 - 2 25.3 W St Malo
48 45.5 - 49 06.5 N / 3 06 - 2 46.3 W Paimpol
50 37 - 51 12 N / 1 00 - 2 25 E Calais
50 43 - 50 49 N / 1 29 - 1 40 E Calais
50 56 - 51 01 N / 1 43 - 1 54 E Calais
51 01 - 51 06 N / 2 05 - 2 26 E Calais
45 15 - 47 20 N / 3 00 - 1 00 W Les Sables
d'Olonne
45 25 - 46 26.74 N / 1 42 - 1 02 W La Rochelle
46 04.73 - 46 10.8 N/ 1 19.21 - 1 06.4W La Rochelle
46 52 - 47 20 N / 2 52.67 - 1 58 W Saint
Nazaire
45 25 - 45 45 N / 1 38 - 1 00 W Pointe De
Grave
Ensuring Deckman is not running, place the relevant file in
files\BandG\deckman\data
directory (where c:\program
c:\program
files\BandG\deckman\) is where you installed the program. The file will be called
SHOM
followed by the name of the area. Start Deckman and
you will be prompted for a 16-digit code.
You can then use the data for the SHOM areas which you have enabled in your planning calculations and so on by entering the times and heights of high water for the relevant ports.
3.23
Chapter 3: Navigation
Tidal currents layer
This allows you to view the predicted tidal currents for a particular area and time on your chart. To use this function, first enter the times and heights of high water in the
menu>layers>general
of the list where you will find followed by screen and possibly some arrows on the navigation display.
The large button in the middle shows the date and time – click in this and enter a new date and time (in the form yymmdd for date and hhmmss for time) on the keypad. You will now see arrows representing tidal current overlaid on the navigation display. You have a choice of arrow types, which is controlled by the three buttons on the bottom left corner. For the two arrows (left and middle), the size of the tip is proportional to the speed; for the feathered pointers the number of feathers indicates the rate— one equals 1 knot.
OK
. A number of buttons will appear at the bottom of the
then click the Dn button to scroll to the bottom
Edit High Water
tidal currents
– click on this to select
dialog; now click
This tidal currents layer can be animated from the start time, and there are a number of buttons to allow you to control this to the left of the box where you entered the start time.
The box immediately to the right of the date/time box shows you the tidal current rate/direction at the position of the cursor. Note that this does not operate when the animation is running.
Options
The controls and information about the tidal currents layer. At the top of this dialog, the display. The colours defined in show changes in current rate, with each colour representing 0.5 of a knot of current. The arrows/tufts. The have across your display in each direction (i.e. entering 20 here will give you a 20 by 20 grid of arrow representing the tidal current).
button brings up a dialog which gives you some additional
Choose
button allows you to control the colours used on the
Scale
density
Custom Colors
box allows you to control the size of the
box allows you control how many arrows you
are used by Deckman to
At the bottom of the showing the reference ports used by the area of the chart currently being
Options
dialogue there is also a drop down list
3.24
displayed. This is an easy way to check you have entered tidal information for all the reference ports you might need.
Navigation options
You have a number of options as to the sources of data you use for your navigation functions in Deckman, such as variation, current/tide, boat position and so on. Hit with the dialog shown in Figure 3.13.
menu>view>options
Navigation options
and you will be presented
Figure 3.13
Variation
Preceding the number with a minus sign will set it to West, a positive
is the magnetic variation for your area in the form dd.d.
3.25
Chapter 3: Navigation
number is variation to the East. Deckman will automatically calculate variation based on your time and position based upon the world magnetic model so you should never really need to change this.
Tide
Bearings
laylines etc are displayed accordingly. This can be extremely useful in areas of the globe where variation changes rapidly such as the Southern Ocean.
You have a choice of different sources of tidal information in Deckman:
Manual
This is simply a manually entered current rate and direction – these are set in the options window. This might be a particularly useful if you have just noticed the current on a buoy as you sailed by.
Measured
Every 2 seconds, Deckman compares the GPS position with the dead reckoned (DR) position, with the difference being due to current effects (and, possibly, calibration errors). The difference is then termed the measured current. This value is then averaged over a time period set in
Current update time
the
can be set to TRUE or MAGNETIC so that all bearings,
current rate
and
box.
direction
boxes at the top of the Navigation
Diamond
Another current which Deckman is constantly updating is referred to as the diamond current: this is calculated every 10 seconds from the tidal database — if the database doesn't cover your area then the calculated values are zero. All the information is controlled by entering times and heights of high water for ports near to where you are sailing, as described in Edit High Water (see page 3.14).
These values may be more steady than the measured current, but it is possible that they are also wrong because of the conditions at any particular time.
3.26
Navigation options
Deckman has the possibility of using tidal information from SHOM, the French Hydrographic office. For this you require additional files and release codes.
If you have the SHOM files, then it is possible that Deckman will have to choose between this and its own database. This is done on the basis of the area covered by the tidal chart with smaller areas preferred as they are assumed to be more accurate.
One thing you need to be aware of if using the SHOM files is that Deckman makes the selection described above regardless of whether there are any high water times entered meaning that, if no HW times are entered for the smallest area at a particular location, then no tidal information will be seen for this area (it will always show 0 for both rate and direction). You must therefore either ensure that HW times are fully entered or you can remove the files – please see Tide files on page 12.7.
If neither of these sources of tidal data cover your patch then B&G can create a personal database if you have the necessary information.
LKCS
The Local Knowledge Current Server covers particular areas, mainly in North America.
Position
Use Position
The present latitude and longitude which is used in all the navigational calculations.
dead rk actually uses the estimated position, which is the
GPS position fixer—usually GPS.
When you switch between Simulation mode and normal use, this will automatically toggle between dead reckoning and GPS. The only time you should have to change the setting here is if your GPS fails, in which case you will want to switch to using Deckman in dead reckoning mode.
option gives you a choice of the source of the yacht’s
dead reckoning position adjusted for current.
3.27
Chapter 3: Navigation
Display options
The following affect only the look of the Navigation window:
Vector scale adjusts the length of the wind vectors
Vector gap sets the gap between the tufts of wind vectors so
If your boat does not appear to be in the right position on the chart, entering a help. A positive value will offset North or East; negative moves position South or West.
GPS offset
that you can see them more clearly.
here (in minutes and decimal minutes) should
Grid layer spacing
overlaid grid.
great circles a great circle is drawn from your present
Latitude circles
Grid layer type
Display time
Choosing e.g. if set to 15 minutes the boat's track (and associated information) is displayed for the previous 15 minutes.
menu>view>display time
allows you to set the distance between lines on an
gives you the following options:
position to the mark, along with lines parallel and perpendicular to this in great circle terms.
grid lines follow latitude in one direction, with equidistant points along these connected in the other direction
allows you to set the track time,
General Layers
Choosing information is displayed on the screen. Any of the following can be selected:
mark laylines shows the laylines from the selected mark
boat laylines displays the yacht's present laylines varying
menu>layers>general
allows you to determine what
3.28
General Layers
with wind, tide and tacking angle.
shoreline Deckman can provide a simple shoreline if chart
coverage for a particular area is poor.
digital chart allows you to see present position against a
chart—almost always left on.
North displays a north arrow in the top left hand
corner of the screen.
Wind shows a tuft of wind arrows at intervals along
the boat's track. The direction of the arrows indicates the true wind direction and their lengths indicate true wind speed. Note that the lines point into the wind.
DR track shows the track of the boat calculated from
Dead Reckoning, not including the current.
PF track shows the track of the boat given by the position
fixing system, usually GPS.
Course marks displays the waypoints that are a part of the
course that fall within the geographical boundaries of the window.
other marks displays in the window every mark in the
waypoint file that comes within the geographical boundaries of the window’s display.
GRIB view ignore this setting (it should remain turned on).
Please see page 9.1 for details of operation of the GRIB viewer feature.
boat shows the present position of the boat.
join waypoints
connects waypoints for present route by a great circle
isochrones gives you the option of having the toolbar icons
for Planning displayed at the top of the Navigation screen. Most useful if left on, but turn off to remove isochrones when you have finished using Planning.
3.29
Chapter 3: Navigation
grid layers displays grid layers.
course line two lines will be displayed when this is turned
limits laylines lets you see the extent of variation in the mark
Competitors shows the positions of your competitors, if this
on: the solid line shows the course over ground as read from the GPS; the dashed line is the course through the water (i.e. heading plus leeway, without the effects of current).
laylines for the last fifteen minutes. The appearance and time interval can be changed as per page 12.6
feature has been setup as described in Chapter
10.
Chart options
Though Deckman will work with a wide range of both raster and vector charts, you are only able to select from one of the following columns:
C-MAP Version C-Map vector charts Maptech (BSB), PCX, Reml raster charts
These two options work slightly differently in Deckman, so please make sure you refer to the correct section below.
The Deckman display will normally switch between the different loaded charts automatically depending on the scale and the extent to which you are zoomed in. However, you may wish to override this automatic switching and are able to specify Maptech charts to be used in preference to others. Select then check the this feature off again, repeat the above and clear the box. The
Maptech chart outlines
loaded Maptech charts without actually using them.
Use Maptech charts in preference to others.
Euronav Version Livechart vector charts ARCS raster charts Maptech (BSB), PCX, Reml raster charts
menu>charts>use Maptech charts
function allows you to view the positions of the
and
To turn
Show
3.30
Chart Layers
This is where you can control which layers are turned on or off on your vector charts. The procedures for C-Map charts and Livecharts are slightly different, so make sure you refer to the correct section below.
C-Map
Chart Layers
Select dialog (see Figure 3.14) which allows you to choose which layers you wish to see shown on your display.
menu>charts>chart settings
and you will be presented with a
Livecharts
Note.
dongle type.
For an old style, Livechart-only dongle (serial number beginning 1071) choose
The way you turn layers on and off here will depend on your
menu>layers
Figure 3.14
and then one of the following options:
3.31
Chapter 3: Navigation
Hydrographic shows a dialog with standard hydrographic
Livechart shows all of the layers which are available on
With the new style dongle (S/N beginning 2071), all chart layers are turned on or off by choosing selected here apply across all charts.
menu>charts>colour
The appearance of you charts.
layers. Once selected, these remain selected across all the Livecharts as the charts scale and positions change.
the currently loaded Livechart. The layers will vary from chart to chart. Select layers here for fine control of layer visibility for a particular chart.
menu>charts>chart settings
. Layers
option gives you additional controls over the
Chart interaction
Note.
This function applies only to the new style dongle (serial number beginning 2071). Chart interaction works by turning off the Deckman navigational layers and giving you access to the additional features of the charting kit. It is best used by turning it on for a specific reason (for example to select a particular chart to use) and then turned straight off again.
Click
menu>charts>chart interaction
to turn on this feature which
gives you additional controls over your charts. If you now select
menu>charts
you will see the option
select chart
. Choosing this will present you with a 'tree list' allowing you to select any installed chart to view. With chart interaction turned on you can use the left mouse button to zoom in on a particular chart (by clicking in the coloured box outlining it) or zoom out by a scale factor using the right mouse button.
For further information on the functions here choose
gmenu>Help>Chart System Help.
3.32
Zoom
Selecting any of the following from the icon bar—or choosing
menu>zoom
of the display:
Zoom
and then the required option— allows you to alter the scale
this leg displays the whole leg from the previous
waypoint to current waypoint.
from boat to mark
on boat allows you to view a specified range
whole route zooms to allow you to see all the
Chart zoom in
Chart zoom out
zoom full chart/ zoom out
displays the remaining distance from the yacht’s position to the buoy.
around the boat with the boat in the centre of the display. The boat will automatically be re-centred when it has moved 20% of the distance towards the edge of the display.
waypoints in the current route
click and drag to select the area to zoom in on.
click and drag: the present view will be shrunk into the position of the rectangle.
Euronav: zooms to the full extent of the loaded chart. C-Map: click to zoom out.
Last zoom zooms to the previous scale/area
Next zoom zooms to the next scale/area; will only
Pan allows you to 'move' the chart keeping it
Chart zoom
1:1
work if the used.
at the same scale.
when using raster charts (ARCS, BSB, PCX) this function allows you to zoom to the scale at which the chart was scanned.
3.33
last zoom
button has been
Chapter 3: Navigation
Note.
display will not update (e.g. the yacht's position). However, these functions will automatically turn themselves off if left inactive for 15 seconds.
Whilst the zoom in, zoom out and pan functions are turned on, the
Special chart views
Images as charts
It is possible to use any .jpg or .gif image instead of a chart as your ‘background’ in the Navigation window of Deckman. There are a number of reasons why this might be useful, for example if you do not have appropriate digital charts for your area or, and especially in long ocean races, you wish to use specialist weather or tidal charts.
Select file, followed by reminding you that you must geo-reference your image up to three times. Geo-referencing is simply telling Deckman which positions on the image refer to which geographical positions; see below for details on the process in Deckman. Click you to choose the type of projection of your image:
menu>charts>use image as chart
Open
. You will then be presented with a dialog
and then browse to the correct
OK
and the next dialog you see allows
Equidistant
Mercator vertical meridians but lines of latitude space
Polar stereographic
Pick the correct one, followed by
The geo-referencing process then involves entering the latitude and longitude of known positions on the image. After you have selected the type of projection above, the cursor will appear as a cross with the number ‘1’ beside it – click at a known position on the image and enter the lat/long in the dialog (as always in Deckman, North/East are
meridians are vertical and lines of latitude are equally spaced
more widely towards the poles
meridians are straight lines from poles – usually used for geostationary satellite images
OK
.
3.34
Special chart views
positive, South/West as negative) followed by the cursor changes to a ‘2’ and you repeat the above process (possibly twice more).
Note.
accuracy.
Once you have completed geo-referencing (a dialog will pop up telling you when this is the case), Deckman operates as normal, except that the only ‘chart’ you use is the image you have chosen.
To exit this feature and return to normal charting, select
menu>charts>use image as chart
You are still able to use the zoom in/out tools to increase
Warp image
This function allows you to manipulate your chart so that a great circle route is changed from being curved (as usual in Deckman) to being a straight line. This is particularly useful in a long race (and especially with the ‘Competitors’ feature – see page Chapter 10), as it allows you to get a proper idea of who is ahead/behind with respect to a certain waypoint or the finish.
followed by
OK
. The number beside
Cancel
.
For example, you could convert the image shown in Figure 6.15 to that in Figure 6.16, in which the great circle route from Land’s End to New York is shown straight.
Select dialog reminding you how this feature operates; click then select two points on the display – the first will be shown at the top of the screen and is the centre of the projection while the second will be shown directly below it. Before you select the points, hit the
options
lines and spacing you want to have displayed on the warped image: you can choose to have the grid centred on different points with different meridian and parallel spacing:
menu>chart>warp image
button (shown left) at the top of the display to choose what grid
Off No grid
North pole Grid based on the North pole; will be the
same as normal lat/long grid
and you will be presented with a
OK
. You must
grid
3.35
Chapter 3: Navigation
Current waypoint Meridians from the current waypoint, parallel
Projected centre Meridians from the projection centre (the
lines at equal distance from the current waypoint.
first point you select), parallel lines at equal distance from the projection.
Note.
Hint
since this gives you 18 meridians 20° apart. The parallel spacing depends very much on how far apart the two points you choose are – see below.
You then pick two points and the image is warped so that the great circle route between the two points is represented as straight and the chart is altered to accommodate this. You cannot zoom out beyond what is shown on the chart at the time you select points you wish to select are visible. You can zoom in to position them, however.
The spacing units are in degrees and decimals (ddd.dd).
. For meridian spacing, something like 20° is usually appropriate,
warp image
so make sure both
3.36
Special chart views
Think carefully about what you are trying to see from your projection, and choose the points and grid options accordingly, since it is possible to get some very useful information from the resulting images. For example, on a long race but with the fleet in a close area you may wish to see who is ahead/behind with respect to the finish. For this you would have the grid based on the current waypoint (assuming this is the finish) but then have close parallel spacing, and pick two points at either end of the fleet.
Figure 3.15
Figure 3.16
3.37
Chapter 4 : Start display
Deckman incorporates a display for use specifically when starting a race. With the position of the two ends of the start line entered, Deckman will give you the distance and time to each from the boat's current position, and will also display the current laylines and line bias.
Special chart views
Clicking on Figure 4.1; the direction of start is always from the bottom of the diagram to the top, so that the port or pin end of the line is to the left and the starboard or committee boat end is on the right. The line above the start line indicates the present line bias—it is drawn from whichever end of the line is favoured, the port end in the diagram. The pairs of lines drawn from each end of the line are the laylines.
start
on the icon bar will give you a starting display as in
Figure 4.1
4.1
Chapter 4: Start display
Start information
The Start display contains a Data bar similar to that in the main Navigation where you can view any data variables you choose. When the Start display is open, select This data bar then operates in exactly the same way as the Navigation data bar (see page 1.1 for details).
At the top of the display in the centre are two numbers: the one on top shows the perpendicular distance from the bow to the line (in the presently selected units, metres or boat lengths, see below) whilst underneath is shown the countdown to the start. The other numbers at the top of the display show (from left to right) distance and time: to the port end of the line, to the intersection of the start line with a starboard tack layline drawn from the boat's present position, to the intersection of the start line with a port tack layline drawn from the boat and to the starboard end of the line.
menu>Databar
to toggle this on or off.
The figures at the bottom of the display show the following:
LL Bearing down the left layline, adjusted for current
LineWD line wind direction, i.e. the wind direction required
for the line to be neutral
BiasG the distance in the presently selected units (see
below) which the line bias is worth
BiasA the angle of line bias, along with the favoured side (P
or S)
LR Bearing down the right layline, adjusted for current
Distances (D) can be given either in metres (in which case an 'm' will be shown after the D, as in the diagram) or boatlengths (which must be set, see Start options on page 4.6). To switch between the two, choose
menu>toggle units.
time: if a 'B' follows the 'T' then the times are presented as "time to burn", i.e. the difference between the time remaining and the time it will take to cross the line. Obviously, this will only be displayed if the countdown has started. Choose these time formats.
There are also two possible ways of viewing the
menu>toggle time
to change between
Note
. ‘Time to burn’ will appear as negative if you are late for the start!
4.2
Setting the start
Setting the start
Clicking on
Set port end (see below)
Set port + lee sets the port end of the line and the
Set starboard end (see below)
laser port end sets the port end of the line using a laser
laser port + lee sets the port end of the line and the
laser starboard end sets the starboard end of the line using a
Set windward/leeward (see below)
menu
allows you to set the position of the line:
Set port/starboard
leeward mark to the position of the boat
range finder
leeward mark using a laser range finder
laser range finder
When you select either choice of the following (note that the text assumes you are setting the position of the port end for ease of reading)
PING port move the buoy to the position of the bow of
nudge (+upwind, –downwind)
line bearing from stbd end
line length from the stbd end
set port
the boat.
move the buoy a distance specified in metres either upwind (a positive number) or downwind (a negative number). The direction of movement is at right angles to the present line.
sets the port end of the line by bearing from the starboard end. Line length remains the same and the line is rotated about the starboard end.
specify the line length in metres. Line bearing remains the same and the port end is moved to give the required length.
set starboard
or
you will be given a
4.3
Chapter 4: Start display
by lat, long specify the position by entering latitude and
check port displays a dialog to show the history of
check port
The
option brings up the following dialog shown in Figure
4.2 giving you a history of adjustments to the end of the line, and allows you to undo changes.
move m
The
column shows the distance in metres of each adjustment; the most recent is on the top row. adjustment from the previous buoy position; the start line; and
line WD
longitude
adjustments to this end of the line – see below.
brg
shows the bearing of each
length m
is the length of
is the line wind direction i.e. the wind
Figure 4.2
direction for the line to be neutral.
Use
Undo
and
Redo
to move the buoy back to a previous position.
4.4
Set windward/leeward
windward/leeward
The
option brings up the following dialog:
Figure 4.3
Set windward/leeward
This allows you to set up a windward / leeward course and start line (see Figure 4.3). The three boxes allow you to set the bearing of the windward mark from the leeward mark, the distance from the start to the leeward mark and the distance from the leeward mark to the windward mark. At the bottom of the box you must choose where on the start line the bearing is taken from.
4.5
Figure 4.4
Chapter 4: Start display
Start options
In the Start display, selecting of the boat in order to show distances in boat lengths and the
bow
distance, for users with a laser rangefinder version of Deckman.
This box also provides a choice of fonts for the start display.
Beam (ft) (ft)
specifies the distance from the GPS antenna to the centre line of the
specifies the total beam of the boat in feet, and
boat in feet. For monohulls these will generally be zero but if distances are specified then Deckman will shift the position of the boat (and hence all the calculation of times and distances) to the bow of the float or hull which is nearest to the start line (an approximation is made in that it is assumed that the lengths of all hulls are the same).
Start countdown
Hitting countdown for the start, as shown in Figure 4.5
menu>start countdown
menu>options
brings a dialog controlling the
allows you to set the length
Laser to
Multihull
GPS to CL
Figure 4.5
Click on the box at the top and enter the time (format mmss), then
START
. The
Sync timer
option allows you to force the time to the nearest minute if you miss the signal slightly initially. Once a countdown has started, the
Continue
button will change to
reset
allowing you to begin the countdown again from the time specified in
Countdown time
the
box. Once the countdown reaches zero, Deckman will automatically rollover into a new countdown beginning from the time specified in the
Countdown time
box. After this, if you hit
4.6
Hold wind
menu>start countdown
available – this allows you to pick up Deckman's rolling countdown, particularly useful if there is a general recall or for practising starts.
For users with a B&G instrument system, it is possible to show the countdown timer as normal on the displays.
For users of the B&G WTP, the in the start display allows you to turn the settings for the start on or off on the FFDs and 20/20s. See your WTP manual for further details on this.
Hold wind
This function allows you to temporarily ‘hold’ or fix the wind speed and direction. This is particularly useful since, during the manoeuvring of a start, the wind information can sometimes become confused. Holding the data allows you to more accurately pick laylines and times to the line.
, you will see that the
menu>toggle instruments
Continue
option when
button is
Figure 4.6
In the Start display, select with the dialog shown in Figure 4.5. The present value for TWS and TWD is shown in the box when the values are those which you want to hold the wind on (for example when holding the boat head to wind) and/or input your own
menu>hold wind
latest
column. You can either check the
and you will be presented
Hold On
4.7
Chapter 4: Start display
values by hitting S for TWS or D for TWD. To stop holding the wind and revert back to the incoming data, simply hit
wind
(or hit
menu>hold wind
Wind calibration
During the start, it is likely that you will have different sails up to what you would have usually. In addition, the way you have the boat setup, for example runner tension, may be different. Consequently, the required wind calibrations will be different. When the start display is in use, Deckman therefore uses separate wind calibration tables.
and uncheck the
menu>toggle start
Hold on
box).
With the Start display open, select
wind angle
The operation of these is then exactly the same as the normal calibration tables (see page 8.1).
Note.
you make changes to the normal calibration tables, these will not be reflected in the appropriate start tables.
Because Deckman uses different calibration tables in the start, if
start adjust wind speed
or
Advanced options
Often during the start the boat will not be facing in the direction of the start line and also may not be sailing at full speed. Deckman therefore allows you to predict your rate of turn and acceleration times, and then factors these in to predictions about time to the line.
Two additional files must be added to the
Deckman files timetospeed.d
below.
chapter):
is the acceleration. A sample and explanation of each is
rateofturn.d
menu
followed by either
to access the relevant tables.
data
directory (see the
specifies the rate of turn and
start adjust
Rate of turn
In the second for different boat speeds. Obviously these will never be exactly the same, but some sensible estimate here is likely to make Deckman predictions in the Start display more accurate.
rateofturn.d
file you predict your rate of turn in degrees per
4.8
The format of the file is as follows
Vs RoT
24
612 10 15 12 20 15 20
where Vs is boat speed and RoT is rate of turn.
Acceleration
timetospeed.d
The the theory behind this, though don’t worry if you don’t want to read it. The acceleration times here are based on the wind angle at which you are sailing, starting from your present TWA, and Deckman calculates the change in the wind angle based on the rate of turn specified in
rateofturn.d
acceleration, so that the times specified in the file should be those to go from a slow speed to somewhere close to target upwind speeds.
. Deckman uses a logarithmic function to calculate the
Advanced options
file allows you to predict your acceleration. A bit on
In practice, the times you enter in the time taken to get from a ‘slow’ speed for the conditions to somewhere near upwind target speed and, again, some reasonable value here is likely to be better than none.
A sample file:
TWA T
020 40 40 80 35
120 30 160 30 180 35
where TWA is true wind angle and T is time.
timetospeed.d
file should be the
4.9
Chapter 4: Start display
The result
If you have both the
rateofturn.d
and
timetospeed.d
files, Deckman will incorporate the predictions here into the Start display calculations and will draw the relevant curves for these turns on the Start display, as shown in Figure 4.7.
Figure 4.7
You can see the faint straight line from the front of the boat, and three slightly heavier lines, which represent the projected track if the boat turns according to your predictions. You can see that, in the example, there are 3 possibilities for where these lines meet the start line depending on which way the yacht turns.
In the data bar in the example, you can see that there are four variables shown. These are the times to reach the start line on either tack, and turning either up or down wind. The meanings of the four possibilities are:
4.10
Advanced options
Variable Meaning Position on
Figure 4.7
S_APortDn Arriving at the line on
3 37
Time in
Figure 4.7
port, turning downwind
S_APortUp Arriving at the line on
2 17
port, turning upwind
S_ASbdDn Arriving at the line on
starboard, turning
(not
calculated)
(not
calculated)
downwind
S_AStbdUp Arriving at the line on
1 20 starboard, turning upwind
Units here are mmss.
Note.
As you can see in the example above, some of the advanced start variables may not be calculated depending on your position and heading in relation to the line.
It is interesting to compare the difference between these numbers and those for the times to reach the line without the rate of turn/acceleration tables (i.e. those represented in the
Dm
and T rows above the start
diagram.
4.11
Chapter 5 : Data
There are a number of different facilities in Deckman for viewing and analysing data from the past performance of the boat. All of the data features are based on two separate data storage facilities. The first of these stores data averaged over one second for a week’s worth of use of Deckman, which gives 168 hours of use. Secondly, data is averaged over a minute for a year’s worth of use, or 8760 hours.
Time plot
Time plot
At all times while it is running, Deckman saves a selection of data in its own database. The variables it saves are a subset of those in (page 5.4). The data are averaged during a period of 12 seconds before
Show Data
Figure 5.1
5.1
Chapter 5: Data
saving, and the database has room for 12 hours of information.
Selecting which allows you to view any of the stored data as a time series plot. Clicking on a variable in the left hand window sends it to
variables.
selected all the variables you wish to plot, choose OK to draw the graph. Figure 5.1 shows an example plotting boat speed (VS) and true wind speed (TS).
Recent data is shown on the right hand side as is customary and the graph will move to the left as time progresses. On the right hand side the short labels for each variable are shown, along with the present value. The ranges of each variable are shown at the top and bottom of each plot and can be altered by clicking on them. This brings up the numeric keypad. The time period—shown in the bottom left—can be changed in the same way; the new time should be entered in minutes. Click and drag on the display to bring up a horizontal measuring line; the corresponding numbers are shown in red beneath the short name in place of the present value. When on starboard tack a thick black line is drawn across the bottom of each plot.
new time plot
Clicking on the right window deselects. When you have
from the
data
menu will display a window
Selected
Note.
or course then you can specify a lower limit at the top of the plot than at the bottom, so that you can get a sensible plot when the data are varying around North, e.g. you could specify 340° to 20°.
If you are plotting a circular variable such as true wind direction
Wind Plot
This display is specifically for monitoring the history of the wind. The graphs are plotted vertically with the most recent information at the top, which is unusual; the advantage given by this kind of plot is that the changes in true wind direction can be related to the yacht’s heading— when the wind is in the right the graph is also in the right. The true wind speed is then plotted vertically also so that you can look for correlations between the wind direction and wind speed—does the wind tend to go to the right in the puffs?
5.2
Wind Plot
Choose example is shown in Figure 5.2. The line down the centre of each graph shows you the average or mean value calculated over the time period of the graph. The value of the mean is shown at the top of the display with the m appended to it (225° and 10.2 in the example); the other number is the present value (222° and 9.3). As time progresses the graph moves down and across the display so that it stays centred with respect to the mean. So a glance at this display will tell you immediately whether the wind is lifted or headed compared to the longer trend. You will notice that the direction is still displayed correctly even when it is varying around North. When you are on starboard an extra vertical line is drawn against the left hand boundary of the display.
data>wind plot
from the icon bar to see the wind plot—an
Figure 5.2
The three buttons at the bottom of the display control the appearance of the graph: the button on the left specifies the range for the display of the true wind direction across the whole graph (40° in the example, i.e. 20°
5.3
Chapter 5: Data
each side of the mean); the button on the right specifies the range for true wind speed; and the middle button shows the time for the plot, and therefore the period for the averages. The graphs will be redrawn after changes to these values. When you change the time period for the plot the new time should be specified in minutes.
Data Log
Deckman contains very flexible reporting options. The user can create a number of different logging files and control the output of data to each; for each file, the user can set up different time frames and then specify what variables to be put out into the file at these times (sometimes with a choice of formats). You can individually switch the output to these files on and off.
For example, suppose you were in a long race. You could have one file which acts as a log and on the quarter hour puts out the time, latest position and average wind speed and direction during the quarter; on the hour records average boat performance information; and on the change of day inserts an extra line giving the date. Information would go out to this file continually.
A second file could be used for detailed performance information: it might record average boat speed, VMC speed, course, wind speed and angle during a 15 second period and output would be switched on and off as required.
The logging facilities can be controlled in two ways. By far the simplest is to use the Alternatively (and this is only recommended for advanced users) it is possible to edit the script file REPORT.D directly (see ‘Using the script file’ below).
Edit Logs
facility (see ‘Using Edit Logs’ below).
The files for data logging are entered onto the data menu accessed via the icon (shown left). When they have a check mark (tick) beside them then logging is active for that file. Clicking with the left mouse button will toggle the output on or off. When turned on, log files are written out to the Log subdirectory.
5.4
Using Edit Logs
Data Log
Clicking
Data>Edit log report
the log files (see Figure 5.3).
… allows you to control the outputs to
Figure 5.3
The left pane consists of a tree diagram which shows the different log files (
first.log
and
second.log
in the example) and for each log file the different time frames (in the form hhhhmmss, but this need not be complete — see example below). In the example there are three time frames in
first.log
which would operate as follows:
99990000 This long time frame serves to put out
information every time the program is started.
240000 This puts out the specified variables every 24
hours (at midnight)
1500 This outputs data every 15 minutes.
New log files can be added by clicking prompted to enter a file name, and then either confirm with
Add File
when you will be
OK
(which creates a new log file with no time frames or outputs specified; you then enter your own information as described below) or click on
Parameter Setup
, which allows you to set up a simple log file. With the
Quick
Quick option, you will be prompted to enter a time frame. A log file is then created with two time frames: the time frame you specified controls the output of data, and a long time frame is automatically inserted which
5.5
Chapter 5: Data
causes the variable name to be written out every time you start Deckman.
Note.
with one time for the output of data, which matches the ‘header’ created by the long time frame. However, once this file is created, it is possible to edit it as normal (see below) but doing so will mean that the variable names may no longer match with the data.
New time frames are added by clicking on be prompted to enter the required time frame (in the form hhhhmmss); this sets up a new time frame and returns you to the main window where you add the required information in the right pane, as described below.
Clicking on one of the time frames will bring up information in the right pane which relates to that time frame. The operation of the right pane is then as follows: text contained by chevrons (< and >) indicates variables to be written out (normal text will simply be written out as is). Right clicking in this frame will bring up a list of variables. Right clicking on a variable presents you with a menu: clicking change to another variable; the other options here allow you to control whether outputs are as an If you have a log file running, you can manually add comments by clicking you wish to add the comment to and input the text in the right pane.
Creating a Quick log file allows you to establish a simple log file
Average
File>Add Entry to Log
Add Interval
Change…
value calculated over the whole time.
. In the left pane you then select the file
when you will
allows you
Using the script file
The alternative method of controlling output is through the use of a script file. The script file is called REPORT.D and it can be found in the DATA subdirectory. Output files automatically go into the LOG
subdirectory. Any text editor such as Notepad can be used to edit °°The script file recognizes single letter codes preceded by a full stop (period) as special fields. All other characters are output as is. The code meanings are:
.F at the beginning of a line a new file: the following
word is taken as a file name, and that can be optionally followed by the word ON to automatically turn on output to this file on program start up.
IMPORTANT: the maximum number of files is 16.
5.6
Data Log
.Ihhhhmmss at the beginning of the line creates a new time
frame: the digits immediately following give the time interval for output (the time formatting need not be complete). All lines until the next .I, .F or file end are taken to belong to this time frame. The minimum time interval is 10 seconds.
.P position in the format:
ddmm.mmmN[S] dddmm.mmmE[W]
.C position in the format:
[-]d.ddddddd,[-]d.ddddddd—the first number is latitude and they are comma separated so that position is easier to import into a spreadsheet. Negative is West or South.
.D date as dd/mm/yy
.N date as mm/dd/yy
.T time as hhmmss
.Ann Average of the nnth variable during the time
interval
.Lnn final value of the nnth variable at the end of
the time interval
The variate numbers can be read in the file J_VARS.D (please note that any editing of this file directly should only be undertaken if you are confident you know what you are doing).
Example:
F first.log ON .I99990000 log file for the yacht Jabberwocky .I240000 date .D .I1500 position .P at time .T .F second.log .I15 .T course .L5 vs .A1 TWS .A9 TWD .A7
5.7
Chapter 5: Data
There are two files in the example: first.log and second.log. First.log has its output turned on immediately on startup because ON follows the filename. It has three time frames: the first is very long and serves to send a title message every time the program is started; the second just puts out the date every 24 hours (at midnight), and every 15 minutes position and time are recorded.
A single line is written to second.log every 15 seconds; the names of the variates are written out along with their values.
Boat parameters
Deckman allows you to keep a record of different parameters which might affect boat performance. Hit will be presented with the Figure 5.4. The first column is the name of all the parameters currently entered in the system, the second column lists the present values and the third shows the last time the value of this parameter was changed.
data>setup boat params
Boat Parameters
and you
window, like that shown in
Figure 5.4
5.8
Boat parameters
The buttons along the bottom of the grid serve the following functions:
Takes you to the previous change of parameter value
Takes you to the next change of parameter value
Takes you to the present parameter value
Click on the where you can input text to make notes, and change the time if you wish. Note, however, that you can only input a time after the most recent parameter change.
Add Note
button and you will be presented with a dialog
Setup boat params
To add parameters (and parameter values for Named parameters), or to change the value of any parameter click on the and you will be presented with the shown in Figure 5.5
To add a new parameter, click the with a wizard to enter the new parameter name, type and values (for Named parameters).
To edit an existing parameter, select it in the table and then click on the
Edit Parameters
Setup Boat Parameters
New
button. You will be presented
dialog, as
button
Figure 5.5
5.9
Chapter 5: Data
Edit
button. This allows you to rename an existing parameter or to add values for a Named parameter. Note that you are unable to change the data type, or to rename or delete existing values for Named parameters.
To change the value of an existing parameter use the column; for the dropdown list, for value in the box. You can manually enter the time in the box in the bottom of the window. Note that you can only make changes after the time of the most recent change of parameters.
Once you have made all the changes you wish, click the and the changes will be see in the main
Tests
From the will be presented with a dialog allowing you to allocate a
Start
after it has been started. When you start or end a test here, a note automatically gets added; this is to make it easier to find tests when scrolling in the
Named
Boat Parameters
and add a
Note
Boat Parameters
New Value
parameters you simply select the new value from
Integer
window, click the
to a test, and then to either
Continuous
or
window.
parameters you enter the
Boat Parameters
Tests…
End
Confirm
window.
button and you
Abort
or
button
Name
a test
, to
5.10
Extract logged data
This facility allows you to export Deckman’s logged data for analysis in another program.
Extract logged data
Select window like that shown in Figure 5.6:
data>extract logged data
and you will be presented with a
Figure 5.6
In the either specified time period or certain tests. To specify a select a value and then use the arrow keys to change, or use the drop­down menu for selecting the date. To extract data from certain select this option and then hit the
Test
will be shown, along with the parameters. Check the ones you want followed by the selection, hit Go. The output file is a .csv file by default with numbers
When to Extract…
dialog, select your start and end dates and all the tests in that period
OK
– the selected tests will be listed with checked boxes in
Extract Logged Data
column, you can choose to extract data for
Time Period
Tests
Test details
window. When you are happy with your
5.11
button. In the
Choose
,
Chapter 5: Data
separated by TAB characters, and you can specify the name and the location using the box and/or browse button at the bottom right of the window.
Speed Test
This feature allows you to analyse data from your speed tests.
Select that shown in Figure 5.7 (except that there will be no data plotted on the graph). If you know the date of the tests you require, select the date in the down list. If you do not know the exact date of the tests you require, hit the browse button, shown left. In the start and end dates and all the tests in that period will be shown, along with the parameters. Check the ones you want followed by two tests you select will be shown in the
Note
the most recent selections will be used.
Note.
tests in the dates you specify are available from the drop-down menus until you specify different dates.
When you have selected the correct tests hit the Deckman will plot the graph for TWA and TWS, as shown in Figure
5.7.
data>Speed Test
Test 1
If you select more than two tests in the
Once you have used the
or
Test 2
, and you will be presented with a window like
box, and then select the correct test from the drop-
Choose Test
Test 1
Choose Test
dialog, select your
OK
– the
Test 2
and
Choose Test
dialog once, then all the
boxes.
dialog, then
Compare
button.
5.12
Figure 5.7
Speed Test
Use the TWS-TWA plot to confirm that you have selected the correct tests, or that the data is suitable for comparison. You can then select any of the other tabs at the top of the display to see the other pages, which are all based on the 3-dimensional graph
VS-3D
, an example of which is shown in Figure 5.8. You can click and drag anywhere on the plot to move the 3D graph to assist you in seeing different areas.
VS-TWA
The
tab brings up a plot of boat speed against TWA, as
illustrated in Figure 5.9.
Figure 5.8
5.13
Chapter 5: Data
Using either the number box or slider to the right of
TWS
, you can alter the true wind speed and Deckman will move the data points along the surface. In the bottom left of the plot, you can choose either VS or
Figure 5.9
VMG
, allowing you to view either straight boat speed or VMG plotted
against TWA.
VS-TWS
The
page works exactly the same way, except that you are
only able to adjust values of TWS.
Averages
The
tab shows you a plot of Deckman’s analysis of which test is favoured. There is a vertical bar representing each test, with whichever is highest being favoured. Again here, you can change the value of TWS at the bottom of the display. In addition, you can use the controls to the left of the display to make VMC comparisons – select the
VMC
box and then enter a value or use the slider to set the angle of the
course off the wind (0 is upwind, 180 downwind).
5.14
Show Data
This button brings up a simple list of all the variables on the system, allowing you to see their present value. The abbreviations are as follows (those in italics are for two boat testing and are therefore not relevant to most users).
Show Data
Note.
place in this manual, please consult the index for an explanation where necessary.
Since many of these variables are referred to in more than one
Hl Heel Heel
VS Boatspeed Boat speed
AA AW_Angle Apparent Wind Angle
AS AW_Speed Apparent Wind Speed
Le Leeway Leeway
Cs Course Course (including leeway)
Hd Heading Heading
TD TW_Dirn True Wind Direction
TA TW_Angle True Wind Angle
TS TW_Speed True Wind Speed
GWD GW_Dirn Ground Wind Direction
GWS GW_Speed Ground Wind Speed
Ts Orig_TWS Uncorrected True Wind Speed
Ta Orig_TWA Uncorrected True Wind Angle
Td Orig_TWD Uncorrected True Wind Direction
wdo TWD_Off True Wind Direction Offset
VG VMG Velocity Made Good
SOG Ext_SOG External Speed over the Ground
(from the position fixer)
COG Ext_COG External Course over the Ground
(from the position fixer)
5.15
Chapter 5: Data
VMC Ext_VMC Velocity Made Good to the Course
OVC Opt_VMC Theoretical boat speed for Optimum
COC Cse_OVMC Course to sail for the theoretical
TS Vs_target Boat speed Target from the
T% Vs_targ% Percentage of Performance Polar
AT TWA_targ True Wind Angle Target
PPV Vs_Perf Polar Boat speed from the
calculated from Ext_SOG and Ext_COG (from the position fixer)
Velocity Made Good to the Course
Optimum VMC
Performance Polar
Target Boat speed Achieved
Performance Polar
PP% Vs_Perf% Percentage of Performance Polar
Boat speed Achieved
PNV Vs_nav Polar Boat speed from the
Navigation Polar
PN% Vs_nav% Percentage of Navigation Polar Boat
speed Achieved
BM Brg_o_Mrk Bearing of the Mark
DM Dst_t_Mrk Distance to the Mark
TM Tm_t_Mrk Time to the Mark
CrR Curr_Rate Current Rate
CrD Curr_Dir Current Direction
MCR MCur_Rate Measured Current Rate
MCD MCur_Dir Measured Current Direction
DCR DCur_Rate Diamond Current Rate
DCD DCur_Dir Diamond Current Direction
LCR LCur_Rate Local Knowledge Current Rate
LCD LCur_Dir Local Knowledge Current Direction
5.16
Show Data
MOB ManOvrBrg Man overboard bearing
MOR ManOvrRng Man overboard range
OHl O_Hl Other boat's heel
OVS O_Boatspd Other boat's speed
OCs O_Course Other boat's course
OTD O_TW_Dirn Other boat's true wind direction
OTA O_TW_angle Other boat's true wind angle
OTS O_TW_speed Other boat's true wind speed
DHl Hl-OHl Difference in heel
DVS VS-OVS Difference in boatspeed
DCs Cse-OCse Difference in course
DTD TWD-OTWD Difference in true wind direction
DTA TWA-OTWA Difference in true wind angle
DTS TWS-OTWS Difference in true wind speed
OBR OBRnge Range of other boat
OBB OBBrg Bearing of other boat
ORW OBRngW Other boat range, resolved in
direction of the wind
ORM OBRngM Other boat range, resolved in
direction of the mark
OGW OBRngMW Change in other boat range,
resolved in direction of the wind; units metres per minute
OGM OBRngMM Change in other boat range,
resolved in direction of the mark; units metres per minute
ODC OBDMC Change in other boat range,
resolved in the direction of the course of the boat; units metres
5.17
Chapter 5: Data
ODO OBDMOC Change in other boat gauge,
Dep Depth Depth
DOS DST_STRB Distance on left layline from mark
TOS TM_STRB Time on left layline from mark
DOP DST_PORT Distance on right layline from mark.
TOP TM_PORT Time on port layline from mark
UTC GGAUTC Time in seconds since midnight
SVA GGASVA First digit – number of satellites,
resolved in the direction perpendicular to the course of the boat; units metres
(0000 hours) UTC.
next three digits – age of GPS fix in seconds.
QHD GGAQHD First digit – quality of GPS fix, next
three digits – HDOP in metres.
APD S_APortDn Advanced start option: arriving at
line on port, turning downwind
APU S_APortUp Advanced start option: arriving at
line on port, turning upwind.
ASD S_AStbdDn Advanced start option: arriving at
line on starboard, turning downwind
ASU S_APortUp Advanced start option: arriving at
line on starboard, turning upwind.
Acs AveCse Average course
ATD AveTWD Average true wind direction
ATS AveTWS Average true wind speed
AN% AveNav% Average of navigation percentage
(see above)
OAA O_AWA Other boat apparent wind angle
OAS O_AWS Other boat apparent wind speed
5.18
Show Data
MWD MA_TWD Moving average of true wind
direction (see User variables below)
MWS MA_TWS Moving average of true wind speed
(see User variables below)
MVS MA_VS Moving average of boat speed, time
period set under gmenu>user vars control
MVP MA_VSNP Moving average of boat speed as a
percentage of navigation polar, time period set under gmenu>user vars control
DTL DST_LAYL Distance to layline on your present
tack/gybe. Note. This is the same as either DLL
or DRL depending on which tack or gybe you are on.
TTL TM_LAYL Time to layline on your present
tack/gybe Note. This is the same as either TLL
or TRL depending on which tack or gybe you are on
UCS UP_CSTRB Course for optimum upwind VMG
on starboard tack.
UCP UP_CPORT Course for optimum upwind VMG
on port tack
DCS DN_CSTRB Course for optimum downwind
VMG on starboard gybe
DCP DN_CPORT Course for optimum downwind
VMG on port gybe
ULS UP_LSTBD Upwind layline on starboard tack;
this is UCS but with current added.
ULP UP_LPORT Upwind layline on port tack; this is
UCP but with current added.
5.19
Chapter 5: Data
DLS DN_LSTBD Downwind layline on starboard
DLP DN_LPORT Downwind layline on port gybe; this
DSL DST_LINE Distance to start line.
TSL TM_LINE Time to start line.
AAT AWA_TARG Target apparent wind angle
Data averages
The four averaged variables listed in Show data (AveCse, AveTWD, AveTWS and AveNav% show the average of the respective data over the time since you hit the This is likely to be useful in longer races and also for testing purposes.
gybe; this is DCS but with current added.
is DCP but with current added.
Reset Averages
option from the
Data
icon.
User variables
You are able to create your own data variables, taking data from your existing variables and then filter/damp and calibrate them as you wish. There are a number of different facilities for use here, including the possibility of variables being calibrated with respect to another variable. User variables are defined using Deckman's files (see User variables on page 12.13), but once setup can then be controlled from within Deckman as described below. The two 'moving average' variables specified at the bottom of the 'Show Data' list operate in this way, and are included in Deckman by default, so we will use these as an example.
5.20
User variables
gmenu>user vars control
Hit
which will bring up a dialog like that shown in Figure 5.10. The button at the top of the window allows you to choose either calibration or damping. Since the default user variables only control damping, you will get an error message if you click on the
calibration
tab without having first created the appropriate files, as specified in User variables. However, once the relevant files are there, the operation of the user variables is exactly the same as the damping described here.
Figure 5.10
In this dialog you can enter a damping period, in seconds, over which the TWS or TWD is averaged.
With the
user variables
additional options
window open, select
Advanced damping…
menu
or
and you will see the
Advanced calibration…
Selecting either of these will be presented with a dialog similar to that shown in Figure 5.11. This allows you to access and edit either the calibration or damping files for the user variables (as described in Chapter 12) from within Deckman. Double click on the appropriate file to open, make any changes you wish, then hit
Save File
followed by
OK
to close the window.
5.21
Chapter 5: Data
Figure 5.11
Note.
Time periods in the
Advanced
dialogs here are specified in Hz (i.e. seconds multiplied by 5) – see Filtering on page 12.15 for an explanation.
For more information on the operation of the data files, please see User variables on page 12.13.
5.22
Chapter 6 : Polars
Understanding Polars
Below is an example of the polars window (Figure 6.1). On the left is the table where the values are entered, on the right is the polar plot—the distance from the centre shows the boat speed at a wind angle specified relative to the vertical. Imagine the wind blowing down from the top of the page—the boat speed in 12 knots of wind for each of the five wind angles is indicated by the small solid squares.
Understanding Polars
Figure 6.1
Polars in Deckman are described in a special way: at several wind speeds (which are adjustable) the curve of boat speed versus true wind angle is defined by just five points. Although this may be thought to be too few to be accurate the mathematical functions work very well in practice. It is important when sailing that the polars can be adjusted quickly and easily and still remain fair—with so few points this is
6.1
Loading...