All Cells With Green Text are Calculated Cells.
Anchor scope (the ratio of anchor rode length to vertical depth) is critical to maintaining a horizontal pull on the anchor. As wind speed increases, a higher scope is required to prevent the anchor from breaking out of the lakebed.
| Wind Speed (MPH) | Scope Ratio | Anchoring Context / Description |
|---|---|---|
| < 10 MPH | 5:1 | Light air — boat holds well on station at baseline scope. |
| 10 - 14 MPH | 7:1 | Building breeze — danger transition zone. Deploy additional rode now. |
| ≥ 15 MPH | 8:1 | Heavy air — deploy maximum available rode (~300 ft capacity). |
Note: These scope recommendations are calibrated for this specific RC boat (26 ft pontoon, high windage, ~300 ft max rode). Standard references such as Chapman Piloting & Seamanship recommend 5:1–7:1 for moderate conditions and 10:1+ for heavy air — this boat's high windage and pendulum swing behavior requires the transition to heavier scope to begin earlier (10 MPH) than standard tables suggest.
Race course geometries, gate separations, and line lengths are calculated according to guidelines set by US Sailing and World Sailing. The rules ensure fair competition and safe maneuvering for all boats under the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
Recommendation: Standard starting line length is calculated as: Length = (Number of Boats in Largest Start) × (Longest Hull Length) × Multiplier. The multiplier defaults to 1.5×.
PRO Guide Reference: US Sailing Principal Race Officer (PRO) Guide - Ch. 7 (The Starting Line) / World Sailing Race Management Manual - Section E3.1. It recommends a 1.25× to 1.5× multiplier under standard conditions, increasing to 1.5×–2.0× in heavy air or rough seas.
Recommendation: A standard starting line is set square (90°) to the average wind direction. However, PROs often set a slight 5° to 10° windward bias (pin end favored) to counteract the natural tendency of boats to crowd the Race Committee boat end and ensure starts are spread evenly.
PRO Guide Reference: US Sailing Race Management Handbook - Ch. 8 (Laying the Starting Line) / World Sailing Race Management Manual - Section E3.2.
Recommendation: Offset (spacer) marks are set 90° to the windward leg, typically 7 to 10 boat lengths (approx. 50–100m) away from the windward mark. This allows spinnaker preparation and minimizes congestion/collisions as boats round the mark under RRS Rule 18 (Mark-Room).
PRO Guide Reference: US Sailing Principal Race Officer (PRO) Guide - Course Configurations & Layouts.
Recommendation: The separation distance between gate marks should be between 7 and 10 boat lengths. If set too narrow (< 6 boat lengths), overlapping boats will conflict under RRS Rule 18 mark-room zones. If set too wide (> 10 boat lengths), it ceases to function tactically as a gate.
PRO Guide Reference: World Sailing Race Management Manual - Section H5 (Leeward Gates) / US Sailing PRO Guide - Ch. 12 (Course Setting and Adjustments).
Define location, fleet class, course geometry, wind direction/speed, and target duration. Once anchored, click Lock GPS Anchor Position to freeze coordinates and enable drift monitoring.
Configure starting line lengths, skew angles, offset marks, and leeward gate spacings under the Course Parameters modal. Select gybe angles based on wind gusts.
Add cellphone numbers and send target coordinates via SMS texts. In Simulator Mode, click Preview in Navigator to verify layout coordinates.
Use the Direction Finder compass widget to check bearing, distance, and ETA to target marks. Start the Simulator to test anchor drift warning indicators.