Tacktick Micro Compass, User Manual

Micro Compass

Establishing the line bias

With 

Micro Compass

in compass mode, sail along the start line on

starboard tack, and note the bearing. Add 90˚and you have the 

line

direction

. Now point the boat towards the wind, stopping the turn when the

Micro Compass

shows a heading equal to the 

line direction

. Now if the wind

is coming from the starboard side, the line is right biased, if from the port
side, it is left biased.

5.3. During the race

Using the Compass mode

In Compass mode, the mode indicator shows “Compass” at the top of the
display and your 

Micro Compass

displays the magnetic heading 

1

. You can

use this precision heading reference to site marks, to check the line bias, or
to detect wind shifts (although Tactical mode is recommended for detecting
wind shifts). 

Reading wind shifts whilst beating upwind 

Make sure the 

Micro Compass

is in Tactical mode. On port tack look at the

port display, and on starboard tack look at the starboard display. If the wind
shifts, then you will see the displayed number change accordingly.

When on starboard, if the number gets smaller then you should tack (tack on
-). When on port, if the number gets bigger then you should tack (tack on +). 

Elapsed time

Elapsed time can be accessed during the race by pressing the mode key
until you see the Timer mode indicator at the top of the display. 

5.4. The battery status

The battery status is shown for 5 seconds after the 

Micro Compass

is

switched on, or once every 4 minutes if the battery falls below 20 hours of
charge remaining. The number indicates the hours remaining assuming the
sun does not shine at all, and from a full charge this will be 200 hours. If the
battery life is less than 50 hours, you should place your 

Micro Compass

in

BRIGHT

sunshine for 2 days, with the solar cell facing directly the mid-day

sun. Note that if the sun is hidden by thin cloud the effective charging time
will be weeks rather than days and that under thick cloud the unit will not
charge at all. Do not worry if the unit turns itself on during charging,

STRONG

sunshine charges the unit rapidly, even when its operating.

1

There is no compensation for magnetic deviation, so do not site your Micro

Compass near a conventional compass which is magnetic.

7

GBR

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