Garmin (Silva) 85 Regatta Sailing Compass

The elite racing models have been developed by the worlds top racers and olympic sailors. The tactical scales and quick readability give a critical advantage. The cone shaped card with gimballed lubber lines has a main steering scale on the horizontal part and a tactical scale on the vertical edge of the card.

Detecting wind shifts may be the tiny difference between winning and losing. Silva's tactical scale grades from 0-20 and the figures correspond on port and starboard tack. If the reading on starboard tack is 2 the reading on port after tacking should also be 2. In this way you only have to remember one number, this is a great benefit in triangular course sailing where racers need to watch the wind shifts, rather than their actual course.

The 85 is a very stable compass for small and fast dinghies. Deck mounted with flat underpart. No need for making big holes in the deck. A common installation is two 85 compasses, one on each rail. The 85 model also has a memory ring for setting a desired course