It it worth the money?
Any problems?

Love it. Good for training, espesh if your partner has one. Great info while on the boat without clutter. It was the logical next step up from the TacTic Micro with data download and *you can change the battery.*

Thank you sir.

The Speed Puck guys area couple of Stanford engineers that decamped for the North shore of Maui to be wind surfers. They've brought their products to field test at LYC regattas. They work well and are continually being updated.

They also have a web site that's closely monitored for customer input and feedback.

http://www.velocitek.com/about/contact/

Why get speedpuck when you can get the prostart? Two lines of data, and the distance to line tool.

Money.

What do the F16 rules say about GPS devices? Allowed to use?

Yeah I thought that too, until I looked into all the features of the ProStart. It is a WAY better tool than the Puck, and while more expensive, the saying is true, you get what you pay for. Save your pennies for a few months, it will be worth it for the few years you are using the tool.

"What do the F16 rules say about GPS devices? Allowed to use?"

I don't think so but I'm too lazy to find a cite. I'm thinking more as a training tool anyway.

What's the best way to mount? I considered on the Spin pole but does it interfer with the self tacking jib.

I've no idea. The ones I've seen are on the spin pole.

I got a speedpuck and a prostart. I install them on my spin pole halfway between the beam and the place it goes below the stays. When I sail two up with the jib it barely clear the top of the speedpuck. I think that on modern F18 with high aspect jibs and a self tacker there is not enough space there.

I like both but I prefer the speedpuck:

• The prostart is big. If you have a jib you're going to struggle to find a place to put it on a beach cat
• I'm afraid to lose the prostart. It doesn't have a hole to secure a line to it and its support can unlock if a line gets wrapped the wrong way around it. Unlikely but possible.
• Due to its placement I can't reach the buttons on the prostart to mark the start line and start the timer, this makes the added complexity of the prostart useless as I only use the speed and the lift/header indicator anyway.

The prostart is a really nice improvement on the SC-1, fixing all the issues the SC-1 had with the buttons, it's slick, easy to read and easy to use.

The only issue really is where to put it so you can press the buttons! What I want now is a remote I can attach to my buoyancy aid to pilot it from anywhere on the boat...

If you want to try a S10, a SC-1, a SpeedPuck or a ProStart just come to Datchet (next to London, UK) for our Fast Cat Open (19/20 March) and ask me for a loaner.

Disclaimer: I was provided the devices free of charge by Velocitek as I wrote part of the Mac software used to talk to the device.

GPS devices are allowed by the F16 rules.

Oh.

What, exactly, do you use the speedpuck for?

I have a Garmin 301 that I wear on my wrist. I can display up to four data windows from a list of selections (eg. speed, heading, distance to mark, vmg). It cost $99 and is waterproof. I can easily "ping" the ends of the starting line if I want to get distance or time to either end but I do not use that except for big boat racing. It is very accurate and always with you as well and I highly recommend this device. Besides tactical uses, add a good radio to your person and you are in pretty good shape for serious safety situations.

Pete,

I have a speedpuck and find it useful, but I find me head in the boat a little too much when I use it. I have to make sure to pay attention not to do that too much. I mount it on the spin pole. I sail uni, but Karl uses it two up so ask him about placement. I mainly use the speed reading, but I do pay attention to the lift/header indicator bars. I don't use the speedpuck software. I do use Gpsar software because I like the detail I can export with that software. CRAW uses Kettack and I also have a Garmin for that which supplies me with pretty much the same data.

Mines maybe six inches behind the forestay, mounted on the spinnaker pole.

Its just far enough forward that it clears the block for the jib sheet. I'm not sure I'd really want it much farther back, as when I'm trapped out singlehanded and I'm way forward I can't see the darn thing. Not that it really matters as I'm probably hardly looking unless I think I'm doing something wrong or I'm digging for more power.

SC-1 on the spin pole:

Actually, I'm using a Garmin 301 and I'm trying to decide if the Puck is worth the extra money.

later on I completed my setup with a small bungee on boot side of the forestay to prevent the spin sheet occasionally stuck under the unit.