Equipment & practice
What works
on the water.
Independent, role-based guidance for building a reliable mark boat. Specifications are checked against manufacturers; recommendations remain practical judgement, not paid endorsements.
Choosing a GPS for mark laying
Marine toughness or maximum positioning performance? The right answer depends on how your mark boat works.
Read field guide →02 / WindAnemometers for race teams
A good wind instrument gives repeatable observations—not just an impressive number on a screen.
Read field guide →03 / Boat setupThree proven RIB layouts
The safest mark boat has clear working zones, short communication paths and no loose warp near the propeller.
Read field guide →04 / Boat setupMounts, clamps and tethers
A mount must hold an instrument in chop, release it deliberately and never create a sharp or snagging hazard.
Read field guide →05 / CommunicationsChoosing and setting up mark-boat radios
Clarity in wind noise is more valuable than an extra menu of features.
Read field guide →06 / WindBurgees and wind indicators
The simplest instrument on the boat is often the quickest way to see a shift, shear or dirty-air problem.
Read field guide →07 / WorkshopThe 3D-printed course reckoner
A glove-friendly rotating bearing computer can turn a wind call into course bearings without batteries or wet-screen problems.
Read field guide →08 / Ground tackleA repeatable mark-and-anchor system
Standardised bags, labels and recovery points make a mark boat faster and much safer.
Read field guide →09 / CommunicationsBluetooth headsets for race officials
The right headset can remove shouting and dramatically improve clarity—but intercom and VHF integration are two different jobs.
Read field guide →10 / Field kitWhat’s in a national mark layer’s bag?
The personal kit that turns an unfamiliar event RIB into a workable mark boat—without carrying the chandlery.
Read field guide →