Deckman has numerous functions to assist the racing navigator and tactician in making the right decisions on the race course. B&G Deckman software is ever evolving, in order to introduce new features for the user at regular intervals. With version 9 released in March 2008, v9.1 now adds even more functionality to further enhance usability.
Integrated weather and routing features introduced in Deckman v9.1
The main enhancement in version 9.1 is with the GRIB weather and routing. Previously Deckman displayed wind (speed and direction), barometric pressure and sea temperature. In v9.1 we have added the option to display precipitation (rainfall) and wave height.
In addition the Optimum Routing now allows the user to route around waves over a specific height, hence avoiding the worst seas which can slow the boat dramatically, whilst increasing the risk of damage.
Key Features and Benefits
- Display of Precipitation from GRIB files that allows clearer identification of weather fronts
- Display of Wave Height from GRIB files that allows the navigator to see the likely sea-state on the route
- Animation of GRIB files enables a clear visualisation of how the weather is likely to develop
- Use of Wave Height in Optimum Routing allows the navigator to route around waves over a certain size, increasing speed and reducing risk of damage
- UGRIB service has been updated to allow downloading of rainfall information. Fully integrated weather downloads from UGRIB, along with the existing Saildocs and OCENS Weathernet* services allow the user a choice of the leading weather services
- Multiple GRIB files may be loaded at the same time allowing a local hi-resolution file to be used alongside a wider area, lower resolution file, for example
- GRIB Manager allows the user to control and prioritise which GRIB files are in use
- Advanced GRIB options allows the advanced user to modify GRIB files
*Note: OCENS Weathernet is a subscription service
Deckman V9 is compatible with many instrument systems including the B&G H2000, H3000 and WTP systems.
More About Deckman...
Deckman provides a fully featured tactical navigation interface so that the navigator has a clear overview of the racing area.
- Tactical data overlays including Wind History, Tracks, laylines and more
- Boat and mark laylines based on Polar Targets and corrected for tidal information, including shaded limit layline sectors
- Support for charts from leading suppliers (see compatibility table)
- Use images as charts - use aerial photography or ocean current graphics as your chart
- Chart and Tactical layers are configurable by the user to optimise the display of available data
- Straight-forward waypoint and course management
- AIS overlay - view all boats equipped with Class A or B AIS tranceivers on a chart layer. Benefits are collision avoidance aid, tracking of competitors and tuning partners position
Tactics and Strategy
Deckman provides many tools to allow the navigator to make accurate decisions on the racecourse. These include:
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- Dedicated Wind Plot allows tracking of trends in True Wind Speed and Direction
- Full Wind and Course predictions for future legs
- What If? options to determine likely changes to strategy given different wind or tidal conditions
- Competitor position tracking via Time-on-Time Handicaps and/or competitor location
- The Start display provides a full overview of the start line area allowing the tactician to provide time and distance information to the favoured position on the start line.
- Graphic display shows relative positions of start line, boat and laylines
- Time and distance data to line intersections and line ends
- Line Bias Angle and distance gained through starting at favoured end
- "Time To Go" or "Time To Burn" options
- Wind Hold feature freezes the wind direction to prevent erroneous readings during the confused pre-start period
- Boat length Grid feature
- Advanced rate-of-turn and acceleration calculations allow accurate time estimates
- Start options allow the user to adjust boat parameters, set multihull mode and offset the GPS antenna position. Screen elements can be adjusted for optimum visibility in each application.
Data Analysis Tool
Deckman has a suite of integrated data logging and analysis tools to allow accurate assessment of the performance of the yacht and crew under different conditions, whether during or after a race. From a simple text log of position and wind conditions or a Speed Test to compare different sail configurations from the integrated database, Deckman will provide the data you need to measure and optimise performance.
- Time Plots allow graphic representation of data and advanced measurement tools
- Powerful database logs data at 1Hz for a week, then at reduced frequency for a year allowing analysis of a full years performance data
- Reports Editor can generate simple text logs for quick tasks or automated log entries
- Speed Test allows comparison of two sets of logged data and a Polar, used for comparing performance with changes in settings, sails etc.
- Graphical selection of Time Plot period for extraction of extended data from database
Polars
- Flexible input of polar table information, including VPP targets, is easy to adjust on the water while sailing
- Separate polars for navigation calculations, performance targets and start routines allow adjustments to suit performance
- Advanced cubic spline polar curve algorithm for accurate VMG target tracking
- Upload polar information from compatible instruments and send back updated values
- Supports input of speeds in "seconds per mile”
Deckman provides the best optimum routing calculations available, as used to win all the classic ocean races. The GRIB-enabled routing is now available to all v8 users at no additional cost. By utilising polar tables, weather files and tidal databases Deckman will calculate the optimum route between two points or for a whole route whilst avoiding landmasses.
- The most accurate routing available
- Utilises industry standard GRIB weather files
- Optimum Route details display in both graphic and tabular format
- Option to animate the route displaying weather or tide at each time point
- Reverse routing enables simple comparison of competitors positions
- Advanced GRIB editing tools allow modification of forecast data to suit observations
Deckman provides options for obtaining weather files from both the OCENS Weathernet and Saildocs services. This data, or other GRIB data, can be used in the optimum routing function or displayed on screen as a weather overlay
Advanced Options
Deckman allows various enhancements to be added to suit the users application:
- 2-Boat module allows interfacing between two boats via a telemetry system (not provided), providing comparison performance data in numeric and graphical formats
- Laser Range Finder module allows the use of a range finder to ping marks and track another yacht’s performance
- TT Reporter allows log files to be sent via some Thrane & Thrane™ communications systems
- SS Relay provides a 3-level Alarm Manager system with fully user configurable, multi-context alarm trigger conditions.
A Deckman Add-In interface allows 3rd party developers to integrate new functionality for custom projects.
Instrument integration
Deckman operates a two-way serial interface with yourinstrument system to allow both input of current instrument data (GPS position, boat speed etc.) for display and further calculations, along with the ability to send data back to most instrument systems for display, calibration, damping and other operations.
Deckman is compatible with the following instrument systems:
- B&G WTP2
- B&G WTP
- B&G H3000 H-Link™
- B&G H2000 RS232
- B&G H2000 NMEA
- B&G H1000 NMEA
- NKE
- Ockam
- Silva
- Most other systems using the NMEA 0183 option
With suitable hardware it is a simple task to display Deckman on remote deck screens or networked systems to enable data sharing.
System Requirements
Deckman requires the following minimum hardware to run satisfactorily (recommended values in brackets):
- Windows 2000, XP, Vista 32-bit*
- 800MHz processor (1.2 GHz)
- 512MB memory (1GB)
- 300MB available disk space [excludes chart storage requirements] (1GB)
- CD-ROM drive [for installation and chart installation]
- Compatible instrument system
*Requires UAC to be disabled
