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Chapter 3: Advanced Operation 25
3 Advanced Operation
3.2 Using Wind Vane mode – sail boats
Note: You can only select Wind Vane mode if the autopilot is
receiving suitable SeaTalk or NMEA wind direction information.
About Wind Vane mode
When the autopilot is in Wind Vane mode it uses the fluxgate
compass as the primary heading reference. As changes in the true or
apparent wind angle occur, the autopilot adjusts the locked compass
heading to maintain the original wind angle.
Wind information
To use Wind Vane mode, the autopilot must receive wind information
from one of the following sources:
• SeaTalk wind instrument connected to the autopilot via SeaTalk
• NMEA wind instrument
• Raymarine pushpit wind vane connected via a SeaTalk interface
True and apparent wind
Type 150/150G and 400/400G autopilots can maintain a course
relative to either an apparent or true wind angle in Wind Vane mode:
• steering to apparent wind, the autopilot maintains the apparent
wind angle
• steering to true wind, the autopilot maintains the true wind angle
Note: The default setting is apparent wind. On Type 150/150G and
400/400G autopilots you can change this to true wind in User or
Dealer Calibration (see page 89). Type 100/300 autopilots can only
maintain a course relative to apparent wind.
WindTrim
In Wind Vane mode the autopilot uses WindTrim to eliminate the
effects of turbulence and short term wind variations. This provides
smooth and precise performance with minimal power consumption.
You can adjust the wind response (WindTrim) level in User or Dealer
Calibration (see page 89) to control how quickly the autopilot
responds to changes in the wind direction. Higher wind trim settings
will result in a pilot that is more responsive to wind changes.