As more Dragon sailors embrace on-water technology, a recent Vakaros webinar offers a useful guide to making the most of the Atlas device before, during and after racing.

The Vakaros webinar hosted earlier this year was recorded and contains some great tips on how to get the most out of your Atlas device. For sailors using the Atlas on the water, the session offers a useful reminder that the instrument is much more than a simple display. When set up correctly, it can support better decision-making, sharper starts and more effective performance analysis.

Why Atlas Setup Matters

One of the key messages from the webinar is that many sailors use their Atlas straight out of the box, without taking full advantage of the customisation available through the Vakaros Connect app.

The Atlas can be tailored to suit different boats, classes, venues and racing conditions. By spending time adjusting boat profiles, display layouts, widgets, dampening settings and LED functions, sailors can make sure the device is showing the most useful information at the right time.

Using Boat Profiles Effectively

Boat profiles are an important part of the Vakaros system. They allow sailors to create different settings for different boats or classes, making it easier to switch between setups depending on where and what they are sailing.

For classes with specific equipment rules, class-compliant profiles can also be used to ensure the device is set up correctly for racing. This is particularly relevant as more events and fleets adopt technology such as RaceSense.

Customising Your Atlas Display

Think carefully about what you actually need to see on the water. The Atlas display can be customised with different widgets, allowing you to see data such as heading, heel angle, trim, speed, distance to line and time to line.

A useful recommendation is to remove pages or data fields that are not being used. By simplifying the display and focusing only on the most relevant information, sailors can make the Atlas easier to read and more effective during racing.

Setting Dampening for the Conditions

Dampening is another setting that can have a big impact on how useful the device feels on the water. Compass dampening controls how quickly the heading display responds.

In flat water and shifty conditions, a faster and more responsive compass may be helpful. In waves or more stable breeze, stronger dampening can give a steadier number and make the display less distracting. The key takeaway is that dampening should not be treated as a fixed setting; it can be adjusted to suit the conditions and venue.

Mounting the Atlas Correctly

Correct mounting is essential for the Atlas to perform at its best. Poor mounting can affect GPS, compass accuracy and, in RaceSense events, the device’s ability to communicate effectively within the network.

The webinar highlights the importance of keeping the Atlas away from carbon fibre, metal, magnets and anything that may interfere with sky view. Plastic or 3D-printed non-conductive brackets are recommended, with a small amount of separation from the mast or spar where possible.

You should also be careful around magnetic chargers, phones and other devices, as these can affect compass calibration over time.

Making More of the Pre-Start Tools

The Atlas offers valuable information before the start, particularly through the line screen. This can show line square, line length and, when reference angles have been sailed, line bias and bias advantage.

A simple rule shared in the webinar is: if your heading is less than the line square number, the left or pin end of the line is favoured. If your heading is greater than the line square number, the right or committee boat end is favoured.

For sailors looking to improve their starts, this is one of the most practical features to understand and use consistently.

Distance to Line and Bow Offset

You can configure distance to line, including the option to show DTL in tenths of a metre when using the larger 40mm widget layout. This can be particularly useful for boats working in small margins close to the start line.

Bow offset is another important setting. When using bow offset, sailors should ping the line when the device is on the line, not when the bow is on the line. This provides more consistent data and mirrors the behaviour used in RaceSense events.

Using LEDs as a Racing Aid

The Atlas LED bar is a valuable feature that is often underused. LEDs can be configured to show information such as time to burn, shift tracking and start timer data.

Because colour can often be processed more quickly than numbers, the LED bar can be a useful way to support decision-making during busy moments, particularly in the final stages of a start sequence.

Reviewing Performance After Racing

Post-race analysis is highly valuable. Data from the Atlas can be used with review platforms to look back at tracks, speed, angles and performance. This allows sailors to learn from each session and identify areas for improvement after racing.

Watch the Vakaros Webinar

The recorded webinar is a useful resource for any sailor wanting to get more from their Atlas device, whether they are new to the system or already using it regularly.

From boat profiles and display setup to mounting, dampening, start-line tools and RaceSense considerations, the session offers practical advice that can help sailors use the technology with more confidence on the water.

Watch the webinar on the Vakaros YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@vakaros