Deckman is the world's most advanced tactical navigation software and is used by winners in every field, from sports boats to the Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup, the software includes all the tools you need for short course round the buoys racing, long distance offshore and ocean racing. Deckman has numerous functions to assist the racing navigator and tactician in making the right decisions on the race course, however it is also closely integrated with instrument systems and in many cases is able to output functions back to the instrument system displays for use by crew on deck.
What's new in Deckman v8
The latest version of the highly regarded Deckman tactical navigation software, offering new functionality including additional integrated weather data delivery from GRIB.US.
- UGRIB integration allows free downloads of GRIB files for viewing or optimum routing
- Enhanced weather representation
- Additional functionality on What If? and Start screens
Deckman v8.3 includes as standard integrated GRIB file functionality in the form of UGRIB from leading weather data specialist GRIB.US. This gives Deckman users instant access to high quality and reliable weather information, enabling enhanced routing decisions and increased tactical prowess for navigators.
The UGRIB software pulls many data sources into one central server and delivers worldwide weather coverage to the user. GRIB weather data can be viewed from within Deckman as a weather overlay, integrated into Deckman routes for optimal tactical decision making.
Deckman V8.3 is compatible with many instrument systems including the B&G H2000, H3000 and WTP systems.
Upgrades
Deckman v8.3 upgrades are available free of charge for registered v8.x users. Contact your Distributor for sales and upgrades.
Existing v8 users can download the latest version from the resources page.
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
- 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
Tactics and Strategy
- Deckman provides many tools to allow the navigator to make accurate decisions on the racecourse. These include:
- 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.
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Graphic display shows relative positions of start line, boat and laylines
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Time and distance data to line intersections and line ends
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Line Bias Angle and distance gained through starting at favoured end
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"Time To Go" or "Time To Burn" options
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Wind Hold feature freezes the wind direction to prevent erroneous readings during the confused pre-start period
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Boat length Grid feature
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Advanced rate-of-turn and acceleration calculations allow accurate time estimates
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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.
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Time Plots allow graphic representation of data and advanced
measurement tools
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Powerful database logs data at 1Hz for a week, then at reduced frequency for a year allowing analysis of a full years performance data
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Reports Editor can generate simple text logs for quick tasks or automated log entries
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Speed Test allows comparison of two sets of logged data and a Polar, used for comparing performance with changes in settings, sails etc.
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Graphical selection of Time Plot period for extraction of extended data from database
Polars
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Flexible input of polar table information, including VPP targets, is easy to adjust on the water while sailing
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Separate polars for navigation calculations, performance targets and start routines allow adjustments to suit performance
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Advanced cubic spline polar curve algorithm for accurate VMG target tracking
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Upload polar information from compatible instruments and send back updated values
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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.
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The most accurate routing available
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Utilises industry standard GRIB weather files
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Optimum Route details display in both graphic and tabular format
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Option to animate the route displaying weather or tide at each time point
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Reverse routing enables simple comparison of competitors positions
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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:
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2-Boat module allows interfacing between two boats via a telemetry system (not provided), providing comparison performance data in numeric and graphical formats
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Laser Range Finder module allows the use of a range finder to ping marks and track another yacht’s performance
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TT Reporter allows log files to be sent via some Thrane & Thrane™ communications systems
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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:
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):
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Windows 2000, XP, Vista 32-bit
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800MHz processor (1.2 GHz)
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512MB memory (1GB)
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300MB available disk space [excludes chart storage
requirements] (1GB)
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CD-ROM drive [for installation and chart installation]
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Compatible instrument system
Item No Description
BGH140001 Deckman v8, C-Map (USB)
BGH140002 Deckman v8, Livechart (USB)
BGH140004 Deckman v8, C-Map (HID)
BGH140020 GRIB Routing Module
BGH140025 Laser Range Finder Module
BGH140026 2-Boat Telemetry module
BGH140027 T&T Reporter Add-In
BGH140028 Alarms Manager Add-In
BGH140030 SHOM Tidal Database - All Areas
BGH140031 SHOM Tidal Database 3 - Baie de Seine
BGH140032 SHOM Tidal Database 5 - Bretagne Nord
BGH140033 SHOM Tidal Database 8 - Bretagne Sud
BGH140034 SHOM Tidal Database 7 - Gascogne
BGH140035 SHOM Tidal Database 6 - Iroise
BGH140036 SHOM Tidal Database 1 - La Manche
BGH140037 SHOM Tidal Database 4 - Normand Breton
BGH140038 SHOM Tidal Database 2 - Pas de Calais
BGH140039 SHOM Tidal Database 9 - Vendee Gironde
BGH140040 Winning Tides Database - Solent & Isle of Wight*
What's New in v8?
- C-Map MAX chart support (C-Map version only)
- Euronav National Pack support (Euronav version only)
- Enhancements on Start screen. Including toolbar for common functions, Start Grid function, improved labelling and modified colour palette for on-deck screens
- New Timeplots. Complete with toolbox for calculation of averages, database data extraction etc.
- Improved Route listing. Clearer indication of range, bearing and rounding directions
- Speed Tests now have the option of overlaying polar data with test data
- Enhanced communications for WTP (v6+) and WTP2 (v1+) instrument systems
- The latest version of OCENS Weathernet is integrated
- New icons to give clearer indication on deck screens
- Changes to allow increased connectivity with NMEA and WTP instrument systems