G'day sailers
I'm thinking about getting a race watch, but the idea of just time is so 1800's.... so I'd like a race watch that can also do speeds and maybe even alphas. I'd like a big display that is easy to see at sea, useful options on screen, and maybe enough smarts to make it a daily fitness watch too. Garmin might work but I don't know about the race start options...
I have a GW52 which I will use for GPSTC so please do NOT go down the rabbit hole about approved devices! 
Thanks 
garmin has plenty of sailing apps and the quatrix (3 or 5) even connects to your garmin gps on the boat (if you have one)
apps.garmin.com/en-ZA/search?q=sailing&device=&deviceLimit=&appType=&sort=&start=0&count=30
GPS-Logit App on an inexpensive Android phone and the excellent waterproof arm bag by H2OAudio. Hands down the best for a phone in this use in every way.
It has big colour screen, race countdown and race timing mode. Audio feedback speech of countdowns and speeds. And it also does Alphas! 
Combine it with a Bluetooth Ublox M8 GPS (DIY only) and you have something that can also be approved for GPSTC, but it will do pretty much as well as any other non GPSTC approved GPS just using the built in GPS.
The main disadvantage is battery life. With most inexpensive phones it is only about 2 hours, some a bit more. How long does a race last?
gps-speed.com/gpslogit.html
Select to expand quoteberowne said..
G'day sailers
I'm thinking about getting a race watch, but the idea of just time is so 1800's.... so I'd like a race watch that can also do speeds and maybe even alphas. I'd like a big display that is easy to see at sea, useful options on screen, and maybe enough smarts to make it a daily fitness watch too. Garmin might work but I don't know about the race start options...
I have a GW52 which I will use for GPSTC so please do NOT go down the rabbit hole about approved devices!
Thanks
Whats wrong with the gw52, I only just started using the race watch function last race and it really helped or do you want a bigger display than that ?
edit this , the watch i have is a gw 60 not a 52.
Select to expand quoteSimon100 said..
Whats wrong with the GW60, I only just started using the race watch function last race and it really helped or do you want a bigger display than that ?
This ^
Select to expand quotesailquik said..Simon100 said..
Whats wrong with the GW60, I only just started using the race watch function last race and it really helped or do you want a bigger display than that ?
This ^
Do the GW60 countdown timer and other functions work while the GPS is on? The last racewatch I had allowed the countdown timer to be set to the start horns and had loud beeps that increased in frequency closer to the and on the gun.
I'm long sighted and need a very large display. The GW60 display is not big enough. I've used an Optimum time series big sailing watch since 2011. $80 and still going strong
www.coastwatersports.co.uk/optimum-time-series-big-sailing-watch-os315-yellow-p-5065.html?currency=AUD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgWZvsfr2AIVWBK9Ch3gCAHoEAQYDyABEgItNfD_BwE&utm_campaign=products&utm_medium=BaseFeed1&utm_source=GoogleBase1
Select to expand quoteSimon100 said..berowne said..
G'day sailers
I'm thinking about getting a race watch, but the idea of just time is so 1800's.... so I'd like a race watch that can also do speeds and maybe even alphas. I'd like a big display that is easy to see at sea, useful options on screen, and maybe enough smarts to make it a daily fitness watch too. Garmin might work but I don't know about the race start options...
I have a GW52 which I will use for GPSTC so please do NOT go down the rabbit hole about approved devices!
Thanks
Whats wrong with the gw52, I only just started using the race watch function last race and it really helped or do you want a bigger display than that ?
edit this , the watch i have is a gw 60 not a 52.
I've never tried to change modes once in GPS. As the timer is in the normal clock mode I didnt think it as accessible. I'll test it and see. That would be the cheapest option! At least for me.
Select to expand quoteberowne said..Simon100 said..berowne said..
G'day sailers
I'm thinking about getting a race watch, but the idea of just time is so 1800's.... so I'd like a race watch that can also do speeds and maybe even alphas. I'd like a big display that is easy to see at sea, useful options on screen, and maybe enough smarts to make it a daily fitness watch too. Garmin might work but I don't know about the race start options...
I have a GW52 which I will use for GPSTC so please do NOT go down the rabbit hole about approved devices!
Thanks
Whats wrong with the gw52, I only just started using the race watch function last race and it really helped or do you want a bigger display than that ?
edit this , the watch i have is a gw 60 not a 52.
I've never tried to change modes once in GPS. As the timer is in the normal clock mode I didnt think it as accessible. I'll test it and see. That would be the cheapest option! At least for me.
Yes you can access it in GPS mode this was one of the firmware upgrades.
i still prefer my Ronstan start watch. nice big display and a big start button.
Its pretty much the same as the Optimum above.
