Patent ID: 8135504

Claim:
A method for determining an optimal Tacking Time to Destination by comparing tacking distances and speeds for a boat from a current position to a destination position for different possible courses, and determining an optimal course to minimize the Tacking Time to Destination, said method comprising: a) estimating additional distances from a current position to a destination position entailed by tacking for different possible courses; b) estimating boat speed on tacking legs from a current position to a destination position for different possible courses; c) estimating Tacking Time to Destination based on the distance divided by speed for tacking legs for different possible courses; d) assessing the optimal course to minimize the Tacking Time to Destination by determining a distance and speed for the course with the smallest travel time; wherein current and optimal tacking legs are displayed with GPS chartplotter software showing the courses, the distances, speeds and Tacking Time to Destination for each course.