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Sailing

Tack Assist

CAUTION

The watch uses GPS-based course over ground to determine your course in the tack assist feature, and does not account for other factors that can affect your boat's direction, such as currents and tides. You are responsible for the safe and prudent operation of your vessel.

While cruising or racing into the wind, the tack assist feature can help you determine if your boat is being lifted or headed. When you calibrate tack assist, the watch captures your boat's port 1 and starboard 2 course over ground (COG) measurements, and uses the COG data to calculate the mean true wind direction 3 and the boat's tack angle 4.


Tack assist diagram with callouts

The watch uses this data to determine whether your boat is being lifted or headed due to wind shifts.

By default, the tack assist feature is set to automatic. Each time you calibrate the port or starboard COG, the watch recalibrates the opposite side and true wind direction. You can change the tack assist settings to enter a fixed tack angle or true wind direction.

Calibrating the Tack Assist

  1. From the watch face, select Upper-right button.
  2. Select Water Sports, and select Sail or Sail Race.
  3. Select Middle-left button or Lower-left button to view the tack assist screen.
    NOTE: You may need to add the tack assist screen to the data screens for the activity (Customizing the Data Screens).
  4. Select Upper-right button.
  5. Select an option:

    • To calibrate the starboard side, select Upper-right button.

    • To calibrate the port side, select Lower-left button.

    TIP: If the wind is coming from the starboard side of the vessel, you should calibrate starboard. If the wind is coming from the port side of the vessel, you should calibrate port.
  6. Wait while the device calibrates the tack assist.

    An arrow appears and indicates if your boat is being lifted or headed.

Entering a Fixed Tack Angle

  1. From the watch face, press Upper-right button.
  2. Select Water Sports, and select Sail or Sail Race.
  3. Press Middle-left button or Lower-left button to view the tack assist screen.
  4. Hold Middle-left button.
  5. Select Tack Angle > Angle.
  6. Press Middle-left button or Lower-left button to set the value.

Entering a True Wind Direction

  1. From the watch face, press Upper-right button.
  2. Select Water Sports, and select Sail or Sail Race.
  3. Press Middle-left button or Lower-left button to view the tack assist screen.
  4. Hold Middle-left button.
  5. Select True Wind Direction > Fixed.
  6. Press Middle-left button or Lower-left button to set the value.

Tips for Getting the Best Lift Estimate

To get the best lift estimate when using the tack assist feature, you can try these tips. See Entering a True Wind Direction and Calibrating the Tack Assist for more information.

  • Enter a fixed tack angle, and calibrate the port side.
  • Enter a fixed tack angle, and calibrate the starboard side.
  • Reset the tack angle, and calibrate both the port and starboard side.
GUID-025D75CF-3445-49E1-8D81-1AA74AB4E00F v3
November 2025
© 2025 Garmin Ltd.