I therefore invented a compass around 1976, Ansar I. This compass shows the same large figure on both tacks. It was liked and used by many sailors.  Among them were the American Ed Baird, then a star in the Laser dinghy. In his book on Laser sailing he writes it helped him to gain at least three or four places in each major regatta. Some of the compasses are still in use.

  The type of dial I invented for this compass has since been used or is still used by the big compass manufacturers Plastimo, Ritchie and Silva. 

  When using a compass that shows figures most sailors, especially the older ones, need to take notes. They also constantly must compare these notes with the indication of the compass for their  tactical decisions.

  The Ansar 3, True wind direction, was first made for a customer who wanted a compass that showed the true wind direction with a 0-360 degrees dial. 

  The Ansar 4 is a development of the Ansar 2. It is simpler to use and read as it has only two movable markers. The Ansar 2 had compensation for the change of angle between tacks with wind strength for the Zero lift indication. In the Ansar 4 this compensation  has been developed further to include all readings: Best lift, Zero lift and Worst header. 

  My compasses are hand made modifications of Silva compasses. It is a time consuming operation as the compass has to be taken apart and all the additional components or changes are made by hand.