2026 Comparator
5 wind sensors compared based on criteria that matter in sailing: technology (mechanical vs 2D ultrasonic vs 3D ultrasonic), sampling rate, accuracy, wireless vs wired, autopilot integration. Workshop recommendation by navigation program.
B&G
1040 € HT
Pour qui : Cruising sailboat 30-45 feet, coastal or offshore program, non-racing
View B&G 213B&G
1499 € HT
Pour qui : Retrofit 30-40 ft sailboat without mast wiring, summer cruising
View WS320 packB&G
2043 € HT
Pour qui : Sailboat 35-50 ft offshore cruising, occasional transatlantic
View WS710B&G
2605 € HT
Pour qui : Sailboat 40-50 ft performance cruising, IRC club level
View WS720B&G
3080 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore racing: IMOCA, Class40, serious IRC + high-latitude cruising
View WS730S2026 distributor prices in France, ex-VAT, sensor only (NMEA 2000 interface sold separately if required).
| Criteria | B&G 213 | WS320 | WS710 | WS720 | WS730S Ocean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price HT 2026 | ~ 1,040 € | ~ 1,499 € (pack) | ~ 2,043 € | ~ 2,605 € | ~ 3,080 € |
| Displejs iekļauts | Nē (tikai sensors) | Jā (Triton² komplekts) | Nē (tikai sensors) | Nē (tikai sensors) | Nē (tikai sensors) |
| Technology | Mechanical | Ultrasonic 2D | Ultrasonic 2D | Ultrasonic 2D | Ultrasonic 3D |
| Angle accuracy | ±1° | ±2° | ±1° | ±0.5° | ±0.3° |
| Frequency | 2 Hz | 1 Hz | 5 Hz | 10 Hz | 20 Hz |
| Wireless | No | Yes (radio) | No | No | No |
| Installation (yard) | Ideal with mast lowered | 1-2 h from dock | Lowered mast + pass-through | Lowered mast + pass-through | Lowered mast + pass-through |
| Target program | Standard cruising | Coastal + retrofit | Offshore comfort | Performance + IRC club | Offshore racing |
Coastal
komplekts WS320 bezvadu ir mūsu standarta izvēle 30-40 pēdu buru laivu atjaunināšanai. Uzstādīšana aizņem 1-2 stundas no pontona, bateriju nomaiņa ik gadu, tūlītēja integrācija ar Triton². Precizitāte ±2° un frekvence 1 Hz ir pietiekamas vasaras braucieniem.
Budget pack + installation: ~ €1,700 ex. VAT
View WS320 packOffshore
WS710 vai WS720 vadu anemometrs nodrošina ilglaicīgu uzticamību (bez baterijas) + 5-10 Hz frekvence, kas ir noderīga jūrā ar lielu viļņu augstumu. Mūsu standarta izvēle 40+ pēdu buru laivām, kurām masts tiek noņemts remonta laikā.
Sensor + installation budget: ~ €2,800–3,400 ex. VAT
View WS710Racing
WS730S Ocean spec (3 080 € HT) — ultrazonisks 3D anemometrs, 20 Hz frekvence, precizitāte ±0,3° — ir starptautiskās sacīkšu standarts. Latvijas sacīkšu alternatīva — līdzvērtīgs NKE 3D HR II (~ 2 800 € HT, pasūtījuma projekts).
Sensor-only budget: ~ €3,080 ex. VAT (excluding H5000 / NAC-3 and displays)
View WS730SThe 0° mark of the sensor must align exactly with the bow of the boat. A 5° error results in a permanent offset in wind readings, causing polar diagrams to no longer match actual performance. Validate with GPS and compass before commissioning.
Wind is turbulent in the top 20% of the mast (interaction with mainsail and masthead fitting). Always mount the anemometer 30–50 cm above the masthead to get clean wind data.
The sensor cable carries a very sensitive millivolt signal. Next to a cable carrying 80 A at startup = measurable electrical noise. Always separate signal cables from power cables.
4 questions to identify the anemometer suited to your sailboat.
Minimum 30–50 cm above the masthead to avoid turbulence created by the mainsail and the topmast head. On a gaff-rigged racing sailboat, up to 80 cm. The 50 cm setting is a good compromise for cruising and racing.
Yes in 90% of cases with NMEA 2000/0183 interface on the existing setup. The ultrasonic sensor uses a dedicated interface and publishes to the N2K bus. The existing mast cable is often reusable.
Typical lifespan 10–15 years (B&G WS720/WS730), 12–18 years for NKE 3D HR II with five-year overhaul. The #1 failure factor is water ingress into the housing — select a marine-certified model with IP67 rating.
Yes, via the NMEA 2000 interface of the WS320 pack. The wireless sensor transmits via radio to a base unit connected to the N2K bus. Radio latency 100–200 ms in worst case — imperceptible for cruising, but noticeable in racing (prefer wired).
Not mandatory but highly recommended beyond 40 feet in rough seas. The vertical component of the wind (pumping in swell, wave accelerations) introduces errors on a 2D sensor that the autopilot interprets as heading changes — resulting in oscillations. A 3D sensor filters these out.
Skysat distributes B&G, NKE Marine Electronics, Raymarine, Garmin and Navico. Comparator based on 60+ wind sensor installations 2020-2026, cruising and racing. Indicative 2026 distributor prices in France, excluding VAT.
