Import of Polar Data Files on a Garmin Chartplotter

Automatic Import

The easiest way to load a polar table is to prepare a memory card with the polar table file named “polar.plr.” Place the file in the following path on the memory card  > Garmin > polars > polar.plr.

If the polar file is valid and at the correct location, all the networked chartplotters will automatically import and enable that polar table.

Additional information:

• • If the chartplotter has an existing imported polar table, it will not be overwritten by the automatic import described above

  • If the polar.plr file is not in the correct location or if the file contains an incorrectly formatted polar table data, it will not be automatically imported

  • All network chartplotters will synchronize the automatically (or manually) imported polar table

    
    

NOTE: The automatic import only occurs if there is no polar file already loaded and there is a file named 'polar.plr' on the SD-card. The automatic import will happen even if there are other polar files with different names on the SD-card. To use a file with a different name, open the polar import page and pick another file. If none of the files are named polar.plr, select the file to import.

Manually Import

To change the polar table or to manually import a polar table, prepare a memory card with the polar table file(s) at the correct location. The polar table files should be placed at the following path on the memory card  > Garmin > polars > polar.plr; all polar table files should have the file extension “.plr.”

After inserting the memory card into a chartplotter, USB card reader or network card reader, dismiss the Memory Card page below.

Open Settings > My Vessel > Polar Table menu.

Select Import from Card.

Select the Memory Card that contains the polar files. This page does not display if there is only one Memory Card.

Select the polar table file for importation.
If there is an existing polar table, the following prompt will appear to confirm that the new polar table should overwrite the current polar table. Ensure a backed-up copy of the existing polar.plr file before selecting Yes.

When the new polar table imports successfully, the Settings > My Vessel > Polar Table page will update to show the name (or file name) of the polar table and the Polar Table will be enabled. When the new polar table imports successfully (Settings > My Vessel > Polar Table), the chartplotter page displays the file name and enables the Polar Table. 

Additional Information

• • • If the *.plr file is not in the correct location or does not have the “.plr” extension, the file does not import. The following message will appear if no polar tables list on the memory card

• • • If the polar table file is incorrectly formatted or contains data that is not supported, the following message populates when the import fails

• • • The chartplotter does not modify the polar table files on the memory card

    • The imported polar table data are saved to the internal memory of the chartplotter; therefore, the memory card is no longer required after a successful import

    • Having multiple polar table files for different sail plans or conditions may be convenient. Only one imported polar table is supported at a time, so for this use case having multiple files (and importing the correct one for the current situation) is necessary

Polar Table Data

When a polar table is imported and true wind data and boat speed are available, the polar table data fields will display information derived from the polar table and sensors. There are ten polar table data fields available:

• • • Target True Wind Angle - The optimal upwind or downwind true wind angle is calculated using the polar table data and the current true wind speed. Sailing at this true wind angle should result in the optimal (velocity made good) VMG into/away from the wind

    • Target Boat Speed - is the optimal upwind or downwind boat speed at the Target True Wind Angle

    • Polar Boat Speed - is the optimal boat speed at the current true wind angle and true wind speed

    • Target Apparent Wind Angle - The Target True Wind Angle is converted to an apparent wind angle using the Target Boat Speed

    • Δ Target Speed -The difference between the Target Boat Speed and Actual Boat Speed

    • The choice of speed source for True Wind determines the actual Boat Speed. See Settings > Preferences > Navigation > Speed Sources >True Wind

    • Δ Target Speed Percent - The ratio between the Target Boat Speed and Actual Boat Speed; this is the same as Δ Target Speed but displayed as a percentage

    • Δ Polar Speed - the difference between the Polar Boat Speed and Actual Boat Speed. The choice of speed source for True Wind determines the actual Boat Speed. See Settings > Preferences > Navigation > Speed Sources >True Wind

      • Δ Target Speed Percent - the ratio between the Polar Boat Speed and Actual Boat Speed; this is the same as Δ Polar Speed but displayed as a percentage

      • Δ Target True Wind Angle - is the difference between Target Apparent Wind Angle and Apparent Wind Angle

      • Δ Target Apparent Wind Angle - is the difference between Target True Wind Angle and True Wind Angle

Additional Information

• • • These data fields are available on chart overlay bars and in digital areas on gauge pages (Vessel, Wind, and more)

    • When the Polar Table toggle is set to “Off,” the data fields above will not show data. Most will show dashes “----“

Improved start line guidance with polar table data

When a polar table is imported and enabled, the Target Boat Speed shown on the Start Line Guidance page and the Target True Wind Angle compute more accurate laylines.

Start Line Guidance Menu > Laylines > Sailing Ang. to change this behavior.

Improved Laylines with polar data

When a polar table is imported and enabled, and laylines are enabled while following a route, the Target True Wind Angle is used to compute more accurate laylines.

Chart Menu > Layers > My Vessel > Laylines > Setup > Sailing Ang. to change to this behavior.