Compass heading to the mark only helps me find it if it's really difficult to see off the start line...but if the race committee is giving it to us throughout the series, or if they're moving the course mid-race, It will be one piece of information about the trend in the wind angle.

I don't always race with a compass on lakes and closed bodies of water - but I'm starting too. It's nice to have a number for each starboard and port tack to work out the wind patterns as the racing progresses.