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Board » Sailonline Race Committee » Rules and Decisions » SOL RULES OF RACING

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I am not a "contender" for podium honours, as my record of results clearly shows. In fact,my main competition is "Rod2", with whom I seem to 'share' my boat. He does some stupid things, like failing to note the start times of races, failing to analyse the future wind conditions along possible courses, sleeping, running aground while sleeping, failing to use VMC, etc., etc.. I keep trying to educate him, but often fail.
I am probably like the majority of SOLers, in that I do try to do my best. But I also get discouraged when I observe clusters of the same boats, far in the lead, in race after race. I do not use a router, because I wish to exercise my own brain, not that of the router writer.
I can only encourage SOL to develop a more complete Sailboat Racing Program. I realize that this requires the work of expert programmers (I am not), and perhaps increased server capacity. However, all mention of such work appears to be devoted to elaborating the rank order of the various Championships for SYC members only. Very few of us are actually in the group of potential "podium-ists", and are seemingly not "in" the private club.
If SOL is to expand its number of players, some thought needs to be devoted to the 'casual' player, who will probably never be invited to be 'Navigator' on an ocean racing yacht.
It is in this spirit that I wish to see improvements in the SOL 'system', which include clarity in the Rules for fair competition.
This is not intended in any way as criticism of the existing operations, but as an encouragement to keep improving SOL as a place where we can "sail".
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
@ Rod

I fully agree with your sentiments , and can confirm that within today's constraints everything possible is made to improve the platform ( btw Markku and his team have already made miracles and are presently working on a number of highly innovative projects , whilst others are working in re-styling the website).

I am not one of the tech guys. What I do with Championships and rankings ( you are right about time investment there ;) ) is aimed to reward those who support SOL with SYC membership , whilst the game is still very free for everyone ( I have sent lots of medals and awards to non SYC members for single Championship race results ).

There is a number of Solers who are not particularily fond of rankings . That is fully acceptable.

@ Huib

You are right ...It does not say SLI jumping is forbidden . It only implies that we are working towards enforceability of avoidance . I suggest that it would be the right time to exercise avoidance ;)

Piero
;)
Hi,

Great work.

I think the proposed rules are fine and I'm not going to enter the discussion about boat-sitting but I'm curious as to how you intend to identify if it is me or a different person on the helm?

As I travel quite a bit in my work and thus sign in from different countries from time to time the IP addresses you detect on me will vary. Will that be seen as different skippers then?


Kind regards,
Lolla
Hi Lolla,

I personally think that this is bit similar as in real life detecting is a boat using engine or not.

First of all, sailing is gentleman's sport and everyone is expected to follow the rules, especially now that they are being clarified.

If there is a reason to suspect that someone is not following the rules, the issue can be raised, most probably by some fellow racers just like in real life.

Race committee (or possibly umpires) will then ask from the technical admins for possible evidence and then the committee will decide on action based on this.

I will not go into details of the technical possibilities available but you are correct that there can be cases where boatsitting might be impossible to identify for sure, especially considering the resources we have.

I trust that most of us are here however not for trying to stretch the rules but to enjoy the game fairly.
Boatsitting seems to be 'Grandfathered' in from times past when informality was more prevalent. That does not however make this practice consistent with fair competition. This needs to be said & acknowledged. Not that I expect it to alter the landscape of acceptability in these environs.

Since in order to steer another boat a new browser window must be opened & logged into would it be too much to ask that there be a Race thread in the Forum where the sitter posts when taking over the helm ? This would be more openly transparent.

Secondarily I also propose that sitters be restricted to managing DCs left by the absent party. Such that if said boat BBQs that it could be sent on it way again along an analogous course but not prevented. Timings of DCs could also be modified to adjust for Wx updates or if a mark is cut short then it would be permissible to round it correctly and then returned to a course previously indicated by the DC list. This would keep the boat alive but would prohibit active racing by another's hand.

These terms would be easier to adjudicate based on activity that goes beyond what the DCs called for.


--- Last Edited by A2 at 2015-01-19 00:51:02 ---
None so blind
I think it is great the rules get formalised and compiled into one clear document, and the rules look good to me.

The only comment I have is SLI jumping, the current formulation is quite ambiguous and as such does not provide much additional value. The current formulation gives the impression that SLI jumping is allowed, but not considered recommendable behavior, a mixed message, which should not have a place in a rule book.

I think it is clear to everyone jumping is done at own risk. If you don't want to forbid SLI jumping, I'd leave that out altogether. On the other hand, as I've stated earlier elsewhere, I would not oppose forbidding SLI jumping, and it could easily be enforced through the umpire system. You either explicitly allow it, explicitly forbid it, or don't mention it in the rules.

As a side note, so long as SLI jumping is not explicitly forbidden, I will consider it allowed and I will utilise it to the extent I see it useful. I hope I will not be considered a cheater because I do something allowed by the rules.
My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.
Fixing of SLI hopping is on the agenda of the tech administrators, especially now that we have more manpower.

As we are all volunteers and the new members are still learning things no schedule for this can be promised, but I'd be surprised if it won't happen this year.

There obviously will be an announcement when this change takes place. As it will be a server-wide change in the sailing engine let's see if it can be scheduled completely between races.
Why no forbid SLI jumping immediately and enforce it through the umpire system? I think that would be a good way to test the umpire system, and we would get rid of one of the issues causing disagreement and discussion.
My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.
Once again I agree with Karriv.
Still, one issue is missing.

If you make the rule, give power to the UMPIRE to act but, don’t have a penalty rule written to be applied in those circumstances, it won’t be useful at all.

I put for discussion my suggestion for jumping over land penalty, to be applied in every kind of race to everyone (SYC or non SYC member) and per race.

First time: 1hr added to the boat finishing time.
Second time: 2hrs added to the boat finishing time.
Third time: DNF.

After #3 races (consecutive or not) with penalty DNF’s - or to say reiterated unsportsmanlike behavior - banning from SOL.
Fair winds to all.
Perhaps the real penalty for land-jumping should be a much higher perf loss for misjudging it and going aground---something like a perf loss of 100% for grounding instead of the present 20%. I realize that many will protest that this penalty is too high---but it is much more realistic for running aground IRL.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.

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Garagiste's Test Lab

The first TIMED race of the northern hemisphere Summer takes us to the Gulf of Finland on a 165nm zig-zagging course beginning and ending in the seacoast village of Haukilahti and circling the island of Suursaari. It’s only appropriate that the boat for this race is Finland’s own Club Swan 50. This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1928
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Patricks Test

Join the excitement as Sailonline partners again with New Zealand's Short-handed Sailing Association for the thrilling SSANZ Triple Series, proudly sponsored by Lewmar Marine. Our SOLers will tackle an exhilarating 47-nautical-mile race, navigating the waters of the beautiful Hauraki Gulf out to Motuora Island via The Haystack and back. Racing virtual Young 88 yachts, our virtual fleet will match skills and strategies with the real-life fleet of the vibrant Young 88 Association. Don't miss this intense, tactical challenge!
Race #1932
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Joanne's Test Race Zone

In 1947, Hugh McLean & Sons of Gourock, Scotland built a radical racing yacht for John Illingworth, soon-to-be Commodore of the RORC, to a design by Laurent Giles. With a masthead rig, giving her ‘free’ sail area per the rules of the time, and short overhangs reducing pitching, Myth of Malham went on to win The Fastnet that year and again in 1949, and to compete in numerous Admiral's Cups. In 1958, in honour of the yacht, the Myth of Malham race was conceived - a mini-Fastnet to the first lighthouse on a rock west of Cowes, Eddystone, rather than the second, to be held in non-Fastnet years. IRL this year it has been raced already, but this stops us not from “Red Eye” racing its online 230nm in Fareast 31Rs, leaving how to deal with the Isle of Wight open to your own discretion.
Race #1847
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Marstrand to Cowes 2025


We invite you to another race, which will kick off the third quarter of our ARCH series. We'll set off from Marstrand, Sweden, which, along with Skagen, Denmark, marks the line commonly recognised as the border separating the Baltic Sea from the North Sea. The 650nm route will take our Ripitide 50 across the North Sea and the English Channel to Cowes, England. Watch out for the fast ferries crossing the Channel from Calais to Dover 😊.
Race #1935
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Nantucket Sprint 2025


Welcome to Nantucket, from whence Herman Melville’s Cap’n Ahab sailed round The Horn into the northern Pacific Ocean to hunt the gray whale - whose migrations are celebrated elsewhere in SOL’s Q4 schedule - he never to return. And whaling too, as the 19th C progressed, like Ahab disappeared from Nantucket as the harbour silted up and mainland Massachusetts whaling stations benefited from rail connections. But beach life, yachting and nostalgia has rescued the island from oblivion, so to celebrate leisure, SOL gives you the Nantucket Sprint - 25nm in 29er_XX’s from east of Tuckernuck Island across the sound to a finish just inside the mouth of the harbour. Enjoy!
Race 1936
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Puil's Practice Palaver


Nearly there; only 2500nm to go, round the Horn and up the Red Sea to Suez into what will more than likely be more headwinds for this sixth leg of our African circumnavigation, to be followed in September by a final sneaky dash up the canal back to where we started all those months ago. We’ll be sailing a not entirely appropriate-for-upwind-work 60ft Trimaran!
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Gulf of St Lawrence - test - Mirek
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Stefan's Duck Pond

 Get ready for an exhilarating new challenge as we set sail on the eighth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! This leg takes us from Cape Town South Africa to the bay of Belbuhan on the south West coast of Java - a 5100 nm journey of endurance, strategy, and pure sailing adrenaline. This leg will be raced aboard the 125 ft Orange catamaran, pushing sailors to their limits as they navigate the open ocean. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Indian Ocean? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
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Orange 125 PARTICULARS    
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Trapped Camel
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Caravanserai
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Patrick's Playpen


Welcome to the legendary "Westcoaster," a race that has tested sailors for over 50 years. Spanning 435 nautical miles, this iconic journey takes racers from Melbourne, across the formidable Bass Strait, and around Tasmania's rugged west coast to the finish line in Hobart. Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, the Westcoaster is renowned for its challenging conditions and adventurous spirit. This year, our SOLers will tackle the course in the swift and capable First 47.7, a yacht launched by Beneteau in 2000, built for speed and endurance in long ocean races. Get ready for an exhilarating ride in one of Australia’s most celebrated yacht races!
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Mirek's Mess & Canteen
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Antarctica 1 of 3
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Race starts: Jan 27th 21:57 Registration Open!

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Flinders Island TIMED Race 2024

In the southern reaches of the Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania, you will find the Furneaux Group of islands, largest of which is Flinders, both named after famed British navigators. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to race your Ocean 50 catamaran a course of c 106nm around Flinders in the fastest time. This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. This course will self-destruct in 13 days and 11 hours after opening for entrants.
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Tasman Double 2023 - Hobart to Sydney
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John's Test Zone
It's time to test your ocean racing skills in a variety of weathers as we head the 6400 NM between Hong Kong and Auckland in a fast Super Maxi 100. We'll be heading from a northern summer to a southern winter so keep plenty of cold weather gear and warm rum on board!
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calm's Practice Race
Last raced in 2021, we return to Boston for another race to Newport. And just like in 2021, the chosen boat is once again the speedy R/P 66. This is a TIMED race so pick your winds wisely and see how quickly you can complete this 132nm run! For reference, the winning time in 2021 was 6:12:28.
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ZONA DE PRUEBA DE MANUEL

Welcome to the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand's 2022 Evolution Sails Northern Triangle series, which, unfortunately, to comply with latest NZ government COVID restrictions, has been reduced to a duo, commencing with this short prologue of approximately 35nm on the waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. As so often with SSANZ events in the past, online we will be racing the event in ever-young Young 88 one-designs. Have fun!
Please note the displayed course is provisional; the actual course will be set after the IRL course is announced at the skipper's briefing 48 hours before the start, and no later than 24 hours before the start.
Race #1561
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San Sebastian to La Rochelle 2021
Once again, our SOL race will be shared with a group of Polish sailors, representing one of the stages of their Virtual Training Cruise around Europe. 171 nm in Delphia 47s across the not always calm Bay of Biscay from San Sebastian to La Rochelle will undoubtedly be one to test their skills. Welcome/Witajcie and we wish you all fair winds.
Race #1441
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Aland Sea TIMED Race
Norrtalje Segelsallskap, 70km NE of Stockholm was founded in 1920, and time was when the society’s season opened with a challenging offshore race from the club line off Flaten island at the mouth of the long and narrow Norrtaljeviken, out onto a triangular course around the Aland Sea, to finish at Simpnas slightly to the north on Bjorko island - some 78nm in total. A fine race that SOL, being from these parts, ran annually up until 2013. Last run in autumn 2018, we return here to race the course again in the form a TIMED RUN in spanking new Club Swan 50s.
RE-REGISTER HERE to race again after finishing a run.
Race #1444
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Bimmer's Test Zone
What about a speedy X-362 380nm race in the waters off S America, just to blow cobwebs away!!
Race #1415
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Race starts: Dec 21st 16:00 Registration Open!

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Antarctica 3 of 3
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BLANK POLAR
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