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Board » Sailonline Yacht Club » brainaid

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totally agree with Nick - when my spare time allows me to join in and I start (always too late) I simply try to catch some guys in front of me and try to work my way up. I had some good legs in the VOR - <50 - but it was hell lots of work - and the fun dropped. With a less ambitious attitude the fun is again rising (except that SOL closed the Rio inshore whithout letting me finish ;-) )

my 2pence

Berth aka Stu
I have no problem with anyone using routing software. Whether SailPlanner, MaxSea, Deckman, or any other (such as Eddie has created). After all this game was created to test SailPlanner, a routing software program. I personally do not use routing software. I just do it the old fashioned way using tools in the game, and sometimes a calculator and paper and pencil.

Nor do I have any problem with Eddie's or anyone else using knowledge of weather patterns or NOAA projections. Anyone can download a free grib file reader from ugrib.us and see the weather about 45 min before it is installed in the game. Eddie has spent many hours in hard study of weather and weather patterns and I think it is rightful and fair that he can use that knowledge and talent in the game.

Here is where I think the line was crossed into unfair advantage:
"Now, after finishing the real brain work above, I use a script to program my planed track into SOL using DCs (delayed commands). I did not think about this being unfair at all, it simply was the logical step for me."

This use of a widget to program his course by DCs, I think has given him an advantage over all of us without such a tool.

I am not so sure if access to such a tool for everyone would be a solution. Many of us have lobbied for a simpler Delay Command tool. Or, for a projected course line that would show results of set DCs. I'm sure that such presents huge programing and server load implications. Many of us have also asked for a go-to-WayPoint and change course tool. If that would make the game too easy, how easy would a tool that that would read the divider tool lines and points and enter them into DCs make the game. To me a script that would take the readout of a routing program and enter that into DCs in the game is the same thing.


--- Last Edited by captjack1942 at 2009-11-20 21:07:48 ---
I read Captjack's post and a thought happened :)Why can we not set positional DC's? Would this make it too easy perhaps? Ive often thought that this would help me during the week when Im working and stop the SLI's from jumping into my path. It would help if I could sail for 10.5 nm and then turn rather than wait for the weather to change and affect my time lapse DC and I hit the land. How often Ive been caught out by my boat speeding up or slowing down and creating problems while Im asleep.
What I was trying to say is, if having a waypoint command line instead of/and the delay command line would make the game too easy. Then having a script that automatically enters delay commands(or even direct commands)really makes it easy.

I can see where a waypoint command would certainly help with work, sleep, travel problems. I'd certainly be in favor of it, even if there were a limit on the number of commands per 24 hours.
What would really be nice is a 6 hour projected course line that shows the results of delay commands.

Anyway, those are wishes, what I'd really like is for Eddie to rejoin us and race with us...all on equal footing as it were. If there are to be special tools for piloting they should be part of the game and easy for all to use.


--- Last Edited by captjack1942 at 2009-11-20 21:29:27 ---
I for one, am really happy sailors with the expertise of Brainaid and enjoy the challenge. He gives me a good yardstick to measure myself against.
I use SOTP method and enjoy the challenge. In real-life sailing, I sailed as a Saturday sailor for years with a hot Sydney Harbour Etchells fleet and always enjoyed the challenge of pitting myself against professionals. We have picked up a few trophies over the years, but the thrill was in the competition.
come back Eddie!
oops, missed some words out.
I for one, am really happy to race against sailors with the expertise of Brainaid and enjoy the challenge. He gives me a good yardstick to measure myself against.
I use SOTP method and enjoy the challenge. In real-life sailing, I havesailed as a Saturday sailor for years with a hot Sydney Harbour Etchells fleet and always enjoyed the challenge of pitting myself against professionals. We have picked up a few trophies over the years, but the thrill was in the competition.
come back Eddie!
How does it work? Am I right that all routing sorfware relies on the polars in XL that Brain so kindly shares with the rest of us?

How does brain get the polar numbers?

I dont want Brain to feel like he shouldnt make the most of his hard work and I dont think that software/non-software divisions can be policed. But I am too computerdumb to build my own software and too cheap to buy anyone elses.

If I am right that software needs the XL document, would having a few races in different boats where we get the polar picture on the steering tab but the XL data is unavailable solve the problem?

If I am wrong, please refer to the computerdumb statement above.
Nowadays we give away the polars in the client :-)
...one of the guys behind the game...
so if we did a few races where the polar numbers were kept secret, would that mean that you wouldnt be able to use software for those races?

I dont usually get involved in the software debate. I think brain & co have done quite a good job of dveloping the skills and software and I'm usually happy to be within sight of them every now and then. Its just that I've been away from sol for a month or so and this debate is still going. I dont think that brain not sailing is a very good solution.

--- Last Edited by JEBA _ at 2009-11-25 20:33:40 ---
There are always ways to decode the polars if you are computer-skilled enough so we considered it more fair to give everybody the same chance by giving the polar in the open.
...one of the guys behind the game...

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Garagiste's Test Lab

Welcome to Newport, RI, one of the great sailing centers of the world. This TIMED race takes us around Nantucket Island in RC 44s to celebrate the life of Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold who, among many other things in his short life, named Cape Cod for the teeming fish he encountered there, and Martha’s Vineyard for his daughter. 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 #1939
INFOby brainaid.de
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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
INFO by brainaid.de
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Race starts: Aug 03rd 08:00 Registration Open!
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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
INFO from brainaid.de
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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
INFO by brainaid.de
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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!
Race #1859
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Gulf of St Lawrence - test - Mirek
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Race starts: Apr 21st 17:00 Registration Open!

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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
INFO by brainaid.de
Orange 125 PARTICULARS    
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Trapped Camel
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Race starts: Aug 21st 15:03 Registration Open!

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Caravanserai
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Race starts: Aug 08th 17:00 Registration Open!

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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!
Race #1841
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Mirek's Mess & Canteen
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Race starts: Apr 26th 18:00 Registration Closed

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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.
Race #1776
INFO by brainaid.de
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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!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1597
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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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Race #1700
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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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Delphia 47 PARTICULARS
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Race starts: Mar 05th 17:00 Registration Open!

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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
INFO by brainaid.de
Club Swan 50 Particulars
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RACE CLOSE: Sunday, 28 February at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Feb 15th 12:00 Registration Closed

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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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X-362 PARTICULARS
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ALT. CLIENT:Classic

Race starts: Dec 21st 16:00 Registration Open!

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Antarctica 3 of 3
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Race starts: Sep 16th 11:13 Registration Closed

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BLANK POLAR
Race starts: Feb 16th 00:00 Registration Open!

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