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Posted by ShamrockPirate ![]() |
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Hi All... a newbie here. Didn't take long for SOLaddiction to set in and work is wondering where I am! I have searched through a number of threads to see if this question has popped up. Has there been discussion of adding a "headsail" option for the boats? Not sure if this would add too much variability (read that as server capacity I guess) but it would add another layer of sophistication. Have a few ideas on how it could be accomplished but certainly longer than a simple post.
Really looking forward to being a frequent SOLer. Shamrock |
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Posted by zero ![]() |
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Pirate,
You are completely missing the point of SOL. The beauty of SOL is that is very simple to play and very difficult to win. All you have to do is point the boat to where you want to go and the computer picks the maximum speed possible based on the wind speed and direction. Simple. SOL assumes that we all have the best crew inthe world and our boats are always in ship-shape conditioning. Looks easy, right? Well, yes but try to win races. What you are asking for is to give the sailors ability to sail at a speed other than the optimum, by changing sails. This would make the game extremelly complicate and would spoil the pleasure. Antonio (zero) Antonio (zero) --- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:40:38 --- --- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:42:07 --- --- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:53:32 --- |
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Posted by A2 ![]() |
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Pardon me for for venturing into waters were I am most likely beyond my depth but there are some subtle distinctions at play here.
SOL is not exactly a sailing simulation, per se, in that what matters here is not How you sail but rather Where you sail. We all have the same composite polar and derive equal benefit therefore of its realized potential as far as sailing performance goes. The challenge that is left is a pure routing exercise, which is the raison d'être of the company that provides the server resources for our mutual enjoyment. None so blind |
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Posted by zero ![]() |
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Monsieur Bonisseur,
You said very well. Thank you. Antonio |
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Posted by ShamrockPirate ![]() |
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Thanks all for the reply and education. Hopefully other new members will benefit from my question and not completely miss the point as well. Certainly agree it is easy to sail but difficult to sail well. If it weren't a challenge.... why do it?
Cheers. |
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Posted by sol ![]() |
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It also wouldnt be possible, as different polars would be needed for the different headsails (on boats which carry/allow them), and current polar data only accounts for the best possible (theoretical even?) performance of a boat
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Posted by AGage ![]() |
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Apologies, that last post was me - oops. I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__ |
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Posted by ShamrockPirate ![]() |
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Thanks AG... As I learn more about SOL and processes behind it, I can see how/why this would be really tough to incorporate. Appreciate the responses!
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Posted by Capt.D.P. ![]() |
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Already now we have a lot of work and being present at the computer especially on weather reports and if we would need to change the sails than at each wind shift we should be present,especially when the spi should be hoisted.
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Posted by 76Trombones ![]() |
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My take:
SOL could pretty easily update the polars to include sail-change data. The info is pretty much in there already in the more detailed ones. But... when working out navigation/strategy/route-finding, you always use the composite polar. You want the solution with the boat sailing at max performance. Since SOL is a navigation game, the way it works now makes perfect sense, and reflect what you'd do IRL. Sail changes aren't a strategic choice. There's no decision to be made, but rather simply looking up on your table which one should be up for the given conditions. We don't have gear damage, sea states or crew fatigue to account for. We're the Afterguard... leave the grunt work to the trimmers and foredeck ![]() (and the routers would eat the fleet... not based on skill, but simply efficiency of setting DC) |
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Garagiste's Test Lab

Race #1939
INFOby brainaid.de
RC 44 Particulars
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Ranking:
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RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
23 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 10th 12:00 Registration will open soon
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Patricks Test

Race #1932
INFO by brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
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Ranking:
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Race starts: Aug 03rd 08:00 Registration Open!
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Joanne's Test Race Zone
Race #1847
INFOby brainaid.de
Fareast 31R PARTICULARS
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Ranking: SYC - RED
Race starts: Jul 25th 12:00 Registration Closed
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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
Riptide 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ3 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Jul 21st 17:00 Registration Open!
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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
29er_XX PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPRQ3 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Jul 19th 15:00 Registration Closed
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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
INFOby brainaid.de
60ft Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
Race starts: Jun 03rd 11:30 Registration Open!
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Gulf of St Lawrence - test - Mirek
-
Race starts: Apr 21st 17:00
Registration Open!
Stefan's Duck Pond

PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Orange 125 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ3 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Feb 06th 00:00 Registration Closed
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Trapped Camel
-
Race starts: Aug 21st 15:03
Registration Open!
Caravanserai
-
Race starts: Aug 08th 17:00
Registration Open!
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
INFO by brainaid.de
First 47.7 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Aug 03rd 08:00 Registration Open!
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Mirek's Mess & Canteen
music deleted
Race starts: Apr 26th 18:00
Registration Closed
Antarctica 1 of 3
-
Race starts: Jan 27th 21:57
Registration Open!
Flinders Island TIMED Race 2024

Race #1776
INFO by brainaid.de
Ocean 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
27 January at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jan 14th 12:00 Registration Open!
GO TO RACE
Tasman Double 2023 - Hobart to Sydney
music deleted
Race starts: Jan 02nd 02:00
Registration Open!
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
INFOby brainaid.de
Super Maxi 100 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ3-OCCH-SUPSOL-SYC
Race starts: Sep 01st 04:00
Registration Closed
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.
RE-REGISTER HERE to race again after finishing a run
Race #1700
INFO by brainaid.de
R/P 66 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday, 18 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 05th 12:00
Registration Closed
ZONA DE PRUEBA DE MANUEL

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
INFOby brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - NTR
Race starts: Jan 10th 14:00 Registration Closed
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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
INFOby brainaid.de
Delphia 47 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Mar 05th 17:00
Registration Open!
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
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
RANKING:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday, 28 February at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Feb 15th 12:00
Registration Closed
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
INFOby brainaid.de
X-362 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SYC
ALT. CLIENT:Classic
Race starts: Dec 21st 16:00
Registration Open!
Antarctica 3 of 3
-
Race starts: Sep 16th 11:13
Registration Closed
BLANK POLAR
Race starts: Feb 16th 00:00
Registration Open!
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