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Board » General Discussion » My Toolset (work in progress)

There was some discussion the other night regarding me writing some small tools to work with SOL, and some comment that there is already too much 'extra software' for SOL.

So, rather than explain what i do and do not intend to do entirely with words, i though I would just post a screnshot of a few of the tools in action.
Also because I just discovered how to integrate Google maps/earth into the whole kit! ;-)

No, there is nothing but a blank globe at this point, but you can see me on the map, and hey i have only just began working on that feature set...

But I do need to quick list some features:
As can be seen in screenshot:
Displays Nav data and optionally outputs GPS to a virtual com port; calculates best angles (to more precision than seen in SOL client or this screenshot); view polar (and more features planed there to); send commands (enhanced syntax - eg specify tack with twa: 45 port or -45) and issue/edit DCs; and of course, various overlays in GE/Maps right in the app!

Not sure what is going on with DTG and waypoint RNG (I calc Waypoint RNG) but i know the algorithm I using is accurate (supposedly) to the mm! yes thats millimetre.

There are more tools in there (not shown) for constructing smooth curved courses; a 'TWA = 0' alarm; and a few other things planned - currently coding an AIS radar and polar butterfly for currentTWS overlay on the actual SOL client, auto rotated for TWD, and I welcome any suggestions (requests even) as of course once ready enough it shall be available for all.

NOTE: I have no intention of using any wind data other than current wind conditions from SOL or those manually input by user, so its still a SOTP kit! ;-)

It gets all data directly from SOL server, and updates LESS often than official client, so should use less data for the bandwidth challenged and place less load on servers.

Please leave feedback/suggestions/opinions and whatever...
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Attachments
Fabulous Work!
Almost everything what i had thought of, but at least didn't realy start do develope.
I had thought of a Polar Butterfly overlayed on Boatpositon and turned to TWD to vizualize your option in different TWA direct on the Map. But that is what you o´pointed out and i just didn't understand. ;-)
It should be possible to have the 'butterfly' with the correct windspeed, shown with the right orientation to wind direction, over your own boat position at all times---or even just when you operate the steering control.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Thats looking very cool Agage.
Nice layout and format.
I wish I new enough about computers to do that sort of stuff...........maybe next life:)
Status Update:

Been working mostly on Google Maps integration (GE later), and just displaying correct data - make it look nicer once functionality is complete. Trying to implement 'Tracks on mouse over' as in official SOL client.

Looks pretty good to me so far though ;-)

NOTE: Corinthian SOLers, check pic 'FleetFiltered 5Nm.jpg':

Some nice pics from 'Round North Island' practice (reversed order, view bottom up is best)

Edit: Tracks on mouse-over done. Show the course with numbered marks, an arrow start, F for finish and a geodesic between them for the longer courses. Addded much boat info in a pop-up when a 'boat' is clicked: lat/lon cog, sog (estimate), rank, dtg, dbl, and rng/brg from player - see pic 'GM Farmor near L3 fin' for an example (no rng/brg implemented there yet though).

Looking for some nice boat icons to use instead of the default 'paddles' GMaps uses, if anyone has suggestions or even png/gif files (no jpg, they need transparency), same icon with different colours would be good (~32x32px) ;-)

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2011-02-18 07:51:59 ---

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2011-02-18 08:02:29 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Getting there with Google Maps interface:
(& another nice green pic from NZL)

Again, if anyone knows of or has some nice boat icons, I am still looking (obv from the pics). 3 for upwind/crosswind/downwind and on each tack would be awesome! ;-)

Edit: I found a decent icon after much searching, but still think there must be something better out there...

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2011-02-19 14:35:26 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Attachments
So I finally got around to implementing a polar butterfly overlay, after chatting with ShamrockPirate in race chat earlier today. Has worked out quite well to, it auto aligns with TWD, and of course draw the curve for current TWS and actually looks like it is draw as part of the SOL client!

I also started a wordpress blog to share my tools, and also discuss any others I find either online tools or downloadable. There is a post about a great weather visualization tool up.

Check it out here, and please leave comments and any suggestions you may have. Pics of the butterfly are over there, no need to cross-post here to.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
I really really do need to spend some time reading all this!!! :-)

I just got as far as clicking on the link to Wordpress but.. must have my afternoon nap now.. grrrr.. my "useful hours" each day are so few these days darnit!!

AGage - super work!!
I decided to scrap the virtual COM output as that is just duplicating functionality from brainaid's NMEA proxy... I am hoping to implement a better 'AIS Radar' (although it uses direct SOL data not AIS from brainaid's) than in NavMon however, once I get my SOG estimation right. Its close now, but still doesnt behave well when the SOG is changing significantly. I don't suppose the SOLGods can include a timestamp with the fleet data ;-P

And RC, Wordpress is really easy, you will have no problems whatsoever creating content there... ;-)
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__

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Current Races:

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
RC 44 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
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

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
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SSANZ - SYC
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
INFOby brainaid.de
Fareast 31R PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
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
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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    
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!

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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
INFO by brainaid.de
First 47.7 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
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

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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
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!
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Tasman Double 2023 - Hobart to Sydney
music deleted
Race starts: Jan 02nd 02:00 Registration Open!

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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
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

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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.
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

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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
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!

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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
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

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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
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!

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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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