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Posted by StuArt ![]() |
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Hi addicts,
In our howto about race proposals it says that finishing lines should have a certain lenght - ocean race for example 5nm and weekenders can be shorter. I found that a good idea; after 3 weeks racing missing the line because you cannot finish around a tricky course is not funny. Again the leg 5 finishing line is way too short and is situated in a position, that you have to watch your course at least 2 or 3 hours before. I don't like that. Hows your opinion? regards Stu |
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Posted by Tempest ![]() |
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Hi Stu
On one hand I agree as i am not that great in setting DC's (no patience to calculate) . However on the other hand we want races to be as real as possible. In my opinion this also includes, unfavourable or short start / finishlines , unfavourable start time somewhere around the globe. To summon up my view keep "real races" as real as possible and amend the manual with a note that for real races line length maybe shorter. groeten/ regards Tempest |
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Posted by Rod |
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It may be nice for sailors to be able to finish while not being logged in for many hours. But in some parts of the world, any given S-F line may be convenient or inconvenient. Well---tough!!!
I would be greatly in favour of placing start and finish lines in the same places as the IRL race being modelled. I would also favour the use of the same in-port courses as the Volvo Ocean Race, just to name one example. There surely should be no intention to make the SOL races EASIER than the real ones. If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy. |
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Posted by NZL_PaulR ![]() |
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I agree with Rod. As real as possible, "ultimate online sailracing experience", as per SoL's stated aim on the home page.
I prefer the finish lines to be as accurate as possible and if that means short tacking up a river at the finish, then so be it. e.g. Antwerp & Hobart, and those ports are on the opposite sides of the world. Be fair to all of us, where ever we are. Sorry StuArt but you need a concrete pill, and a rum or three!! LOL!! --- Last Edited by NZL_PaulR at 2012-04-06 21:10:11 --- --- Last Edited by NZL_PaulR at 2012-04-06 21:10:37 --- If it breaks, it's not strong enough! |
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Posted by NZL_PaulR ![]() |
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Tempest: DCs need practice and if in doubt then it can be "Wise and Prudent" to set a different but useful strategy nevertheless.
e.g. set a DC for TWA=0 so that you stop near a mark OR hit a handy island. This way one does not sail miles away from a mark, fiord or river entrannce and then have hours to sail back again. See my performance in the Auckland Tauranga race where I went close hauled too soon and did not round Channel Island correctly, and then sailed way past back again across the Hauraki Gulf till I hit land and then had to sail back to Channel Island again. As the consultant said, "Take my advice, I'm not using it". Good luck!! If it breaks, it's not strong enough! |
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Posted by StuArt ![]() |
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Ah well: regardlessly you think I am a sl (sissy lala)
![]() With the reality thing you got me: -The finishing line IRL is 0.37nm long; our is 2nm. Why not 1nm or 5nm or 25nm? (well: in the official R&R papers there is not definition of the line either). -I couldn't find any ice gates in the game. A terrible lack of IRL, because I wouldn't have taken this stupid decision to go south (resp. follow 76T...hahaha). - Why not having a proper IRL start line as well? That should do things quite real and exciting - just in case you are missing out some excitement, Paul ![]() No no no: I liked the practice having long finishing lines some time ago (and nobody accused us being not real enough ![]() About short races I agree: tricky and short lines are part of the fun :-s best regards Stu |
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Posted by NZL_PaulR ![]() |
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Start Lines.
Yes I agree StuArt. In the past I have debated / proposed the Sydney Hobart, White Island races etc be as near to the IRL start, rather than outside the harbour headlands. Yet in the Tall Ships races the start lines were small & within the harbours from memory. Ice Gates. Yes missing in SoL WR but I think that gave everybody a unique perspective. Certainly I went a long way south and tried to stay on the great circle course. This is one advantage of SoL whereby we can compare theoretical vs actual performance. I jotted down the odd Volvo boat position for comparison at times, but it was labourous task. I would have preferred the Tall Ships solution where real boats are also shown as "@name", allowing direct comparision. Equally the Global Ocean Race and the Clipper RTWR boat positions could be shown, if they happen to be in our parts of the world's oceans. Other Virtual Races e.g. to North Pole could be interesting, especially as they can't be done IRL. Likewise racing in the Amazon, Dead Sea, Lake Titucana(Spell?) Peru where rainfall, altitude etc could be new factors. Perhaps the Amazon would need a "river current" so navigating bends, shallows and rapids would be new challanges. There is a lot of undeveloped potential in SoL. Finish Lines: should be identical to IRL finish lines, even if zooming in is required for final approaches. I don't know if there is a server load problem handling 1,000 boats onto a narrow finish. Likewise many finishes are between 2 headlands, or under a bridge etc and the finish line should be at 90 degrees to the last natural headland, as IRL it often is. Practice races are just that . . . PRACTICE so a long finish line is OK. Personally getting up at 0600 in the morning just for a practice race is not on my agenda, that's far to early for me. I have looked at the odd practice course and I think they are well designed, varied and quite different. If it breaks, it's not strong enough! |
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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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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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Stefan's Duck Pond

PRIZE: SMPF
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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
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Flinders Island TIMED Race 2024

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Tasman Double 2023 - Hobart to Sydney
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Race starts: Jan 02nd 02:00
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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
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calm's Practice Race
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Race #1700
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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
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Race #1441
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Race #1444
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Race #1415
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BLANK POLAR
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