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Profile for bc



Name bc
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Posts10
  • Re: Aaron James Gage - 1971-2012
    Board » Technical Support
    I am in shock. I've been trying to contact Aaron for weeks and only just today came looking to see if he'd posted online. I haven't known him as long as most of you but in the short time I have known him he made a huge impact in my life.

    Like EVERYONE at SOL, Aaron was very helpful when I started racing here. He learned that I used to write software quite a few years ago (Any of you ever hear of DOS *grin*? Yeah it was a while ago). Aaron told me that I should get back into it. He said if I wanted to get started again he would help me.

    Lots of people talk like that but Aaron meant it. He said the move from C and C++ to C# would be easy and sent me lots of references to help me get started. He reviewed my code, made suggestions and if he felt I was missing something we'd connect up with Skype and TeamViewer and get me straight.

    Aaron loved sailing and software and his enthusiasm was contagious. Like so many others others I will miss him deeply.

    Bruce AKA bc sailing Morgaine

    John Masefield's "Down to the Sea" seems so appropriate.

    I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
    And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
    And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
    And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

    I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
    Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
    And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
    And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

    I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
    To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
    And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
    And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

  • Re: Is there a test server?
    Board » Technical Support
    Hi RainbowChaser,

    Thanks for the reply. Yes I did know about having to have a DC set within the hour of start. I set mine for 30 minutes before. Again, its probably cockpit issues, if it were a server bug I wouldn't be the only one experiencing it. The screen shot is a great idea for next time around.

    I didn't know about "evening practice races" though. Are they announced somewhere? That would be ideal for testing.

    Thanks again for the help. Hope you catch your rainbow, saw one end over an Irish pub once. Didn't find a pot of gold but the beer was really good :)
  • Is there a test server?
    Board » Technical Support
    Here is the situation: twice now I've loaded up my course prior to a race start (6/8 hours before)than log in a few hours after the start to find that I'm still at the starting line. The first time I figured it was cockpit error, maybe didn't covert the time correctly or something.

    This time (start of SWR leg 3) I was careful to verify course and time. Heading 30 minutes prior to 10:00z was set to 33 degrees, again at 10:00:01z (just in case) another course set of 33 degrees. There were multiple course updates after that.

    When I woke this morning and checked the progress I was still at the starting line. I can see that my list of changes had been executed up to the current time but I was still in irons at the start. I manually set my course and it started fine and auto course changes are being executed now without an issue.

    I'm still trying to wrap my brain around how this could happen. I'm certain I read in the manual that after the toe back to the start area (1 hour prior to the start) that course headings could be entered and the boat would hold that position until the start. Just to make sure this time I didn't even do practice racing prior to the start so I was already in the starting area.

    The fact that the course change list had incremented leads me to think this is server side but even if the headings prior to the start time were ignored (and I doubt they were)the 10:00:01 and following headings should have worked.

    On the other hand, I don't see how this could be client side because the the course was loaded via Brainaid's DC editor and the client listed the course in the course list.

    SO, Is there a test server/race anywhere where I can set up starts to try and duplicate/debug this anomaly OR does anyone have any suggestions why this might have happened and how to avoid it in the future?

    Bruce


    --- Last Edited by bc at 2012-01-14 15:38:41 ---
  • Re: Client Update (3Jul)
    Board » Technical Support
    Hmmmmm, out on the water (real water) seems to me that one of the major strategies is stay with/cover your competition. True, virtual sailing doesn't require the boat handling skills of real sailing but that makes this competition even more strategic.

    Not speaking for the rest of the fleet but I'm always looking to become better than my competition, that involves watching them carefully and learning "why" they do, not just "what" they do. Eventually you learn to spot the error and take advantage of an opportunity.

    I think "stealth mode" interfere with that learning opportunity. I'll tell you, the best competitors I've known are usually willing, even happy, to help someone who wants to learn. It improves their game too.

    Just my opinion but it possibly is an indicator of they type of opposition you might see to such a feature.
  • Re: NMEA Proxy Feed
    Board » Technical Support
    whatever it was, it cleared up.
  • NMEA Proxy Feed
    Board » Technical Support
    Anyone besides me having trouble with the NMEA Proxy feed on the Tasman race? I receive some data but much of the data is missing, position for one. I get the AIS data. I tried verifying this with both the NavMonPC and a router. Both work fine with the feed from SWR but fail on the Tasman Race.

    I'v verified the ports and the rest of the configuration. Tried restarting, rebooting.

    Anyone else having similar problems?
    Anyone have any ideas how to troubleshoot this further?
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Of course, having brought up this subject for the purpose of proposing a Bermuda Race, I now realize that the biggest reason for following the Gulf Stream in that race is because of the effect of the wind at the boundary. *DUH* So in the virtual world, with wind data that is universal across the fleet, the need for current and temperature is really unnecessary.
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Excellent reasons, though I think the current data is available in grib files. More important is the Angel and Financing. I sure know that story. I maintain a server now at an 80% loss. Those writing the code should be compensated somehow.
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    In a way I think I'm glad. I have enough trouble with the wind for now. I'm happy the quiver's empty though, how about the blunder buss.

    Thanks for the welcome.
  • Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Still pretty new here so maybe this has been addressed before. If not, perhaps I risk painting a target on my back and handing out arrows at the same time BUT, has anyone considered adding currents to SOL? I fear it would add a magnitude of complexity to coding and sailing but it would make races like Newport/Marion to Bermuda race a realistic, challenging race.

    *looking for a rock to hide under*

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


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
GO TO RACE

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!
GO TO RACE

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
GO TO RACE

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!
GO TO RACE

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
GO TO RACE

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!
GO TO RACE

Gulf of St Lawrence - test - Mirek
-
Race starts: Apr 21st 17:00 Registration Open!

GO TO RACE

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
GO TO RACE

Trapped Camel
-
Race starts: Aug 21st 15:03 Registration Open!

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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!
GO TO RACE

Mirek's Mess & Canteen
music deleted
Race starts: Apr 26th 18:00 Registration Closed

GO TO RACE

Antarctica 1 of 3
-
Race starts: Jan 27th 21:57 Registration Open!

GO TO RACE

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!
GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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
GO TO RACE

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!

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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!

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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

GO TO RACE

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