BrendanS
Well-known member
Are you taking you wind info from another source to Sailonline, as all the arrows look pretty much the same to me?
YBW Fleet location
- Thread starter fireball
- Start date
fireball
New member
He's right - I've got 4.7m/s and he's got 4.4 ......
makes all the difference ... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
makes all the difference ... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Dipper
Well-known member
Some interesting wiggles on your course earlier Brendan. Did you have to go round a semi submerged container? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I am now sailing to get the best VMG as it is downwind all the way to the Canaries. In the short term, I may lose out but the wind is veering and those boats further out may find they get pushed too far. Both you and I are probably a bit too close inshore (at the moment) but with the wind shift we will have the opportunity to get further out.
The strategy is really difficult to predict even though this web site does provide lots of clues. I think that is what makes it a challenge. The VOR site sounds more like a traditional game catering for the masses where chance plays an equal or more role than skill. Running aground 20 miles off Morocco - what's that all about ?
Keep your eye on the wind shifts ahead (you may have already spotted them) which vary with both time and distance and try to use them to your advantage. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
When Fireball overtakes me (as he will shortly), I suggest you appoint him as your new mentor.
I am now sailing to get the best VMG as it is downwind all the way to the Canaries. In the short term, I may lose out but the wind is veering and those boats further out may find they get pushed too far. Both you and I are probably a bit too close inshore (at the moment) but with the wind shift we will have the opportunity to get further out.
The strategy is really difficult to predict even though this web site does provide lots of clues. I think that is what makes it a challenge. The VOR site sounds more like a traditional game catering for the masses where chance plays an equal or more role than skill. Running aground 20 miles off Morocco - what's that all about ?
Keep your eye on the wind shifts ahead (you may have already spotted them) which vary with both time and distance and try to use them to your advantage. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
When Fireball overtakes me (as he will shortly), I suggest you appoint him as your new mentor.
Dipper
Well-known member
Move the mouse cursor (the cross) over the screen and watch the blue figures in the black information bar at the top change showing you the wind direction and speed at that point. If you position the cursor on someone's boat, you can see their wind speed/direction at the time of the update. Note that this information only changes every time there's an update so it is instantly out of date. The same with the arrows - they are out of date. You can see this by comparing your own TWD (True Wind Direction) on your 'instruments' with the figure in blue when your cursor is over your boat. Unless the wind is steady or the weather has just updated, they will be different.
BrendanS
Well-known member
The wiggles were me experimenting with increased boat speed over vmg, and seeing if I could gain a few places. It wasn't working, so I went back to a compromise which didn't see me losing places.
BrendanS
Well-known member
Blimey, I'd totally missed that moving the cursor shows wind strength!
Too used to interpreting charts with with traditional barbed arrows, where the barbs show the strength.
Too used to interpreting charts with with traditional barbed arrows, where the barbs show the strength.
fireball
New member
Ah, but the barbs are not accurate enough ... you're racing proper boats now!!
BrendanS
Well-known member
I've sailed dinghys and big boats, but never raced, this is all new learning experience.
Flippin good fun, but very frustrating that I couldn't keep my early lead.
By the time the race finishes, I might actually know what I'm doing! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Flippin good fun, but very frustrating that I couldn't keep my early lead.
By the time the race finishes, I might actually know what I'm doing! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
fireball
New member
This is nothing like racing I've ever done either ....
Dinghy racing is quite different and all about covering your opponent or sometimes taking a flyer, but it is all over in an hour or two and you don't have to plan for major windshifts (usually, although if you're sailing in a northerly when the sea breeze comes in then it can get quite interesting!)
Dinghy racing is quite different and all about covering your opponent or sometimes taking a flyer, but it is all over in an hour or two and you don't have to plan for major windshifts (usually, although if you're sailing in a northerly when the sea breeze comes in then it can get quite interesting!)
Dipper
Well-known member
Don't forget, you only need to be in the lead as you cross the line! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Dipper
Well-known member
If you scroll the weather forward, then the cursor gives you the predicted wind strength/direction figures anywhere on the course in the future. So you can scroll the weather forward 6 hours and put the cursor at the end of your red line and that is what the wind will be at that place and time assuming you are sailing a straight line.
The cursor also gives bearing and distance from your boat which saves using the ruler option.
The cursor also gives bearing and distance from your boat which saves using the ruler option.
BrendanS
Well-known member
It's a shame you can sail through other boats. I think using colregs and racing rules, and shouting 'Water' etc at other boats would make it highly amusing! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Dipper
Well-known member
What could also add to the fun is if they could give each boat a pocket of dirty air to leeward of them so that you could blanket an opponent if they got too close to you. They could use the % performance figure to slow the affected boat down.
BrendanS
Well-known member
A pocket of dirty air downwind of each boat, would have made the Gib Straights very interesting!
fireball
New member
Applying the colregs would be tricky as we're playing the navigators roll - so we call the course and sit back and have another coffee (actually, that's a good idea, only had 1 so far this morning) ...
I think the blanking idea might be good - depends on the resolution of the game - and for the most part you're not going to be 1-2 boat lengths away from another competitor ....
It's a blummin good little proggy - add to it the social element - group results - and it will be fantastic !!
I think the blanking idea might be good - depends on the resolution of the game - and for the most part you're not going to be 1-2 boat lengths away from another competitor ....
It's a blummin good little proggy - add to it the social element - group results - and it will be fantastic !!
BrendanS
Well-known member
Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising, it's an excellent program. Just jesting about racing tactics. Making formal appeals etc.
Whitelighter
Active member
woohoo, made up a few places over night and now getting on for Gib.
This is good fun, and the real bonus is I have managed to get the client to work in the office /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
This is good fun, and the real bonus is I have managed to get the client to work in the office /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Dipper
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
It's a blummin good little proggy
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree. It's kind of clean and crisp if that's the right description. It has everything I want and nothing I don't want. It's certainly a sailing (strategy) competition rather than just a game and you are rewarded or punished for your decisions. Of course there is an element of luck due to the weather but there is enough information available for players to influence the degree of luck they get.
It's a blummin good little proggy
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree. It's kind of clean and crisp if that's the right description. It has everything I want and nothing I don't want. It's certainly a sailing (strategy) competition rather than just a game and you are rewarded or punished for your decisions. Of course there is an element of luck due to the weather but there is enough information available for players to influence the degree of luck they get.
fireball
New member
Sorry - went into programmer mode .... concentrating on getting past Dipper - although I'm actually clear ahead I'm further NW than he is .... even so, the gap is now 0.2Nm ......
Dipper - are you sure you cleared all that net?! or did the grappling hook get you ..... if it did, you better remove the bucket on the other end!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Dipper - are you sure you cleared all that net?! or did the grappling hook get you ..... if it did, you better remove the bucket on the other end!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
BrendanS
Well-known member
We can both congratulate each other when we cross the finish line together in 6 months time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif