Virtual Vendee Globe...

[Bill NH]

Anyone else racing in the virtual Vendee Globe?  It's not too late to get in.

http://www.virtualregatta.com/index_vendee.php

(Just what we need, more ways to sail when we can't really be sailing...      Don't let the boss see you though!)

Virtual Vendee'ers

VV Boat Names - sailFar Names
WanderBird - Bill NH
cruisenews - skylark
Continuous Moon - godot
Morning Dove - Tim
CapnK - ?
RodeOrm - Rode Orm
Vega176 - nowell
Pyrat - Joe Pyrat
devnull - dnice
Zenkaze - Zen

[nowell]

Vega176 if you want to add me as a friend! 

[skylark]

Thanks, cruisenews here

[Godot]

OK.  I'll try.

Continuous Moon

(a reference from a play I once worked on: The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard)

[Bill NH]

I'm in as "WanderBird"...  friended you guys.  Nice to know at least a couple of the 80,000+ boats in the race!

I haven't bought any of the "upgrades" (wind pilot steering, programmable autopilot, etc) - just sailing the frugal yankee way!

One thing that I've noticed already, this simulator is very good practice at making the same type of weather/tactics decisions as are made continuously on a passage, with the availability of weather forecasts up to 36 hours out.  The polars on the sail combinations seem pretty representative as well.  The real WanderBird has never gone this fast though!   Yee-hah!

[Tim]

OK I am in as "Morning Dove"

Bill you seem to be hanging out in the Canaries and Adam I do not know where you are but it seems to be pretty far north!
Exactly where are we supposed to be going (As you can tell I am not real big on reading directions)
In any case I have my spinnaker up and I'm flying 

[skylark]

Why did you turn back toward Africa, was the wind direction against you?

[nowell]

Why did you turn back toward Africa, was the wind direction against you?

If your asking me, I was just riding the reach out to better wind, im making almost 15 on the light spin now. Will probably try and cut between the Canary's, but depends on if the wind keeps up

[Godot]

I'm not sure I understand how they chose start points.  Might have something to do with not starting at the start time.  Dunno.  I read that you can throw out the worst three "legs".  On a non stop race, what qualifies as a leg?

I'm too poor for extras, too, so we'll see how things work out.  I suspect I might get stuck when the wind changes.  I can't be online constantly for the next several weeks, after all. I wonder if they simulate blown spinnakers and such.

[nowell]

I'm not sure I understand how they chose start points.  Might have something to do with not starting at the start time.  Dunno.  I read that you can throw out the worst three "legs".  On a non stop race, what qualifies as a leg?

I'm too poor for extras, too, so we'll see how things work out.  I suspect I might get stuck when the wind changes.  I can't be online constantly for the next several weeks, after all. I wonder if they simulate blown spinnakers and such.

Well the SailFar fleet is all together, so just send out the call and im sure we can turn back and get ya righted so you can meet us at the palm tree in the Canaries!

[Godot]

This gives me a thought ...

Are there any suggestions for an ocean sailing simulator where I could simulate the Scoot? It would be interesting to play with strategy based on various forecasts.  Ideally, I'd be able to define a boat similar to my own (actually, ideally it would already have my boat simulated; but I think that is asking a bit much) and a start and end point.

[dnice]

I'll play!!

"devnull"

Got you guys added. I too won't be using any of the extra's, and can't stay online 24/7 (although I'm getting close ) so we'll just see how it goes!

This gives me a thought ...

Are there any suggestions for an ocean sailing simulator where I could simulate the Scoot? It would be interesting to play with strategy based on various forecasts.  Ideally, I'd be able to define a boat similar to my own (actually, ideally it would already have my boat simulated; but I think that is asking a bit much) and a start and end point.

Virtual Sailor

I havent tried it, I wish I could though, I have a Mac and I am just SOL when it comes to stuff like this. (Not to mention money!)

A quick google search shows quite a few SIM's, but I am pretty sure Virtual Sailor is the best there is. Most of them cost$$ though..

Virtual Skipper 5, has a free demo But I don't think it as customizable as Virtual Sailor, Maybe worth checking out though....

[Bill NH]

Why did you turn back toward Africa, was the wind direction against you?

The "news" post on Wednesday said the Canary Islands were not part of the course.  I mistakenly assumed that meant I couldn't go through them, so altered course to pass between them and Africa, giving up a really nice slant.  By the time I realized that other boats were going through the islands I had lost over 4000 places...

[Bill NH]

Exactly where are we supposed to be going (As you can tell I am not real big on reading directions)
In any case I have my spinnaker up and I'm flying 

Around the world, leaving all capes to port and then back to the start!   

[Tim]

Exactly where are we supposed to be going (As you can tell I am not real big on reading directions)
In any case I have my spinnaker up and I'm flying 

Around the world, leaving all capes to port and then back to the start!   

  OK I got it port port port (mumbling on his way)

[skylark]

So how are you getting through the Canaries?  Looking at the wind charts, I'm thinking between Tenerife and Gran Canaria

[skylark]

Go here and click on The Race - Race Tracker

http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/weather/

[Tim]

So how are you getting through the Canaries?  Looking at the wind charts, I'm thinking between Tenerife and Gran Canaria

That is where my present course will take me, and it does not look as though winds will change before then.

[skylark]

I have done polar analysis on three sails in the 15 to 20 Kts windspeed range.

Following are the wind angles at which the sail is the best performer:

Code 0: 41 to 119.
Gennaker: 120 to 144; 150 to 169.
Spinnaker: 145 to 149; 170 to 180.

I have not had a chance to try the jib yet, it may excel in the lower wind angles.

[Tim]

I have done polar analysis on three sails in the 15 to 20 Kts windspeed range.

Following are the wind angles at which the sail is the best performer:

Code 0: 41 to 119.
Gennaker: 120 to 144; 150 to 169.
Spinnaker: 145 to 149; 170 to 180.

I have not had a chance to try the jib yet, it may excel in the lower wind angles.

I concur, I am getting my best out of the Gennaker right now at 133