Virtual Vendee Globe...

[Tim]

My strategy now is to look forward to the most consistent wind both in direction and strength. Not always easy to do but if possible (as it does for the next 24hrs) then maintaining a vigil over the laptop becomes unnecessary.

[ronc98]

I have been picking off people like crazy.   I took a more northerly path and got  lucky with the wind pattern.  I went from 210k down to under 129k in about a week.   I will never catch you guys up front so I will continue pick off the back markers.

Pretty fun predicting wind shifts. 

[Pablo]

Ronc98, did you past through the gate?

[ronc98]

According to the notes you do not have to pass through the gate, just have to have all of your boat north of the gate at one point in time.   So far I have passed through all the gates correctly because they turned green.

[Tim]

You can also check in "My Profile" to see cleared gates.

[dnice]

I've been making up positions by the thousands the last few days, but I'm going out of town for a week next week, so I'll have to see how that goes... I'll probably fall back to like 200,000 :)

I don't plan on quiting though, I want to make it no matter what position i'm in...Of course, I'm on the computer anyway, so checking in a few times a day is not so difficult. If I had to go out of my way for this, I don't think I would find it as interesting as I do now.

[ronc98]

You need a boat sitter

[dnice]

You need a boat sitter

Yeah, I thought about that. I may consider it depending on how things go.
But, I'll have access to computers while I;m there (visiting family), there just may be a day or two I wont be able to.. plus the 2 days of driving I will be doing (there and back)... Sitting DIW for an entire day can be devastating, as we all know...

[ronc98]

They do have a mobile application for your phone.   I have used it and it was rather simple it can help prevent DIW times

[Bill NH]

My strategy now is to look forward to the most consistent wind both in direction and strength. Not always easy to do but if possible (as it does for the next 24hrs) then maintaining a vigil over the laptop becomes unnecessary.

I've actually been doing this as well, especially for the "night watch".  End up in a row of similar arrows and WanderBird steers a straight course without needing an autopilot - must be really well balanced!   ;)  A fine craft!

It's funny hearing talk about gaining or losing 10k places - up near the front I consider it a good move if I can pick up 50 places!  Alot of the boats up here have the autopilots and all, so I tend to lose places at night and then try to make them back in the day.  I'm still within 200 of Desti though...

[Tim]

Keep up the good work Bill.  ;) You show those lazy sailors !

[dnice]

Bill, I remember when you were in like 5000th place :)

If anybody here has a chance its you... It would be pretty sweet if you could win this one for us sailfar folks!

What an upset it would be! beaten by a guy with no electronics!!!
I have a feeling there are a few guys sweating under the pressure already...In the end they'll have to abandon their gear for shear terror and vigilance to stay on course. :D

Force them to be sailors!!!

you can dooo eeet!!!

[Pablo]

It's been a good 24hrs for me.  I have moved up almost 10k.  Most of the others must have had alittle too much grog last night.  ;)

[CapnK]

When I get my boat to Cape Horn (if this idea sounds like fun and others want to try it) I will sail in circles until whoever wants to do this have all caught up, then we can start a race-within-the-race up the Atlantic. I'm thinking it might be funner to race up the Atlantic starting as a 'pack', and, besides Bill :), I don't think any of us stand much a chance at winning the 10K euros anyway... ;D

Anyone up for this idea? There's an easy-to-see possible start line at the horizontal light blue/dark blue line that runs out from the Cape, between the Cape and where that horizontal line meets the orange-dashed 'favored route line', and we could have a designated start time once everyone is there and ready.

[Tim]

Well I'd be up for it, though I can see through the Capn's obvious motivation  ;) 

And of course it will be like hanging out in a biker's bar.
I am also not sure how we might set a starting time, unless we get declarations from those interested

[maxiSwede]

Sounds fun!  ;D ...as long as you'll have the patience to wait long enough  ;D ???

Had a tremendous ability of finding all those 'mild summer breezes' areas lately  ::) 8) :o

[maxiSwede]

So, we might be close to:

'The First Unofficial Virtual SailFar TransAtlantic Challenge of 2009'  ;)

...or as it no doubt will be worldwide acknowledged as - 'The VSTC-09'   ;D ;D ;D

[Pablo]

I would be game for the VSTC-09.  But it may take me awhile to get there, I would fully understand if you didn't want to wait that long.

[skylark]

Not fooled Capn K!

[Tim]

You haven't seen me slow down yet either ;)