Virtual Vendee Globe...

CapnK · December 05, 2008, 01:32:40 PM

Done - first post in thread has a name list now. :)

skylark · December 05, 2008, 05:01:04 PM

I have been very lucky with the wind, not due to any strategy. In fact I have changed my strategy many times. I am also spending too much time on this game. It has been snowing for a week and is predicted to continue so its not like I can go out and do much. They are not plowing and salting the roads here due to budget cuts!

Right now I want to get down to 46S because I think the winds will be better there for the long haul across the bottom of the Indian Ocean. However it will be tough because the wind angle is not good for making south. So maybe every time a good angle shows up in a wind square I will take what I can get. Other than that I will try to follow high winds, I check the 36 hour forecast very often and plan a path to where the wind is supposed to be.

skylark · December 05, 2008, 05:07:08 PM

scratch 46S, the forecast shows a low wind zone covering that area! Run like heck along 44S to escape the low wind zone!

Joe Pyrat · December 05, 2008, 05:10:24 PM

Good idea Adam on the name, I'll add it in just a minute.

It is kind of frustrating how things vary. Graphically it looks like I'm even or even ahead of Lifesaver, but the stats have me about 44 behind. I think they rank it based on their track and not on direction overall.

skylark · December 05, 2008, 07:51:05 PM

Its based on remaining miles and I think where you start affects remaining miles. Us late starters may have to do a penalty lap.

Bill NH · December 07, 2008, 01:49:22 PM

I'm doing my best to catch Destremau, been pretty close with him for a few days now. He has all the auto-extras though, so its tough keeping up when you actually want to have a life, or sleep, or stuff like that. Only thing he doesn't have is auto-tactics, so I just gotta wait for him to make a mistake and then go for it.

It's annoying being near his boat with the gold star on it - when I accidentally mouse over it his personal blog keeps opening up. I'm ready to run out the cannons! >:(

And BTW, doesn't everybody know about Phil Weld and Moxie??? If you don't, Phil's book is a story worth reading!

Tim · December 07, 2008, 04:43:22 PM

All I can say, is there sure are a lot of boats out here! :o

There are four of us grouped right together, and yet there is a 12,000 boat difference in standing ;D

CapnK · December 07, 2008, 07:01:38 PM

Get him, Bill!!! ;D

I have seen you ahead of him in the rankings today. :)

Skylark - you are sleepy; very very sleepy. Sooooo sleepy!!! Take a nap for a bit, it won't hurt. You need a good 12 hours of deep sleeeeep... ;D

Speaking of which, it looks like Magnus was asleep, last wind update - he's headed E @ 5kts for a while now... HEY MAGNUS, WAKE UP!!! Tim and Adam are leaving you behind! :)

skylark · December 07, 2008, 07:25:22 PM

i know. i'm stuck in a low wind area for a while, couldn't dodge it.

Joe Pyrat · December 08, 2008, 09:04:26 AM

The wind is fluky... Does anyone have an good online source for weather/wind predictions at these latitudes? Wish they had a VMG and DMG readouts, it'd be more helpful than just straight boat speed.

skylark · December 08, 2008, 09:50:46 AM

There does not appear to be any area where you can go to and be assured of westerlies. I was thinking of going way south to find the best wind but they are fluky from Antarctica to Africa. I think the strategy is just going to be head east and try to hit top speed at whatever direction the wind will let you go. Then watch the forecasts and try to stay out of the way of calms.

Joe Pyrat · December 08, 2008, 11:02:01 AM

As CaptK said earlier, there are slight variations in local wind and I'm tempted to buy the premium package so I can keep my angle to the wind constant. :(

skylark · December 08, 2008, 06:10:25 PM

CapnK, did you change your profile name to add sailfar.net? if so how?

I'm about ready to turn the corner and head for Antarctica for a while. The next gate is at 53S so I'm probably going to head south for a while.

CapnK · December 08, 2008, 09:01:36 PM

I just added it into my Profile, after my name in that same field. Easy-peasy! :) I noticed another boat which had it done that way last night, and tried it...

Man, I can't wait to get around this next gate. :P I think this is the one that was moved W and N due to 'berg sightings. It being so close to due E is a pain... Especially since I've got these boats following me (stalking me, really...ahem ::)), and I can't shake the buggers without some searoom to do my magic. ;D This time tomorrow though I think I'll be headed for the high lat's. 8)

Looks like Bill is in position to do a number on Destremau, who's temporarily in light(er) winds. Get 'im, Bill! :)

dnice · December 08, 2008, 09:49:02 PM

the 'nickname' field has disappeared from my profile page. I know it was there before as I was concidering changing my boat name a while back (devnull was just my go-to name for when I am feeling uncreative), but its not there now....
Maybe it will come back tomorrow :D

skylark · December 08, 2008, 10:03:43 PM

Quote from: CapnK on December 08, 2008, 09:01:36 PM
Man, I can't wait to get around this next gate. :P I think this is the one that was moved W and N due to 'berg sightings. It being so close to due E is a pain... Especially since I've got these boats following me (stalking me, really...ahem ::)), and I can't shake the buggers without some searoom to do my magic. ;D This time tomorrow though I think I'll be headed for the high lat's. 8)

Tell me about it, I turned the corner, C Youse Later

If I was Destremouse, I think I would have at least combed my hair before they took my picture, its pretty embarassing.

Bill NH · December 09, 2008, 09:05:15 PM

Quote from: CapnK on December 08, 2008, 09:01:36 PM
Looks like Bill is in position to do a number on Destremau, who's temporarily in light(er) winds. Get 'im, Bill! :)

Well I've finally pulled ahead of Destremau, and now I look ahead of me and see the wind shifting nearly 90 degrees over the next four wind arrows but a bit at a time... bummer, I KNOW I'm going to wake up going 5 kts and will have to catch the bugger all over again! >:(

I refuse to send him 10 euros each for the auto-gizmos though... we'll do this the old fashioned way!

Tim · December 09, 2008, 09:08:15 PM

Quote from: Bill NH on December 09, 2008, 09:05:15 PM

Well I've finally pulled ahead of Destremau, and now I look ahead of me and see the wind shifting nearly 90 degrees over the next four wind arrows but a bit at a time... bummer, I KNOW I'm going to wake up going 5 kts and will have to catch the bugger all over again! >:(

I refuse to send him 10 euros each for the auto-gizmos though... we'll do this the old fashioned way!

Good for you Bill, besides whose got euros sitting in there pockets anyway ;)

skylark · December 10, 2008, 03:28:19 PM

Wind forecast looking excellent here at 50S

Bill NH · December 10, 2008, 08:22:50 PM

Loick Peyron lost the rig on his Open 60 Gitana Eighty today... check out his audio report at http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/media/audios/4854/special-audio-broadcast-loick-peyron-gitana-eighty.html

He's jury-rigging his boom as a mast (only 1.5m stub of mast left) and weighing options where he might be able to sail to. If he can't point high enough he might have to sail all the way to Australia this way.

... and the Southern Ocean seems so easy in our game, just find the big arrows...

News:

Virtual Vendee Globe...

dnice