Sailonline.org - Online Sailing

Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Tweets by @sailonline

Board » Flag Officers » Race proposals » Balloon Transat

Page: 1 2 3 Next

Posted by 76Trombones Posts 362 Registered at 2009-08-03 18:04:56	2013-01-15 17:35:16 - Balloon Transat
	Low-altitude Montgolfier race from Newfoundland to France. 1nm finish line, race to be scored normally with rankings fixed via dtf at race close. Suggested race start for Fri//Sat with race close at midnight the following Sat. Limited ability to steer, but we're equipped with anchors and many other SOL necessities for use during unfavourable wind, or when close to the finish. Routing isn't impossible, but it's tricky. FAQ Q: This race opened on the 31st - Isn't April Fool's on Monday? A: Our mistake! Q: So it's a joke then? A: Oh, yes absolutely! It should be a fun race though. We have no idea how it will turn out. Q: Why is the finish line so small? Wouldn't it be easier to finish if it was really long? A: IRL Balloon racing is usually a test of accuracy instead of speed, trying to drop markers as close as possible to the goal. It's entirely likely that no boats will actually be able to cross the line, so it should really be considered the centre of a giant bull's-eye. Get as close as you can and then drop anchor. If the wind shifts you might be able to nudge closer. Maybe we could try a long-line race later - dateline in the Pacific always calls... Q: How do we steer this thing? A: There's limited ability to steer across the wind, but for big changes in direction you might need to wait for the wind to shift. Slow down or anchor. Q: Anchor? A: TWA=0 Q: Balloons can't steer! A: This one can. It's part boat. Q: Why can't we use winds at different altitudes? A: Have you seen the picture? It would be crazy to fly any higher than 10m. Q: "You can't get there from here!" A: That's entirely possible within the constraints of the race. Given enough time and enough rum nothing's impossible. Get as close as you can! Q: Can we fly over land? A: Just spits, sandbars and really thin islands. Standard SOL sailing applies. --- Last Edited by 76Trombones at 2013-04-08 13:37:09 --- Attachments SOLBalloon1.JPG (14.5 KB) Balloon_Transat.kmz (1002 bytes) Balloon_Transat_1.kmz (1002 bytes) SOL_Balloon.txt (503 bytes)
Posted by Tyger / Robert Neilson Posts 108 Registered at 2012-05-28 15:07:00	2013-01-15 23:47:27 - Re: Balloon Transat
	That looks like a challenge. A bit of anchor time to get some sleep. I can imagine some weird tracks following boats/balloons. Got me. “We may have arrived on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now!” Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted by 76Trombones Posts 362 Registered at 2009-08-03 18:04:56	2013-01-16 16:51:46 - Re: Balloon Transat
	NOAA Balloon flight forecasting tool
Posted by RainbowChaser Posts 2656 Registered at 2009-06-14 09:44:50	2013-01-16 17:41:44 - Re: Balloon Transat
	Maybe we could make this a fun (non-SYC ranking) race and have a choice between the balloon and.... a type of boat that could be reasonably competitive with a ballon with a following wind?
Posted by Tyger / Robert Neilson Posts 108 Registered at 2012-05-28 15:07:00	2013-01-17 00:59:49 - Re: Balloon Transat
	OOOOOOH....I just ran the balloon flight forecasting tool. I don't think a UIM Class 1 powerboat would be able to keep up with the balloon. Low coeff of drag + jet stream speeds at altitude of 5K to 8K metres = HIGH SPEED!! This race may be long in distance but it could be over in 2 days. Is this right or have I missed something? “We may have arrived on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now!” Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted by 76Trombones Posts 362 Registered at 2009-08-03 18:04:56	2013-01-17 01:29:19 - Re: Balloon Transat
	We're limited to 10m winds in SOL. It's still pretty fast
Posted by RainbowChaser Posts 2656 Registered at 2009-06-14 09:44:50	2013-01-17 10:19:03 - Re: Balloon Transat
	I love the idea of a balloon BUT as SOL is a sailing site there may be objections to not having a sailing component, hence my suggestion of a "wessel choice" (balloon or boat)... Maybe the boat should be a regular Transat type... then those who want to sail a Transat can do that while erstwhile balloonists do their thing? How's that? --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-01-17 10:20:37 ---
Posted by ShamrockPirate Posts 189 Registered at 2010-12-03 17:49:57	2013-01-21 02:12:20 - Re: Balloon Transat
	Brilliant and innovative, 76T!! Keeping things fresh and interesting is the goal and this is BOTH!! Well Done and count me in!! SP
Posted by RainbowChaser Posts 2656 Registered at 2009-06-14 09:44:50	2013-03-26 08:24:34 - Re: Balloon Transat
	I spotted this being mentioned in NYC-SFO race chat and... folks are right, we should "go for it" as a bit of a laugh. When would be a good time to run it? After NYC-SFO is finished or does it not really matter as it is so off-the-wall?
Posted by Jawz Posts 153 Registered at 2009-07-21 09:51:19	2013-03-26 09:28:58 - Re: Balloon Transat
	Great Idea! Now all we need is two sets of weather data, one for 0 - 5000m, another for 5000 - 8000m. This will really make it 3 dimensional and even bigger a challenge

Page: 1 2 3 Next

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Manilla to Calbayog 2024

After six years, we welcome you to the race created by sassy63 for the second time. He takes us to the Philippines to race around islands on a 380 nm course. We sail the Italia 14.98 and in Calbayog we'll enjoy our well-deserved Palatan dish and drink it with San Miguel.
Race #1803
INFO from brainaid.de
Italia 14.98 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ2 - ARCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Apr 22nd 17:00 Registration will open soon

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Jakob's Birthday BBQ Race 2024

Sailonline had two founders and Jakob, the more senior of the two, has his birthday in April which we always like to celebrate with a race through the Stockholm Archipelago from Revengegrundet Lighthouse to his mooring at Baggensfjärden. Traditionally also, like other celebrations this time of year, this feast has been “moveable”, so on this occasion we will be racing on a Wednesday in one of our latest high-performance 40-footers, the Carkeek 40. Please join us then for this always tricky 30nm race. Grattis på födelsedagen Jakob!
Race #1794
INFO by brainaid.de
Carkeek 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 20th 14:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Melbourne to Osaka Prelude 2024

Welcome once again to what these days is Sailonline’s almost annual virtual Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. In real life, this double-handed 5500 nm race between these two sister cities, one deep in the southern hemisphere, the other high in the northern hemisphere, is run every four to five years, and is planned to be held again in 2025, so this race is a Prelude in partnership with the Melbourne Osaka Cup 2025 organising committee collaborating with the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), and the Sandringham (SYC) and Osaka Hokko (OHYC) yacht clubs. On this occasion, we’ll be racing the well-known First 40, a popular size of boat for a long-distance double-handed race. With the doldrums unavoidably lying across the track, you can expect to be at virtual sea for at least a month!
Race #1669
INFO by brainaid.de
First 40 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 20th 00:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

St Nazaire Chasse TIMED Race 2024

Welcome to a "chasse" (hunt) from St. Nazaire to La Baule on the west coast of France! This race was designed by SOLer FR_flouflou in 2010. The KER 40 was introduced to SOL in 2016 by SOLer psail, and the Sol-KER was a welcome addition to SOL’s fleet of 40- footers, as it was to the IRL Ker fleet of eponymous - like KERonimo, KukuKERchu and Ice BreaKER. This is a TIMEDrace, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to show your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1797
INFOby brainaid.de
Ker 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
27 April at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Apr 14th 12:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

The Beagle in the Straits of Magellan 2024

Both before and after visiting the Falkland Islands, the Beagle extensively explored the south eastern coast of South America, hither and thither, from north of the Rio Plate to the tip of Tierra del Fuego, but it was not till the end of June 1834 that the ship made it into the Pacific Ocean, transiting via the Straits of Magellan. Online in 2024, the choice is yours - passage the strait or round the cape; 400nm or more in your Class B Tall Ship.
Race #1753
INFOby brainaid.de
Tall Ship Class B PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SVF - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
April 21 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 09th 13:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Cape Town to Auckland 2024

Welcome to the second leg of this Round The World series 2024. It's also the April edition of this year's ocean race championship. The course is the same as the one sailed in 2023, but this year we sail the iconic Swan 65, as suggested in the concluding RTW race last year.
Prepare yourselves for an epic 30-day journey, navigating through the unpredictable waters of the South Seas. It's essential to take care of provisioning to ensure a smooth and enjoyable race experience. With the longer duration, we anticipate plenty of opportunities for camaraderie, competition, and unforgettable memories.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race# 1789
INFO from brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - RTW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Apr 01st 11:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client