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!

Board » General Discussion » VRTool and Sailonline

VRTool - a navigation software for Windows - is now compatible with Sailonline, using Brainaid's NMEA proxy over TCP/IP connection.

Check:

http://www.tecepe.com.br/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3041

Home page

http://www.tecepe.com.br/nav/vrtool

--- Last Edited by omarfreis at 2014-10-08 19:38:07 ---
Thank you very much for doing this.

As I'm running linux, I ran VRTool trough wine. I couldn't load GRIB files, VRTool freezes without error. It's not that I expect VRTool to run on linux, but it makes me ask you some questions rather than trying it out myself:

- How is the weather interpolation? I read you've worked on that, but I'm not sure about interpolation over time. I only see one "navigation through time" option, and it's in jumps of 12 hours. For use of VRTool with sailonline, it's essential that it allows for some realism.
- Are there any advanced manuals or tutorials. All I could find until now were some basic things.
I have seen people run vrtool on iMacs, using Parallels or VM. I don't know about Linux and Wine.

VRTool can import gribs directly from noaa or use gribs from other programs, like ugrib and zygrib.

Wind forecast interpolation is available for both space and time, modes previous, nearest, linear and quadratic, always looking forward. Very configurable (sometimes too much so!)

More on this:
http://www.tecepe.com.br/wiki/index.php?title=Winds_Tab

As for manuals, there is the program's Wiki. And Forum. Go to:

http://www.tecepe.com.br/nav/vrtool








--- Last Edited by omarreis at 2014-11-26 11:16:22 ---

--- Last Edited by omarreis at 2014-11-26 11:26:32 ---
Perhaps someone can clarify this: we run on the Wx obtained from NOAA---what then does it matter what VRTool gets? We are stuck with the SOL weather. Does the VRTool get a different prediction than SOL?
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Omar, thank you for your answer.

Rod,
As I understand, VRTool can open gribs, no matter their origin. Additionally, it has a built in option to download gribs from NOAA. This is very similar to other routers.

The gribs contain information for the wind at intervals of (usually about) 3 hours. Since VRTool didn't seem to have and option to navigate through time with steps smaller than 3 hours, I wondered if VRTool was actually interpolating over time. It seems it can even be configured.

I think using bilinear for spacial interpolation and quadratic for interpolation over time will be the closest match to sol.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Regata dell’Accademia Navale 2026

Welcome to Sailonline’s partnership with the City of Livorno (Leghorn say the English) in cooperation with the local yacht clubs and the Italian Navy, offering all the online opportunity to race the famous Regata dell’Accademia Navale - 630nm in length. Starting and finishing in Livorno, this year the race takes you the length and breadth of the Tyrrhenian Sea via little Mortorio (Mortoriotto) off Sardinia to Capri and home again to Livorno. This race also counts towards Sailonline’s Magical Mediterranean Series and the SuperBuddy title. Online, you will be sailing a Mini 6.50, to give you a match against several of the real-life entrants, which you will be able to track on-screen!
Race #2020
INFO by brainaid.de
Mini 6.50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MED - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Apr 25th 16:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Guess Gotland TIMED Race 2026

The Guess about Gotland is do we helm our First 27 solo east or west of the island in this 140 nm race. This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #2030
INFOby brainaid.de
First 27 solo Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
2 May at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Apr 19th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

The Three Kings Race 2026


The Three Kings Race returns with a demanding 468 nautical mile challenge from Auckland up to the remote Three Kings Islands and back again. This rugged and spectacular course tests both endurance and strategy as our SOLers navigate open ocean and ever-changing conditions. Racing the powerful Riptide 50, our SOLers will need precision, timing, and smart routing to master this iconic out-and-back course and secure a strong result!
Race #2028
INFO by brainaid.de
Riptide 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
April 24 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 16th 22:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Rommel by Balloon 2026 - Through the Sahara


Generalfeldmarschall Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel may have been that chivalrous, gallant tank commander of legend, led astray by the Prussian military traditions of loyalty and chain of command, but one thing he wasn’t, was mad. So, let’s do it anyway – not stick to the coast and the battle for logistical superiority – but depart the oases of Siwa south west into the desert for Agadez and its uranium. And let’s go by balloon, it’s only 2500km (1250nm)!
Race #1973
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
May 3 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 07th 13:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Falklands to Tasmania 2026

Welcome to yet another all-new route. This next race is part of our Ocean Championship as well as the ROW series. Falklands to Tasmania, is like last year's island to island. It’s one of the longer ones 6400nm, more than half way around the world (and the Antarctica). It starts the 2026 OCQ2, and will be sailed in our Steinlager 2, contrary to prior notice.
Race #2021
INFO by brainaid.de
Steinlager 2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - ROW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Apr 06th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member sassy63
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client