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Board » Sailonline Race Committee » Rules and Decisions » SOL RULES OF RACING

Posted by Rod Posts 392 Registered at 2010-06-24 22:30:48	2015-01-14 17:57:24 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	I am not a "contender" for podium honours, as my record of results clearly shows. In fact,my main competition is "Rod2", with whom I seem to 'share' my boat. He does some stupid things, like failing to note the start times of races, failing to analyse the future wind conditions along possible courses, sleeping, running aground while sleeping, failing to use VMC, etc., etc.. I keep trying to educate him, but often fail. I am probably like the majority of SOLers, in that I do try to do my best. But I also get discouraged when I observe clusters of the same boats, far in the lead, in race after race. I do not use a router, because I wish to exercise my own brain, not that of the router writer. I can only encourage SOL to develop a more complete Sailboat Racing Program. I realize that this requires the work of expert programmers (I am not), and perhaps increased server capacity. However, all mention of such work appears to be devoted to elaborating the rank order of the various Championships for SYC members only. Very few of us are actually in the group of potential "podium-ists", and are seemingly not "in" the private club. If SOL is to expand its number of players, some thought needs to be devoted to the 'casual' player, who will probably never be invited to be 'Navigator' on an ocean racing yacht. It is in this spirit that I wish to see improvements in the SOL 'system', which include clarity in the Rules for fair competition. This is not intended in any way as criticism of the existing operations, but as an encouragement to keep improving SOL as a place where we can "sail". If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Posted by WIN Posts 324 Registered at 2009-07-09 23:32:07	2015-01-14 18:21:27 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	@ Rod I fully agree with your sentiments , and can confirm that within today's constraints everything possible is made to improve the platform ( btw Markku and his team have already made miracles and are presently working on a number of highly innovative projects , whilst others are working in re-styling the website). I am not one of the tech guys. What I do with Championships and rankings ( you are right about time investment there ) is aimed to reward those who support SOL with SYC membership , whilst the game is still very free for everyone ( I have sent lots of medals and awards to non SYC members for single Championship race results ). There is a number of Solers who are not particularily fond of rankings . That is fully acceptable. @ Huib You are right ...It does not say SLI jumping is forbidden . It only implies that we are working towards enforceability of avoidance . I suggest that it would be the right time to exercise avoidance Piero
Posted by Lolla Posts 32 Registered at 2011-11-03 01:28:52	2015-01-18 12:40:31 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Hi, Great work. I think the proposed rules are fine and I'm not going to enter the discussion about boat-sitting but I'm curious as to how you intend to identify if it is me or a different person on the helm? As I travel quite a bit in my work and thus sign in from different countries from time to time the IP addresses you detect on me will vary. Will that be seen as different skippers then? Kind regards, Lolla
Posted by hmm Posts 118 Registered at 2011-11-03 13:35:22	2015-01-18 21:16:33 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Hi Lolla, I personally think that this is bit similar as in real life detecting is a boat using engine or not. First of all, sailing is gentleman's sport and everyone is expected to follow the rules, especially now that they are being clarified. If there is a reason to suspect that someone is not following the rules, the issue can be raised, most probably by some fellow racers just like in real life. Race committee (or possibly umpires) will then ask from the technical admins for possible evidence and then the committee will decide on action based on this. I will not go into details of the technical possibilities available but you are correct that there can be cases where boatsitting might be impossible to identify for sure, especially considering the resources we have. I trust that most of us are here however not for trying to stretch the rules but to enjoy the game fairly.
Posted by A2 Posts 347 Registered at 2009-10-26 00:39:42	2015-01-19 00:33:27 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Boatsitting seems to be 'Grandfathered' in from times past when informality was more prevalent. That does not however make this practice consistent with fair competition. This needs to be said & acknowledged. Not that I expect it to alter the landscape of acceptability in these environs. Since in order to steer another boat a new browser window must be opened & logged into would it be too much to ask that there be a Race thread in the Forum where the sitter posts when taking over the helm ? This would be more openly transparent. Secondarily I also propose that sitters be restricted to managing DCs left by the absent party. Such that if said boat BBQs that it could be sent on it way again along an analogous course but not prevented. Timings of DCs could also be modified to adjust for Wx updates or if a mark is cut short then it would be permissible to round it correctly and then returned to a course previously indicated by the DC list. This would keep the boat alive but would prohibit active racing by another's hand. These terms would be easier to adjudicate based on activity that goes beyond what the DCs called for. --- Last Edited by A2 at 2015-01-19 00:51:02 --- None so blind
Posted by Karri Posts 42 Registered at 2012-11-12 13:17:29	2015-01-21 18:56:50 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	I think it is great the rules get formalised and compiled into one clear document, and the rules look good to me. The only comment I have is SLI jumping, the current formulation is quite ambiguous and as such does not provide much additional value. The current formulation gives the impression that SLI jumping is allowed, but not considered recommendable behavior, a mixed message, which should not have a place in a rule book. I think it is clear to everyone jumping is done at own risk. If you don't want to forbid SLI jumping, I'd leave that out altogether. On the other hand, as I've stated earlier elsewhere, I would not oppose forbidding SLI jumping, and it could easily be enforced through the umpire system. You either explicitly allow it, explicitly forbid it, or don't mention it in the rules. As a side note, so long as SLI jumping is not explicitly forbidden, I will consider it allowed and I will utilise it to the extent I see it useful. I hope I will not be considered a cheater because I do something allowed by the rules. My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.
Posted by hmm Posts 118 Registered at 2011-11-03 13:35:22	2015-01-21 21:22:07 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Fixing of SLI hopping is on the agenda of the tech administrators, especially now that we have more manpower. As we are all volunteers and the new members are still learning things no schedule for this can be promised, but I'd be surprised if it won't happen this year. There obviously will be an announcement when this change takes place. As it will be a server-wide change in the sailing engine let's see if it can be scheduled completely between races.
Posted by Karri Posts 42 Registered at 2012-11-12 13:17:29	2015-01-22 12:49:19 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Why no forbid SLI jumping immediately and enforce it through the umpire system? I think that would be a good way to test the umpire system, and we would get rid of one of the issues causing disagreement and discussion. My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.
Posted by JB Posts 305 Registered at 2013-03-07 08:54:34	2015-01-22 13:44:30 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Once again I agree with Karriv. Still, one issue is missing. If you make the rule, give power to the UMPIRE to act but, don’t have a penalty rule written to be applied in those circumstances, it won’t be useful at all. I put for discussion my suggestion for jumping over land penalty, to be applied in every kind of race to everyone (SYC or non SYC member) and per race. First time: 1hr added to the boat finishing time. Second time: 2hrs added to the boat finishing time. Third time: DNF. After #3 races (consecutive or not) with penalty DNF’s - or to say reiterated unsportsmanlike behavior - banning from SOL. Sail Fair.
Posted by Rod Posts 392 Registered at 2010-06-24 22:30:48	2015-01-22 17:30:53 - Re: SOL RULES OF RACING
	Perhaps the real penalty for land-jumping should be a much higher perf loss for misjudging it and going aground---something like a perf loss of 100% for grounding instead of the present 20%. I realize that many will protest that this penalty is too high---but it is much more realistic for running aground IRL. If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.

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