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 » Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.

Posted by
Roddo


Users avatar

Posts
13
Registered at
2014-06-28 00:51:17
2016-06-13 03:08:36 - Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
I have been genuinely inspired by the Soler's amazing ability to read the weather and I'm on a mission to get a better understanding.
I've noticed that there is a time for a straight line and a time for a bent line but I do not understand why.
I've seen sailors take a straight line and be overtaken by someone sailing around the outside and other times the opposite.
I would appreciate any pointers anyone would like to share. Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Rod
Posted by
Gilles


Users avatar

Posts
127
Registered at
2009-07-18 11:05:22
2016-06-13 07:15:20 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
Hi Rod,
I guess that is happening during wind rotation,following the rotation whit a bend, or big wind gradient where you sacrify the angle for a better wind.
As this is really depending from the particular situation, ask in chat during the race.
A lot of people will help you for the analysis.

A great spot to exercise are also the PR, Practice Race. there you can experiment with other people and get the "tricks"
Short race before the official race go on.
have a look for Rainbow Chaser in the chat.

Good wind
Gilles
Posted by
kroppyer


Users avatar

Posts
347
Registered at
2010-02-05 15:25:55
2016-06-13 07:19:41 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
On a small scale (where your course is straight and others' bent) I distinguish between two changes in wind: changes over time (windshift/wind picking up/wind decreasing) and changes over space (wind gradient).
- For changes over time, I use VMC to steer my boat. If the wind does not change over space but only over time, then this is the fastest way. You just need to find out the bearing to use for VMC, but without changes over space, this bearing will remain constant (until the next waypoint). Have a look at outlaw's post on solfans
- For changes over space, it's harder to come up with a strategy that is always optimal and easy to apply (not counting using routing software). Imagine your waypoint is straight ahead, to the left of you the wind is better and to the right of you the wind is worse. Now starting off heading slightly to the left and bending slowly to the right is faster than sailing straight to your waypoint, because the bendy line is barely any longer, but does bring you into better winds. But when you make you sail a line that is too curved, you sail a lot of extra distance that you can't make up with the better wind you have.

Then there is also the "rule" of making course changes larger than a couple of degrees:
only make a course change larger than 3 degrees (or 2, or 5 if you don't need to squeeze out some seconds) if:
- you're rounding a mark
- you're rounding a landmass
- you're tacking/gybing, or hopping some other dent in the polar
- the new wx update forces you to pick a different route
- you admit you made a mistake in your last course and need to change course as soon a possible (there no advantage in slowly correcting a mistake)

--- Last Edited by kroppyer at 2016-06-13 07:22:04 ---

--- Last Edited by kroppyer at 2016-06-14 10:40:08 ---
Posted by
Rod


Users avatar

Posts
392
Registered at
2010-06-24 22:30:48
2016-06-14 01:37:06 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
I always compare the hourly positions along both the COG and TWA lines. Many times you are ahead at 3hrs and behind at 6hrs.
In addition, often by following the TWA line, you end up downwind of your destination and it is slow to beat back up wind.
It is not dissimilar to using VMG or VMC---sometimes you end up downwind, or there is an island in the way.
I hadn't got as far as the analysis by Kroppyer, above here, but I take anything said by Kroppyer as the word of G--! (Sorry about that,RC!!! I try not to bring politics or religion into SOL)
One thing I have observed---it really pays off to keep 'mending' your course by tiny amounts every 5-10 minutes, even if you go only a tiny bit faster and further--over several hours you'll be surprised by how much many tiny bits add up!

--- Last Edited by Rod at 2016-06-14 01:42:04 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Red Eye - Myth of Malham 2025

In 1947, Hugh McLean & Sons of Gourock, Scotland built a radical racing yacht for John Illingworth, soon-to-be Commodore of the RORC, to a design by Laurent Giles. With a masthead rig, giving her ‘free’ sail area per the rules of the time, and short overhangs reducing pitching, Myth of Malham went on to win The Fastnet that year and again in 1949, and to compete in numerous Admiral's Cups. In 1958, in honour of the yacht, the Myth of Malham race was conceived - a mini-Fastnet to the first lighthouse on a rock west of Cowes, Eddystone, rather than the second, to be held in non-Fastnet years. IRL this year it has been raced already, but this stops us not from “Red Eye” racing its online 230nm in Fareast 31Rs, leaving how to deal with the Isle of Wight open to your own discretion.
Race #1847
INFOby brainaid.de
Fareast 31R PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - RED
Race starts: Aug 25th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Africa by Sea 2025 - Maputo to Mogadishu


The fifth leg of our exploration of Africa By Sea takes us north along the length of the Continent’s succulent sub-tropical and tropical Indian Ocean coast. Much fought over by traders and colonists both well-before and after a Portuguese expedition under the command of Vasco da Gama first sailed there from Europe back in the 16th century, it is yet to be properly explored as a yachting destination. With plenty of islands off- and inshore, small and very large, there is much to interrupt your 1900nm voyage and visit in your Swan 65, from Maputo to Mogadishu! Race #1858
INFOby brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
Race starts: Aug 20th 17:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Elba Rendezvous 2025


It’s time for a summer sprint following the route of a classic regatta triangle. The theatre of our struggle will be Golfo Di Follonica with its start and finish at Piombino. Buoys are set up in front of Porto Azzurro on Elba Island and next to Punta Ala. One lap of 38 NM will be done with the help of our Figaro 3 Foil.
Race 1941
INFO by brainaid.de
Figaro 3 Foil PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPRQ3 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
August 22 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Aug 16th 15:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Captain Gosnold TIMED Memorial Race 2025

Welcome to Newport, RI, one of the great sailing centers of the world. This TIMED race takes us around Nantucket Island in RC 44s to celebrate the life of Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold who, among many other things in his short life, named Cape Cod for the teeming fish he encountered there, and Martha’s Vineyard for his daughter. 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 #1939
INFOby brainaid.de
RC 44 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
23 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 10th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cape Town to Java 2025

Get ready for an exhilarating new challenge as we set sail on the eighth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! Reversing the 18th century footsteps of the indentured Cape Malays that inspired Isna Marifa’s moving novel 'Mountains More Ancient' , this leg takes us from Cape Town South Africa to the Bay of Belbuhan on the south west coast of Java - a 5100 nm journey of endurance, strategy, and pure sailing adrenaline, aboard the 125 ft Orange catamaran. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Indian Ocean? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1937
INFO by brainaid.de
Orange 125 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ3 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
August 23 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Aug 04th 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 vida
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client