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:

Cross the Convergence 2026 - Robinson Crusoe to Galapagos


Welcome to our first race of a new series of ocean voyages across the World’s convergence zones, this first race taking you north from south of the Tropic of Capricorn to the Equator-straddling Galapagos, home of magical iguanas and other exotic fauna (but no mythical kings, Dory) Departing from the island where in 1704 adventurer Alexander Selkirk inspired Daniel Defoe to write the best-seller "The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe", by debarking off the unsound "HMS Cinque Ports", four months before she foundered off the coast of present-day Colombia, we will sail the 2200nm in our decidedly sounder and faster than the " Cinque Ports",
Ocean 50 !
Race #1983
INFOby brainaid.de
Ocean 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: CCZ - SYC
Race starts: Jan 16th 18:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bight of Bonny TIMED Race 2026

Welcome to the first TIMED race of 2026! Our race finds us in the Gulf of Guinea and the Bight of Bonny. Starting in Douala, Cameroon the 170 nm course takes us around the island of Bioko with its Caldera and tropical rainforests finishing in Calabar, Nigeria. The boat for this race is the sporty Farr 30. 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 #2004
INFOby brainaid.de
Farr 38 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
24 January at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jan 11th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Natuna Sea Race 2026


At 4.0N 108.2E lies the island of Natuna Besar, Great Natuna, surrounded by at least 154 islands, of which 127 uninhabited, Indonesia’s Natuna Regency, and all around this archipelago, the Natuna Sea, bordered by Borneo to the east, the Java Sea to the south, and the Malay peninsula to the west, and extending north to cross a disputed international border with China into the South China Sea. And it’s a border that matters, there’s gas here! But why worry, let’s race – 2050nm in our goo’ol’ Open 60s in between the production platforms, prowling destroyers and submarines.
Race #1997
INFOby brainaid.de
Open 60 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Jan 06th 17:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cape Town to Rio 2026

Welcome to South Africa and RCYC's classic transatlantic Cape2Rio Race from Cape Town, South Africa, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. First run in 1971, this run is buddied with the IRL, Cape2Rio 2025 arranged by the Royal Cape Yacht Club with the cooperation of the
Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro Despite this being announced the 2025 race (starting dec. 27) it is the 2026 SOL championship kickoff. This virtual version, will be raced once again in Mark Mills' 74ft speedster, the stunning C2R74.
Race #1996 INFO
by brainaid.de
C2R74 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ1 - OCCH - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Dec 27th 12:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

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