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 » VOR, Vestas incident & report.

Post annotated by kroppyer-admin :
(Edited to shorten link)
Viva all,

Good morning.

I strongly recommend all to read this:

"VOLVO OCEAN RACE INDEPENDENT REPORT INTO THE STRANDING OF VESTAS WIND".

Link:
www.volvooceanrace.com/...team-vestas-wind-inquiry-report-released-on-9-march-2015.pdf

João/psail
Sail Fair.
Viva Huib,

Thank you for the post "weight loss" cure (this long links really tend to escape the screen's right side).

João/psail
Sail Fair.
I am not ever likely to need the "Guide" to plan an ocean voyage/race....but I would like to make a related comment about SOL.
The Sol program was developed originally as part of a course in yacht design, to allow the students' work to be evaluated. However it has become a "computer game" for many people in which they try to use the mechanics of the game to 'win' bragging rights. For others, it is a way of practicing tactics for sailboat racing.
For many, however, it forms an educational program in reading the weather for the beginning sailor.
For all of these groups, there is a marked deficiency in the "chart" upon which we sail.
Is it not possible to use a more realistic chart that includes most of the hazards to navigation that must be avoided by any "real" sailor, such as the reefs and shallows which are such a major part of any "real" voyage at sea? The Vestas report shows clearly the importance of the "charts" on which we "sail".
Rod
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Yes Rod, using more realistic nautical charts would hugely improve the educational value of sol wrt navigation. but we have to be careful that sol remains accessible for the masses, not only the ones that are (a) experienced in navigation or (b) willing to invest time in their navigational skills.

I'm sure there's a middle way that solves this problem: nautical charts, but no requirement to understand every element of it to successfully sail a race (by using our own very simple and clear "you can sail in this area, not in this area"-two-colour-map as overlay for example)

While sailing on sailonline, I would really like to have some more detail of the region where I'm sailing. There's lots of reefs, shallows, bridges, etc. etc. that we're missing out on. Problem is, when I'm not online, I really like not having to worry about all these things. I'm not able to spend as much time online during the week as I would be able to spend on deck during and actual IRL sail.

Then of course, there's the technical side: we need a world map where there is a clear divide between "navigable waters" and "running aground" so that the computer can understand. As far as I know, the map we are currently using (GSHHG) is one of the best that is available at reasonable cost (in this case: free). In the best case, the process of changing to another map is a lot of work and needs a lot of testing. We are slowly moving towards a situation where we hope to be a bit more flexible, but its hard work. At some point in the future it may be possible to show some more detail in the map, but there is a lot to do before we get to that situation.

--- Last Edited by kroppyer at 2017-11-05 10:58:50 ---
Dear Rod,

Viva.

Yes, very pertinent comments about this topic.

I quote you: “For others, it is a way of practicing tactics for sailboat racing.
For many, however, it forms an educational program in reading the weather for the beginning sailor.
For all of these groups, there is a marked deficiency in the "chart" upon which we sail.”, (sic).

I can’t agree more with you, long before the released “Vestas” report but, previously to the charts and weather learning & reading there are very basic things we must all learn, understand and comply.

I’m sure you will.
discarding ziggy points or not Forum post

A Big Hug

João/psail


--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2017-11-21 20:22:19 ---
Sail Fair.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Chinook Salmon - Canada to Andreanovs


A year after spawning in the upper reaches of the rivers of British Columbia, Chinook Salmon develop the age-old urge, so familiar to SOLers, to go to sea, heading for different parts of the northern Pacific Ocean. This race catches up with a particular school with an instinctive memory for the Andreanov Islands far west on the Aleutian Islands chain, as they depart the Salian Sea between Vancouver Island and the San Juans. It’s 2200nm and we’re taking the 60ft Trimaran, in the hope we can keep up!
Race #2048
INFOby brainaid.de
60ft Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MIG - SYC
Race starts: Jul 21st 11:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Juventud TIMED Race 2026

Welcome to Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), Cuba’s second largest island after mainland Cuba. Known as a haven for pirates, the island was the inspiration for novels “Treasure Island” and “Peter Pan”. The circa 120nm course runs clockwise around the island.
This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have two weeks to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #2049
INFOby brainaid.de
The boat for this race is the sporty Mini 6.5p Foil PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
1 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jul 19th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Tall Ships 2026 - Antwerpen to Stavanger


Welcome to the third of four virtual Tall Ships Races in European waters which are concurrently being organized in-real-life by Sail Training International . This third race is from Antwerpen back up the North Sea to Stavanger in Norway – another proper tall ship training adventure of circa 450nm, online again in Sailonline’s classic Clipper 240.
NOTE: Starts and Finishes in tall ships racing are always offshore to avoid conflict with shipping and shipping lanes; online and real-life may not match exactly.
Race #1994
INFO by brainaid.de
Clipper 240 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: TSI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Jul 14th 16:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Lake Ontario 300 Challenge 2026

Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) welcomes Sailonline sailors to a second virtual version of a race in their annual series, and for the sixth year in succession the LO300. As the name implies, the LO300 is a 300nm offshore race across the length and breadth of Lake Ontario, from and back to Port Credit YC. This year, for the first time, we will be racing the 300nm circuit in Sun Fast 3200s. As usual, there is an overall prize for the SOLer who best bosses Lake Ontario over the two races hosted by Sailonline, this LO300 and the Susan Hood raced back in May, and this year also the race and the Susan Hood count towards the title of Super Buddy 2026; so, let the competition be fierce!
Race #2044
INFOby brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3200 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: LOOR - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Jul 11th 15:10 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Alaska to Easter Island 2026

Welcome to yet another all-new series. The initial leg of the RNW (Round the New World), Alaska to Easter Island, also part of our Ocean Championship. The first race of OCQ3 2026. This race will be sailed in our revised 'version 2' Imoca 60 Foil. Race #2042
INFO by brainaid.de
Imoca 60 Foil v2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ3 - RNW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Jul 06th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cross the Convergence 2026 - Sao Tomé to Tristan

The fifth race of our series of ocean voyages across the World’s convergence zones takes us back south down the Atlantic from Sao Tomé on the Equator to Tristan da Cunha on the edge of the Roaring Forties. It’s 2500nm; in your path the Benguela winds and current along the south west African coast, and behind that the St Helena High stretching halfway to South America. So, mind where you go in your Volvo OD65 version 3 (based on sampled real-life race data by kroppyer)!
Race #1985
INFOby brainaid.de
Volvo OD65v3 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: CCZ - SYC
Race starts: Jul 03rd 18:00 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 Panpyc
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member cdhinman
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member ms0689
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rthinman

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client