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 » Technical Support » ALL THE TOOLS

Posted by
sol


Users avatar

Posts
297
Registered at
2008-08-14 11:08:14
2018-08-31 10:13:09 - ALL THE TOOLS
There are a number of tools external to the game that many/most people use.
They are all developments made by keen past and present SOLers.
I'll deal with them in calendar order, which is also more or less their usefulness.

1. Brainaid's http://sol.brainaid.de/sailonline/toolbox/
Just key in your boatname and password and on different pages you will find:
- downloadable polar data
- downloadable grib data
- waypoint, start and finish lats/lons.
- yacht instrument outputs (CC, TWA, TWS, TWD, LAT< LON, ETC) refreshing every time your yacht advances
- a DC (Delayed Command) Uploader (useful if you want to enter a long series of course instructions)

2. AGage's http://solfans.org/wxinspector/
Just key in your boatname and password and your screen will show a facsimile of the SOL racing page with your boat advancing in the same way as on the SOL page.
On the right hand side are a selection of Tools. Explore them all at your leisure, but have a look at Optimum Angles first.
Click on the button, then click on VMG and down below in the dialogue screen it gives you your optimum upwind and downwind angles for the boat you are racing at that point in time. Enter the bearing to a far away destination, click on VMC and you get the optimum VMC angle to advance you in that (general) direction.

3. maitai's and oxygen77's QtVlm downloadable via https://www.meltemus.com/index.php/en/download
A router is a piece of software that will generate and optimum route ot sail from A to B given a boat's polar and a grib with wind (and current).
maitai and oxygen 77 actually play a rival game called Vlm, but their router suits SOL well, especially because it features various enhancements principally through the interaction of various SOLers like Bimmer, psail, Kipper1258, kroppyer and myself with the two developers.
Basically it allows you to prepare a route to sail in great detail which you can then convert into DCs for uploading (and go to bed/work/etc).
There is a manual, but best is to ask questions in Chat. Replies will come quick.

4. kroppyer's http://sol.kroppyer.nl/
kroppyer features a tool for converting the .csv file that QtVLm generates into a file for uploading via brainaid's (or Kipper1258's, see below) utility.
kroppyer also gives you a full explanation of SOL's quirky Performance Loss (PL on a change of course) feature, and a tool to help you calculate in advance of making a course change.


5. Kipper1258's AGL downloadable via http://solfans.org/blog/uncategorized/dc-checker-version-3/
This is another tool for uploading DCs.
However, it has a graphic interface where you can view the resulting route of your DCs in to a much greater accuracy than the route you'll see in QtVLm's interface.
Much greater accuracy because it takes full account of PL and can zoom in to an extraordinarily high magnification. Use it (with some caution) and you need never BBQ.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2025

Sailonline is proud to partner with the Royal Natal Yacht Club for the 2025 Vasco da Gama Ocean Race—South Africa’s oldest coastal ocean race! Covering 254 nautical miles from Durban to East London, this iconic route is known for rough seas, strong currents, and serious strategy. Our virtual fleet will be racing in the fierce Farr 40, a proven offshore performer. With history, endurance, and camaraderie on the line, it’s time to honour Vasco’s legacy—see you on the start line!
Race #1908
INFO from brainaid.de
Farr 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: May 25th 08:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Red Eye - Bimini Beach Run 2025

This time of year, already it is balmy in the Bahamas and the Biminis, if ever it is not; so let’s try and get some “Red Eye” enjoying the fine weather and a warm night, racing our appropriately luxurious and bombastic Gunboat 90, as always our craft of choice for this 250nm beach-running, island-hopping SOL classic through this multihull mecca!
Race #1845
INFOby brainaid.de
GB 90 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: SYC - RED
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
May 30 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: May 22nd 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Africa by Sea - Abidjan to Swakopmund


Our exploration of Africa by Sea continues. Next, it’s off to Swakopmund, on the water’s edge of the Kalahari desert. It’s a wind-blasted coast, and a venue of choice for those seeking to set wind-powered speed records. More likely than not, we’ll have to beat into it in our Steinlager II, to finally find some shelter behind the walls of Platz am Meer where there is a marina of sorts. Only 2200nm!
Race #1856
INFOby brainaid.de
Steinlager II PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
Race starts: May 14th 17:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Elephant Island to Marquesas 2025

Prepare to test your limits as we launch into the third leg of the RWW Series and the fifth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series—an epic voyage from Elephant Island to the Marquesas in the heart of French Polynesia. This 4,700-nautical-mile challenge is a true test of endurance, strategy, and raw sailing adrenaline. Aboard the high-performance Volvo 70v4, competitors will face fierce headwinds as they round the legendary Cape Horn and make the thrilling transition from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Pacific? Join us, and put your skills to the ultimate test.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1909
INFO by brainaid.de
VO70_v4 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
May 25 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: May 05th 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 Patrick70119
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Smo

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client