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 » "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice

Posted by
mexicalibluestoo


Users avatar

Posts
2
Registered at
2020-06-13 16:51:34
2020-06-13 18:38:29 - "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
Hi,
I'm planning on using Expedition Navigation Software to route/assist me in playing my first sailonline.org game and I watched one tutorial organized by the event and have a few questions.

1) will the gulf stream current be applied in the game - or only wind?
2) Am I correct in understanding the AWIPS NAM will be the weather model used by the game?
3) What GRID resolution will the game use?
4) When will the game "update" the weather model its using?
5) where is the best place to get the Grib of the model used by the the game?
6) If the NAM is being used - Any idea if either the hi res or conus models available in Expedition's NOAA download module are the "correct" model.
thank you
Posted by
ij


Users avatar

Posts
33
Registered at
2018-06-09 20:33:19
2020-06-13 22:59:38 - Re: "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
1) SOL doesn't model any currents.
2, 3 & 4) The html5 client will show this info under misc tab (the update times are also available in the race listing on the homepage). When WX update times are from the 04:30, ... series, the wx source is GFS (in some races indirectly as high-res WRF WX may be in use but not relevant for this particular race). 02:45, ... series indicates NAM WX is used. From my experience, GFS WX datafile in SOL usually updates around xx:10-xx:25 (so slightly before the announced time) and is only rarely late.
5) Two places I know of. One is Java program known as AGL (Auto Grib Loaded, it's also known as "DC checker" which tends to be easier for finding it with web search). AGL will automatically download the gribs for you. In addition, AGL can plot the course considering all DCs you've set. The other way to get gribs is brainaid, you can find a link to that from the links section. Using "normal" NOAA gribs directly does not match to SOL WX for the first two weather data frames (around 1.5h differs per wx update period).

--
i.
Posted by
mexicalibluestoo


Users avatar

Posts
2
Registered at
2020-06-13 16:51:34
2020-06-17 20:06:16 - Re: "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
Hi,
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately I'm not much code guy... just a sailor - so I'm going to try and play the game with sailor tools (Expedition Software) and no java script or other tools you online pros use that probably are a lot better for the application. A few follow up q's

1) what is the "html5 client" you refer to?
2) I saw a youtube presentation where an expert seemed to know that the NAMAWIPS model would be used for the game - but in your answer it looks like the game uses a bunch of different models and might mix them around - so you have to look at the "update time" and follow your hints about which model comes out at what time - to know what model to "play" with. Is tht correct? And then if I use the "normal" NOAA gribs - they won't be the same as the gribs the game uses for the first 1.5h or so after every model becomes available?)

Thanks, sorry to be such a newby.
Also a follow up - best source for polar files of the four boats in this Bermuda Race?
Posted by
Dingo


Users avatar

Posts
94
Registered at
2013-03-09 04:23:58
2020-06-18 09:16:24 - Re: "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
Hi, I'll try to keep the answer simple so you can participate in the sailonline Bermuda simulation and route using Expedition. You can get your polar and the latest grib for the Sailonline Bermuda race from http://sol.brainaid.de/sailonline/toolbox

Here you will find the latest weather updates (they come at approximately 16:30, 22:30, 04:30 and 10:30 UTC, and are always available from Brainaids under the Weather tab.

You can also downlaod the Expediton polar for your chosen boat from the same site, using the Polar button. You can also get the waypoint co-ords from there, and also you can enter your steering commands there using the DC Editor button.

You don't have to make any changes to the grib you download from Brainaids - it's ready to use without scaling etc.

There are no currents in the simulator.

If you want extra, you can also look at http://solfans.org/wxinspector/ where, if you log on using your boatname and password, you will find under the Optimal Angles button, your max upwind and downwind vmg angles for the current wind, for those times when Expedition gives you dotted routing solutions (outside max vmg values).

Hope that helps and fair winds.
Posted by
Dingo


Users avatar

Posts
94
Registered at
2013-03-09 04:23:58
2020-06-18 09:23:55 - Re: "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
Some further notes: we're using effectively NOAA .25 gfs not nam wips as the latter does not extend far enough east. However, my notes above referring you to Brainaids site is the best source for your grib updates to use in Expedition. These Brainaid gribs already contain the smoothing which is applied by the simulator so that there are not jumps between one grib update and the next.

Re the html5, the simulator used flash, and now we are developing an html5 version so that we are ready when flash is no longer supported. If you press the Go To Race button, you will get the old flash-based simulator, and if you press the html5 button you will get the newer version. They both are suitable for use and give the same results, performance, etc.
Posted by
ij


Users avatar

Posts
33
Registered at
2018-06-09 20:33:19
2020-06-18 11:11:08 - Re: "newby" doing Newport Bermuda Race - Expedition & Wx advice
Minor correction to what Dingo said. Current GFS grid can go down to 0.5x0.5, not below that despite NOAA providing also 0.25 GFS. This may change in the future though. In some races, the weather data size is reduced by using larger wx grid cells such as 1x1 or even beyond that in some long ocean races.

--
i.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Fiji TIMED Race 2026

Welcome to Fiji for this month’s TIMED race. Sail our 90 foot Monohull over the almost 200nm course beginning in Lucala Bay and ending in Labasa in your attempt to turn in the fastest time.
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 #2069
INFOby brainaid.de
PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ4 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
21 November at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Nov 08th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bar-Tailed Godwit - Alaska to New Zealand 2026


Welcome to the autumn return flight of our bar-tailed Godwit, reflecting the bird's annual migratory route. This is the penultimate leg in our migration series. (The concluding leg is coming up simultaneously, 'Skimmer Dragonfly', start on the 11th of November. Not part of the 2026 OCCH). This race, at hand, is the next to last leg of the 2026 Ocean Race Championship. The voyage promises to be not only a test of skill and strategy but an immersive experience in the beauty of the vast Central Pacific Ocean. Join us as we push the boundaries of seafaring prowess on this epic adventure.
Let's fly like a Godwit!
Race #2065
INFOby brainaid.de
GunBoat 90 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ4 - OCCH - SYC - MIG
Race starts: Nov 02nd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

ORCV Melbourne to Devonport Race 2026

Welcome to the prestigious Rudder Cup, Australia’s oldest and most iconic yacht race! For over 110 years, this legendary 196nm classic has tested sailors' strategy and endurance across the notorious Bass Strait from Melbourne to Tasmania.

Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, this year’s battle against the unpredictable Southern Ocean features the stylish Dehler 46. Designed by Judel/Vrolijk as a proper looker and built to race, this regatta cruiser is a virtual flyer packed with modular racing upgrades. Can you master her speed and conquer the shifting elements?

Chart your course and race for glory in this historic adventure!
Race #2068
INFO by brainaid.de
Dehler 46 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: TQD - SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
November 6 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Oct 30th 03:30 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Mad Max by Balloon 2026 - Across the Outback


Mad Max Rockatansky doesn’t get to go in a balloon in any of the Legends of the Wasteland, and the Wasteland is not necessarily the Outback of Australia, but Mel Gibson and film director George Miller indubitably are… of Australia, and ballooning as reconnaissance is a main feature of the Mad Max spin-off video game, so here goes: 1500nm in a balloon from somewhere on the edge of the Outback, Goondiwindi, to cross a finish line at Fitzroy Crossing, somewhere on the edge of the Outback!
Race #1974
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Tuesday,
November 17 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Oct 14th 13:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member cdhinman
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rthinman
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member brandystrega
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client