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:

Great Nicobar to Marion Island 2025

The Adventure Continues – Leg #6 of the RWW Series.
We’re setting sail on the next stage of the RWW Series: a 4,400-nautical-mile passage from Great Nicobar to Marion Island. This demanding leg will test endurance, strategy, and seamanship at the highest level. As part of the 2025 Ocean Championship, this marks the ninth legendary challenge in the series — and one of the most exhilarating yet. The race will be contested aboard the Archer 78’ ketch, a vessel built to push sailors to their limits across the vast Indian Ocean.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Archer 78 PARTICULARS    
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230    
Ranking: OCQ3 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Sep 01st 11:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Triple Series 2025 - Race 3

Welcome to the grand finale of this year's SSANZ Triple Series! The stage is set for the Lewmar 50, a thrilling 39nm challenge tracing the southern shores of the stunning Waiheke Island, pushing out to Tarahiki before the sprint back to Islington Bay. Expect fast legs, tactical battles, and no shortage of drama as our SOLers take on the waters in their Young 88s, lining up once again against the talented IRL members of the Young 88 Association. With the series on the line and everything still to fight for, it all comes down to this final race!
Race #1934
INFO by brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SSANZ - SYC
Race starts: Aug 29th 21:15 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

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 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 KaSToR
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client