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 » Chicago Mackinac Race

Posted by
Satori


Users avatar

Posts
13
Registered at
2020-06-16 21:08:44
2020-07-01 14:55:42 - Chicago Mackinac Race
N2B was my 1st SOL. What GRIB file will be used in Mackinac? Do seasoned SYC use routing software? Is there a 101 on using DC's accurately and effectively?

--- Last Edited by Satori at 2020-07-01 19:22:08 ---
Posted by
RainbowChaser


Users avatar

Posts
2656
Registered at
2009-06-14 09:44:50
2020-07-03 08:25:31 - Re: Chicago Mackinac Race
Hi Satori.

For Chicago Mackinac race Sailonline expects to use NOAA's nam_awip wx, tailored to fit the racing area.

Long standing racers on Sailonline race with and without routing software. There are several very successful racers who race SOTP (Seat Of The Pants) and either use personal skill and the on-screen functionality, or dip into the WX Inspector tool (see the LINKS tab for useful info).

Others use routers, either the one they are familiar with from their own sailing, such as Expedition or, frequently, the free QtVLM router. There are several threads in this forum on this.

QtVLM can take the NMEA feed from a Sailonline race, thus helping you plot your course, and SOLers well versed in this will always be happy to help.

To upload DCs from a router, you can use the AGL tool or the brainaid toolbox option - more info on both of these is available via the LINKS tab.

As a quick response, I hope this is helpful - once you've had a look (in this Forum too) just ask here or in race chat if you have other questions.

I am not expert in using a router (but know the basics) but there are many who are!

:-)

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Alicante TIMED Race 2025

Welcome to beautiful Alicante on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Dine on some local tapas and paella before racing your America’s Cup foiling winged-sail AC72 catamaran on this 208nm race out to and around Isla de Formentera returning to Alicante after rounding the mark at Cap de la Nau. There should be some very fast times! 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 #1958
INFOby brainaid.de
AC72v2 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ4 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
25 October at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Oct 12th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Marion Island to Fernando de Noronha 2025

The adventure continues as we launch the next to last leg of the RWW series. This leg takes us from Marion Island to Fernando de Noronha, an island in the world heritage archipelago with the same name, 220 nm off the coast of Brazil. This race doubles up as #7 of RWW and #10 of OCCH. A 4400 nm journey of endurance, strategy and pure adrenaline. The RWW series is as whole, part of the 2025 ocean championship. Get ready for this exhilarating challenge as we set sail on the third to last leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! This leg will be raced aboard the Judel Vrolijk 62, pushing sailors to their limits as they navigate the open ocean. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Southern Atlantic? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1955
INFO by brainaid.de
JV 62 PARTICULARS    
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230    
Ranking: OCQ4 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Oct 06th 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Vuelta de la Isla Saltes Sprint 2025


Welcome to Spain for our first sprint of Q4. This is a traditional 20 NM local race around Huelva in SW Spain. Chances are a quick circumnavigation will involve some upwind work weaving your way round the mud flats of the upper reaches of the Huelva delta in our Fox 9.50. Fair winds!
Race 1957
INFO by brainaid.de
Fox 9.50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPQ4 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
October 9 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Oct 04th 21:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Camel or Balloon - Khartoum to N'Djamena


As there is a lull in the calendar, your PRO has decided to risk an experiment – a balloon race over land, using a workaround to eliminate the recognition of water/land transitions. If it fails, the server may crash, and we abandon PDQ, hopefully after leg 7 of the ABS race to Suez has been decided, and before the start of the 1st OCC of Q4. Camel or Balloon – c 1000 nm from a field on the north bank of the Blue Nile at Khartoum to a field on the north bank of the Chari River at N'Djamena!
Race #1956
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: none
Race starts: Sep 28th 09:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Africa by Sea 2025 - Mogadishu to Suez


Nearly there; only 2500nm to go, round the Horn and up the Red Sea to Suez into what will more than likely be more headwinds for this sixth leg of our African circumnavigation, to be followed in September by a final sneaky dash up the canal back to where we started all those months ago. We’ll be sailing a not entirely appropriate-for-upwind-work 60ft Trimaran!
Race #1860
INFOby brainaid.de
60ft Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
October 9 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Sep 23rd 17:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  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