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Board » General Discussion » Racing Techniques

I will share some impressions to help newcomers to get the best out of SOL. I try to learn from the best and I am still way behind though :) I hope someone will share theirs too in this thread can become useful for new sailors.

The importance of SPRINT races

The peculiarities of these regattas are numerous: once you have the necessary knowledge, in these races you can start putting it into practice and see the results immediately. Additionally, you can thoroughly study wind data and analyze the routes of opposing boats in a confined space, comparing them with your own, make decisions, and almost instantly visualize the outcomes. Of particular importance is the analysis of wind direction in relation to its intensity, which helps determine the strategy to adopt. The limited duration means that the boats are always very close, and small corrections yield immediate results, facilitating understanding. Consistent application makes this learning process time-intensive, but with a couple of hours available, you can conduct an in-depth and continuous analysis of the strategies and tactics employed at sea, both your own and those of opposing boats. As a final note, routers in these regattas have limited importance; they are generally difficult to use due to obstacles or overly complex routes, providing only a rough indication with very limited value. Participating in these races to learn from the best is, in my opinion, a very effective and quick way to progress and become passionate about SOL.

Importanza delle gare SPRINT

La peculiarità di queste regate sono molteplici, una volta che si è in possesso delle nozioni necessarie, in queste gare si può iniziare a metterle in pratica e vedere subito il risultato. Inoltre si possono studiare a fondo i dati del vento e analizzare le rotte delle barche avversarie in uno spazio ridotto confrontandoli con le proprie, prendere decisioni e visualizzare quasi subito quello che si è ottenuto. Di particolare importanza l'analisi della direzione del vento in relazione all'intensità, cosa che permette di capire la strategia da intraprendere. La durata limitata fa si che le barche siano sempre molto vicine e piccole correzioni danno risultati immediati, facilitando la comprensione. La costante applicazione rende questo processo di apprendimento una cosa che richiede tempo ma, avendo un paio d'ore a disposizione, si può fare una analisi approfondita e continuativa delle strategie e delle tattiche che vengono messe in mare, sia proprie che delle barche avversarie. Come ultima annotazione, i router in queste regate hanno un'importanza limitata, generalmente sono di difficile utilizzo a causa di ostacoli o percorsi troppo articolati, daranno un'indicazione di massima che ha una valenza molto limitata. Partecipare a queste gare per imparare dai migliori è una soluzione molto valida e rapida, a mio avviso, per progredire e appassionarsi a SOL.

--- Last Edited by Siaki at 2025-05-04 20:00:14 ---

--- Last Edited by Siaki at 2025-05-04 20:01:53 ---

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Newport to Annapolis 2025


The Newport to Annapolis race, first held in 1947, is one of the most historic and well-known US East Coast blue water races. Linking two seaports dating from the US nation's birth, Annapolis and Newport, the race contrasts the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Since 1969, the route has run from Annapolis through the Chesapeake Bay to Newport. The SOLers will sail 470nm in their Carkeek40s in the original direction from Newport to Annapolis, including the Chesapeake, which is such a daunting challenge that the 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race for the Volvo Trophy added it to the course, as did the Volvo Ocean Race in 2002 and 2006.
Race #1912
INFO from brainaid.de
Carkeek 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking:
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Race starts: May 12th 17:00 Registration will open soon
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Channel Islands TIMED Chase 2025

Join us in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey for a race around the Channel Islands in the J-109, a recent addition to the Sailonline fleet. The course takes us around the islands of Alderney and Jersey finishing back in Saint Peter Port. This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to 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 #1915
INFO by brainaid.de
J-109 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
24 May at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: May 11th 12:00 Registration will open soon
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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 starts: May 05th 11:00 Registration Open!
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Bay to Bay 2025 - Leg 2 - Great Sandy Stait

After a thrilling opener, the 2025 edition of the Bay to Bay Yacht Race continues with Leg 2, bringing even more adrenaline and tactical excitement to the waters of the Great Sandy Marine Park. In collaboration with the Hervey Bay Sailing Club, our SOLers will once again take the helm of their lightning-fast 18-foot skiffs, this time tackling a 24-nautical-mile course through shifting breezes and tight competition.

With fresh legs, sharper tactics, and everything to race for, it’s anyone’s game! See you on the start line for the grand finale!
Race #1906
INFO from brainaid.de
18ft Skiff PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: B2B - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
May 9 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: May 03rd 21:30 Registration Closed
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Regata dell’Accademia Navale 2025

Welcome to Sailonline’s first partnership with the City of Livorno, in cooperation with the local yacht clubs and the Italian Navy, to offer you the online opportunity to race the Regata dell’Accademia Navale. 630nm in length, starting and finishing in Livorno, the race takes you the length and breadth of the Tyrrhenian Sea via Porto Cervo and Capri. Online, you will be sailing a Class 40, which should keep you well in with the top of the real-life fleet which we will be tracking on screen!
Race #1902
INFO by brainaid.de
Class 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
May 9 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 27th 09:00 Registration Closed

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Transat à Deux 2025

Above you see a single-handed sailor semi-foiling his Beneteau Figaro III to the horizon. It is in fact Ireland’s Sailor of the Year and the overall winner of last year’s Solitaire du Figaro, Tom Dolan. Somehow, we got our hands on a polar for the Class, and rather than trying to surreptitiously track Tom and his mates in the 2025 edition of the Solitaire, sailing rather-short, single-handed legs across the Celtic Sea and Biscay, we thought we’d see how our virtual craft would fare on the Class’s double-handed 3900nm Trans-Atlantic, from somewhere in Brittanny to somewhere in the Caribbean via somewhere in the Canaries. Allez, mes braves!
Race #1901
INFOby brainaid.de
Figaro III foil PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
May 15 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 20th 11:00 Registration Closed
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Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Toamasina to Baia de l'Oiseau


You may recall that when last we visited Madagascar in the company of Sinbad, the Sultan commanded our intrepid inspirator to seek out fabled islands where in Summer the sun barely set. We did and we returned but the Sultan wasn’t happy with Sinbad’s report, so here we go again, now by SOL Balloon instead of sailing vessel. Expect to be in the air for at least 2100nm and depending on how the wind brings us, anything between two weeks and two months before we shall descend at the Sultan’s given coordinates!
Race #1884
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - SBB
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
May 18 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 09th 11:00 Registration Closed
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