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Board » General Discussion » race closure methodology proposal

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Posted by
RainbowChaser


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2009-06-14 09:44:50
2010-06-29 09:54:44 - Re: race closure methodology proposal
Its been interesting reading the posts made thus far... it looks as if some "formulaic" approach to closing races is desirable but not essential (until server issues intervene). If a race is run slowly due to light winds (like the recent Kieler Woche) it would be unfair to close it on-schedule as a lot of SOLers are still wanting to finish.

There has to be some kind of balance so would it make sense to have a basic principle (hinted at by some here) of closing registration XX hours after race start, and closing a race XX hours after the first SOLer has crossed the line, but to be fair the closure of a race surely should also reflect the time it is taking to be run (i.e., a wind-speed dictated balance)?

What do you think?
Posted by
zero


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2010-02-07 16:56:30
2010-06-29 16:51:07 - Re: race closure methodology proposal
hi RainbowChaiser,

First, thank you for your work here. SOL has been a great therapy for me in so many levels. This is were I go to relax after the pressures of my work and family affairs. (My daughter cannot understand how I can relax and spend hours looking at "frozen dots on the screen" - them I say that the good things in life happens slowly and she still does not understand)

Anyhow,

The answer to this closure methodology is related to the number of boats the server can handle before gets to slow to respond.

I don't know that number. The only time I recall was during a timed run race that at one point we had over 1000 boats. It got really annoying to play because of the delay response of your commands.

If we had a more powerful server the races could (should) be left open for a long time, until them the SOL gods must use their intuition to close races just before it crowds the pipes, so to speak.

Sail on ...

Antonio (zero)
Posted by
RainbowChaser


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2009-06-14 09:44:50
2011-02-03 11:35:24 - Re: race closure methodology proposal
I am resurrecting this thread again to open it up once more to discussion.

On a few occasions recently folks have wanted races to stay open longer than the published close date/time.

It is unfortunate that sometimes races do have to close before everyone who wants to can finish, but if you are an SYC member please do remember:

"If you register but don't start or don't finish a race, your ranking as shown on the race leaderboard will be taken into account.

If you don't register for a race, the number of registered boats plus one will be used to compute your overall ranking. There is thus never a penalty for registering to a race."

--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2011-02-03 11:46:13 ---
Posted by
AGage


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2008-12-27 10:31:57
2011-02-07 05:46:15 - Re: race closure methodology proposal
As for the notion of server capacity effecting race closure, the server itself could determine if a race(s) can stay open longer than whatever predetermined time has been set. For example if the race is in light conditions and there are still many left on the course, it could always look to how many boats are currently being processed (across all races) to determine how much longer it can stay open.

I dont have any specific formula for this, just the idea itself, but it seems a logical approach to me as none but the server know its load (and SOLgods of course, but once they code it then it no longer takes their personal time to decide)

Another approach may be to allow for variable intervals between server updates. I dare to say it wouldnt be as important for boats finishing more than a day behind leader to have their update interval increased, which would decrease server load no? Which would allow the race to stay open longer. Certainly if it means a race can stay open longer there couldnt be too much concern over less frequent updates? This would also have advantage that the short tricky races could have a somewhat shorter update interval to accomodate close proximity to islands and what not.

Not knowing exactly how the server handles its updates it is hard to say though, just throwing an idea out there.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__

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