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Board » General Discussion » Headsails

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Posted by
ShamrockPirate


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2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-08 19:15:32 - Headsails
Hi All... a newbie here. Didn't take long for SOLaddiction to set in and work is wondering where I am! I have searched through a number of threads to see if this question has popped up. Has there been discussion of adding a "headsail" option for the boats? Not sure if this would add too much variability (read that as server capacity I guess) but it would add another layer of sophistication. Have a few ideas on how it could be accomplished but certainly longer than a simple post.
Really looking forward to being a frequent SOLer.

Shamrock
Posted by
zero


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2010-02-07 16:56:30
2010-12-09 04:40:07 - Re: Headsails
Pirate,

You are completely missing the point of SOL.
The beauty of SOL is that is very simple to play and very difficult to win.
All you have to do is point the boat to where you want to go and the computer picks the maximum speed possible based on the wind speed and direction. Simple.
SOL assumes that we all have the best crew inthe world and our boats are always in ship-shape conditioning.

Looks easy, right?
Well, yes but try to win races.

What you are asking for is to give the sailors ability to sail at a speed other than the optimum, by changing sails.

This would make the game extremelly complicate and would spoil the pleasure.

Antonio (zero)




Antonio (zero)

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:40:38 ---

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:42:07 ---

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:53:32 ---
Posted by
A2


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2009-10-26 00:39:42
2010-12-09 18:10:13 - Re: Headsails
Pardon me for for venturing into waters were I am most likely beyond my depth but there are some subtle distinctions at play here.

SOL is not exactly a sailing simulation, per se, in that what matters here is not How you sail but rather Where you sail.

We all have the same composite polar and derive equal benefit therefore of its realized potential as far as sailing performance goes.

The challenge that is left is a pure routing exercise, which is the raison d'être of the company that provides the server resources for our mutual enjoyment.

None so blind
Posted by
zero


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2010-12-09 20:26:10 - Re: Headsails
Monsieur Bonisseur,

You said very well. Thank you.

Antonio

Posted by
ShamrockPirate


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2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-09 21:15:10 - Re: Headsails
Thanks all for the reply and education. Hopefully other new members will benefit from my question and not completely miss the point as well. Certainly agree it is easy to sail but difficult to sail well. If it weren't a challenge.... why do it?

Cheers.
Posted by
sol


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2008-08-14 11:08:14
2010-12-16 04:21:12 - Re: Headsails
It also wouldnt be possible, as different polars would be needed for the different headsails (on boats which carry/allow them), and current polar data only accounts for the best possible (theoretical even?) performance of a boat
Posted by
AGage


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2008-12-27 10:31:57
2010-12-16 04:26:51 - Re: Headsails
Apologies, that last post was me - oops.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
ShamrockPirate


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2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-16 13:43:37 - Re: Headsails
Thanks AG... As I learn more about SOL and processes behind it, I can see how/why this would be really tough to incorporate. Appreciate the responses!
Posted by
Capt.D.P.


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2009-10-27 01:51:32
2010-12-16 17:18:36 - Re: Headsails
Already now we have a lot of work and being present at the computer especially on weather reports and if we would need to change the sails than at each wind shift we should be present,especially when the spi should be hoisted.
Posted by
76Trombones


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2009-08-03 18:04:56
2010-12-17 14:40:19 - Re: Headsails
My take:

SOL could pretty easily update the polars to include sail-change data. The info is pretty much in there already in the more detailed ones.

But... when working out navigation/strategy/route-finding, you always use the composite polar. You want the solution with the boat sailing at max performance. Since SOL is a navigation game, the way it works now makes perfect sense, and reflect what you'd do IRL.

Sail changes aren't a strategic choice. There's no decision to be made, but rather simply looking up on your table which one should be up for the given conditions. We don't have gear damage, sea states or crew fatigue to account for.

We're the Afterguard... leave the grunt work to the trimmers and foredeck :-)

(and the routers would eat the fleet... not based on skill, but simply efficiency of setting DC)

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