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 » General Discussion » Sydney Hobart and Google Earth

Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2010-12-26 08:13:12 - Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
Using brainaid's NMEA tool, and a program called NavMonPC to read the NMEA data and forward it on a com port (virtual), and loading the kml file from here, it is possible to setup so that google earth reads that GPS data and overlay your position and track (and waypoints) with the real fleet in the race...

Instructions for those unfamiliar with this type of thing:
1) Download and install NavMonPC from here
2) Login to brainaid's site and open (or download and run) the NMEA proxy - login using that applet and click 'Start'.
3) Note the IP address and port that brainaid's tool indicates, you need to enter this in NavMonPC. (discard whatever is before the /)
4) Start NavMonPC and go to File->Connections->TCP/IP Client menu item, and enter the same IP address and port (you must enter both) as specified by brainaid's NMEA proxy and click 'Connect'. - You should see characters scrolling in the little text box below, and your SOL boat's data shown on the dials. Click 'Done' just above where you enter the IP address and you should also see your exact location coordinates, COG, SOG etc...
5) Now go to File->Connections->Virtual Ports menu item and select a COM port from the drop down list (doesn't matter which one) and click 'Connect'. Also checking the auto start will do this for you every timeyou start NavMonPC. You can also specify 2 more COM ports for other programs to use, like a router etc.
6) Open Google Earth and load the kml file from above, you will see the real Sydney to Hobart fleet, updated approx every 10 minutes by default (you can change by right clicking the main (top/root level) race and selecting Properties->Refresh tab.
7) On the tools menu in Google Earth select 'GPS'. On the options window that is displayed select 'Magellan' and 'Serial' on the 'Import' tab, and NMEA on the 'Realtime' tab then click 'Start'. Google Earth auto scans your com ports and should display 'Reading COM#' (where # is the number you setup in NavMon) when it finds your GPS data, on the Realtime tab on the GPS dialog. You should see a entries in the 'Places' section of google earth under 'Realtime GPS', including your position and path, which (on my pc) is displayed as a red line.
Note: for some reason, the number of duplicate wqaypoints seems to build up in the list each update...
[EDIT:]
NOTE
*** The latest release of Google Earth may be needed (from some chat in the race)
*** The default GPS polling time is 4, you may want to increase this? maybe to 60 seconds

Enjoy!
:-)

PS: As per my previous post, the AIS feature in NavMonPC can be useful for close racing in any SOL race also.
AIS = Advanced Identification System = other boat's COG/SOG etc ;-)
(although brainaid's site does advise that SOG can be up to 10% out)

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2010-12-26 11:33:27 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
RainbowChaser


Users avatar

Posts
2656
Registered at
2009-06-14 09:44:50
2010-12-27 10:29:19 - Re: Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
Hi Aaron - thank you very much for this! I had a blast yesterday getting this set up on my wee computer and the end result, seeing 'Chaser in amongst the boats of the IRL Sydney-Hobart race was (and is) fun!!!

:-)
Posted by
Arthur


Users avatar

Posts
32
Registered at
2008-12-23 14:43:47
2010-12-28 22:36:59 - Re: Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
WOW, very brilliant tool to find out who is doing what/where/when :-)
Thnx!!!

Arthur
If you're still in control, you're not going fast enough.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Mad Max by Balloon 2026 - Across the Outback


Mad Max Rockatansky doesn’t get to go in a balloon in any of the Legends of the Wasteland, and the Wasteland is not necessarily the Outback of Australia, but Mel Gibson and film director George Miller indubitably are… of Australia, and ballooning as reconnaissance is a main feature of the Mad Max spin-off video game, so here goes: 1500nm in a balloon from somewhere on the edge of the Outback, Goondiwindi, to cross a finish line at Fitzroy Crossing, somewhere on the edge of the Outback!
Race #1974
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
Race starts: Oct 14th 13:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Valdes Peninsula TIMED Race 2026

October finds us on the Argentina coast for the Valdes Peninsula race. A UNESCO World Heritage Site the peninsula is a breeding ground for southern right whales. Sail the luxurious blue water Delphia 47 around a 160 nm course in an attempt to turn in the fastest time.
This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have two weeks to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #2066
INFOby brainaid.de
PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ4 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
24 October at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Oct 11th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Roma Giraglia Regata 2026

Our eighth race of nine to celebrate all things Mediterranean - fickle winds, history and olive oil – is another buddy-up; this one with the Circolo Nautico Riva di Traiano . Founded in 1984, as the new Traiano yacht Harbour neared completion, the Circola since then has developed into one of the major yachting competition centres in Italy, and next to the 450nm Roma per Tutti (which SOL buddied earlier in the year), the Roma Giraglia Regata is its other headline offshore event. First raced in 2005, the 210nm course takes competitors from Traiano to a rock on the inside of the Ile de la Giraglia off the northern tip of Corsica and back to the Italian mainland for a finish in the bay of Santo Stefano. We’re racing this one in our Class 40!
Race #2058
INFO by brainaid.de
Class 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MED - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Oct 08th 16:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Arctic Tern - Greenland to Antarctica 2025

Welcome to the fifth leg of our MIG series. Now it's time to race the Arctic Terns, on their migration from Greenland to Antarctica, 8300 NM. This is also part of our monthly Ocean Championship, and as such the first race of OCQ4 2026. This race will be sailed in our Maxi Trimaran. Race #2061
INFO by brainaid.de
Maxi Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230 Ranking:
OCQ4 - OCCH - SYC - MIG
Race starts: Oct 05th 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cross the Convergence 2026 - Masirah to Chagos


Having crossed, re-crossed and re-re-crossed the Convergence Zones of the Pacific and the Atlantic, we now face our second crossing of the Convergence Zone of the World’s third great equator-spanning sea, the Indian Ocean, taking us from the channel between Masirah Island and the Oman mainland to the Chagos Archipelago. It’s 1900nm and we’ll be sailing our very fine Archer 78, and won’t mention that both locations (of departure and arrival) are heavily militarized and the why’s and what next’s concerning that – mindful as always of SOL Netiquette.
Race #1988
INFOby brainaid.de
Archer 78PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: CCZ - SYC
Race starts: Oct 02nd 18:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member cdhinman
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rthinman
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client