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 » BWR Route Helper Tool

Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

1. Do you think you will be so well placed even if not using them?

Yes. As it has been said, routers just save you time, they don't do anything different from what you can do with pen and paper. For sure you need to have some mathematical skills but these are allowed, aren't they?

2.Do you enjoy yr placement as if it would be the result of your capabilities, or you fill little embarrassed knowing, that you had a great help, which is not available to the others?

Indeed yes, capability of understanding the weather patterns and interpeting them with the aid of a tool is of great pleasure. It helped my IRL sailing too. And the same help is available to everyone, it's just a matter of personal choiche weather to uise it or not.

3.Do you think the others(not all of course,but many) would be well placed as well, by using the same sophisticated routers?

Yes, but said again, blind usage of routers leed to disater. otherwise we shall always see 200-300 boats ending simultaneously (routers behave the same, more or less)

4.Do you think all the competitors are sailing technically on equal bases?

Everyone sails to the best of their ability.Freely available routers are there for everyone (BWR, SP), using or not using them is a matter of choice. When brainiad was sailing SOL I had great pleasure in trying to challenge him although he was way ahead in wx knoledge. This allowed me to understand so many things and yes, I had great pleasure and fun as I always have when I learn new things.

Having said that I quitted sailing on my own SOL boat because i did not have time to dedicate to SOL. If you want to consistently be on top, SOL demands for 24/7 attention which it is not possible for me anymore. It is not a matter of tools, if you miss an overnight wx update you can say byebye to top spot (although I remember possible to finish top 5 even if consistently skipping the night update).

Now I am participating in ITA_2011 team boat because it gives me the fun without demanding so much attention.

So, in conclusion, using a router or not is a matter of choice, not an obligation. You cannot force people to quit using them as you cannot be forced to use them (as you cannot be forced to quit using canvas sails when everyone is using 3DL). I am strongly in favour any countermeasure used to limit automatic steering (which I believe everyone understand it is different from weather routing), IMHO the best would be a limited number of DCs as this will not allow routers to input accurate preprogrammed routes (1-2 DC per hour could be a good limit)

my 1eurocent
I will answer sicerly D.P

1) No. But I would have to spend alot more time on SOL. which I can not finacially afford.

2) Yes I enjoy my placement. Not embarrased.

3) Yes. I really enjoy sailing against the other router users. Suddenly it becomes very tactical again.

4) No.

I enjoy the way that I play SOL.
I enjoy the company of the other SOLers and the huge knowledge base that is out there.
The routing stuff I find very interesting as I am sure so do many others.
I dont enjoy the shorter races because of the time envolvement.

My dream is to do alot more offshore races (IRL) and put my SOL routing experience to good use.

Fairly honest answers DP :)
that is a wicked picture UC ! 12 footer ?

billy
I'm fairly new to SOL, and as my results sofar show - my strategic skills in ofshore racing are eh "absent".

I intend to use BWR on Leg 5, and I see it as a tool to improve my (absent)skills and achieve a better comprehension of whats wrong with my "understanding". I will also use the "Helper tool" purely to save typing and avoid typos.

My goal is to figger-out how people can beat a "router" so that I, one day, can seriously partisipate in races as a person again and not a "semi-bot"

Thanks for making the HelperTool available"
Started using Bluewater in the imoca challenge . As I am learning along the way I already found out it gained and has cost me places in the imoca.
However it saves me time in doing general route calculation.I don't use the router for a detailed route forecast.
I am stil convinced it is possible to do good without a router but this is time consuming and that time is not available to me as i have to earn some money too.
I always miss the 0430 update and sometimes the 2230.
To answer some of the questions:
Results are more or less the same with or without router in ocean races my "normal"placing between 20-50.
BW is available to everybody and free of charge, but you still need to interpret/correct the given route.
I enjoy using the router in an ocean race as it saves me time. In short / weekend races i do not intend to use a router at all because i also like the handwork and in the weekend i have more time available.
As technology advances it is logical that technology is used in this game it is called a sailing simulator and to my opinion routing is a part of ocean sailing.
I am still convinced it is not the router itself but the time dedicated to the game that determines your rank.
Some people will always be "unbeatable"or very hard to beat with or without router as they are more able sailors then myself.


Kees(Tempest)
It is Billy :) I used to crew on one called Stagecoach for 7 seasons. Best sailing I have ever done. Should have started 10 years earlier :)
Hi Aaron.
There may be a small bug in your Helper.

It converts the Date format to 2011.03.03 and Brainaids DC converter requires the format: 2011/03/03

Tom

--- Last Edited by WhyNot at 2011-03-03 11:48:33 ---
OK, not sure of problem to begin with, but it does not use any inbuilt DateTime formatting now, I rewrote it to pull out the individual fields, year, month day etc and construct new string yyyy/MM/dd, so should now work anywhere (I think must have been a locale issue).

Thx for informing me, that is one problem with not having proper test environment, if it works on my machine all I can do is publish and hope

I did set my machine to temporarily think it was Norwegian though, and it outputs fine... ;-)

New version here (same as old link??)


--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2011-03-04 03:36:34 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Thank you. Now it works in Norway as well, but one question if I may?

Where is the little sucker?
I find the shortcut in the Startup menu - but the program it self - I can't find it!

Curious
Tom
The setup you ran is auto created by Visual Studio, and it creates odd folder names like UUIDS (universally unique identifiers) under Documents and Settings\{username}\LocalSettings\Apps\2.0\.....

On my machine it is installed in
C:\Documents and Settings\Aaron\Local Settings\Apps\2.0\2MWJH5WZ.T0W\DAJZG3EX.QM9\bwrr..tion_869fcd60e6b08b18_0001.0000_717664e969abc244\BWR Route to __brainaid_ DCs.exe

Not exactly sure why they do not support user specified install locations, something to do with the .NET framework as I've noticed other apps (like POLi for example) is installed under Apps\2.0 also.

It is also listed in the 'Add & Remove Applications', or if you use something like RevoUninstaller (which I can highly recommend) it is listed in there also.


--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2011-03-05 04:16:59 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__

Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 3

Leg Three of our Round North Island Series, in partnership with SSANZ, keeps the pressure on! From Cook Strait, the fleet turns north for a 187 nautical mile passage up the east coast to Napier. It may look like a quick overnighter, but shifting coastal winds and the ever-lively Cook Strait demand sharp focus. In our responsive Sun Fast 3600s, a proven short-handed racer and powerful downwind performer, tactical decisions and precise timing will make all the difference!

The start time for this race may change at short notice to align with the real race. The confirmed start date and time will be announced via an in-race “L” flag message — Please monitor race communications closely.
Race #2013
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 08th 21:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Dyer Dhow Derby 2026


Most winter weekends, SOLer wsguerin and his friends at the Mamaroneck Frostbite Association venture forth on Long Island Sound to race Dyer Dhows, originally designed as WWII tenders. Indestructible little boats, great comradeship and serious short sharp races of 10 to 20 minutes duration. Sailonline now invites you to experience the joys of the Dhow in winter, virtually, by way of a slightly longer 14nm race: from Mamaroneck to Execution Rocks, over to the Gong Buoy and back to Mamaroneck. And if the wind pipes up to 20kn and beyond, you'll find SOL's customized polar will plane, rather than nosedive!
Race #2017
INFO by brainaid.de
Dyer Dhow PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: SPQ1 - SPCH - SYC
Race starts: Mar 07th 13:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

South China Sea Race 2026


Welcome all to the South China Sea and a virtual chase in Cookson 50’s of the Rolex South China Sea fleet, racing 650nm – as the local red-footed booby flies – from Hong Kong to Subic Bay on the southern tip of The Philippines’ Luzon Island. Chances are it will be a fast downwind ride, so see how you can keep up with the real-life fleet which we hope to be able to follow on our monitors.
Race #2016
INFOby brainaid.de
Cookson 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 04th 03:20 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 2

Leg Two of our Round North Island Series is where the real challenge begins. After Mangonui, our SOLers face a demanding 491nm passage around the top of the North Island and down the rugged west coast toward Cook Strait. Long miles, exposed waters, and relentless tactical choices will test every SOLer. In our powerful Sun Fast 3600s, a proven short-handed performer and true downwind flyer, endurance, timing, and smart routing will be key to success!

The start time for this race may change at short notice to align with the real race. The confirmed start date and time will be announced via an in-race “L” flag message — Please monitor race communications closely.
Race #2012
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 21:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Iceland to the Falklands 2026

Welcome to an all-new route, the first of three Round the 'Old World' of Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. To give each leg of the ROW a bit of length we'll try to hug the coasts as little as possible, so starting in Iceland our first leg of the series, which will also be the final leg of our Quarter 1 Ocean Championships takes us 7200nm to the Falklands, the full length of the Atlantic end to end. To make sure we'll get it done within the month we'll be sailing our Maxi Trimaran.
Race #2010
INFO by brainaid.de
Maxi Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - ROW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 1

Welcome to Leg One of the Round North Island Series in partnership with SSANZ. The four-leg circuit of New Zealand’s North Island is a true test of short-handed skill, and it begins with the 150nm passage from Auckland to Mangonui. This year, our SOLers will be racing the dynamic Sun Fast 3600 – Jeanneau’s renowned racer-cruiser and a proven flyer downwind. A gentle opener on paper… but coastal tactics and shifting breezes will demand focus from the start!
Race #2011
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
March 5 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 28th 21:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

San Diego to Puerto Vallarta 2026

Welcome to California! Established in 1953 this 1000-mile run from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera has become a tradition and online as well the tradition strengthens with this the fourth time Sailonline is making the race available to virtual sailors. Let's see how our virtual SC70s perform against the real fleet!
Race #2015
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Feb 28th 20:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member sassy63

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client