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 » Flag Officers » Race proposals » Match Racing

Page: 1 2 Next

I've an idea for how to run a match racing series that hopefully would not add much to admin or server requirements. Please comment on what you think. The key points will be:
1) How much interest there is amongst us
2) How can we get it to work without adding to the valuable workload of our volunteers.

I'll explain my idea in a few posts, so that each one is not too long.
First point about when and how to run the races. My main idea for this is to piggy back off the existing practice races and/or timed races. Another possibilty would be to add short windows of races specifically for match racing run very much like the timed races.

The way the match racing would work, is two boats decide to go head to head, arranged mutually through the forums or chat in another race. They agree a start time. Similar to a timed race or practice race, they start at the agreed time, sail the agreed course and whoever crosses the finish first wins that race. So they score the win.

Points would need to reflect number of races entered as well as wins, say 3 points for a win and 1 for a loss.
To make it easier to organise with the couple of hundred keen sailors we have here:
1) SYC members only
2) arrange in divisions, initial by ranking, then by performance - up to 20 in each division but depends on what is managable
3) divisions run over a set period, say 3 months, which gives time for the races to be held
4) promotion / relegation after that period
5) next period (season) starts

We could have an end of year finals series, or something similar, if that adds to the interest.
Some of the challenges - please comment if you know about these issues.

1) Accuracy of timing. Practice races may be too approximate for this. Is there a way of logging start and finish times more accurately that would suit?

2) Length of race. Most of our races (except the practice ones) are more than 4 hours long. Is this too long for this format?

3) Any admin or organisation issues, or would we be happy with this being reasonably informal.
PS, this was inspired by losing to sadlersailing by 8 seconds after 5 hours going around the Isle of White. That felt like a match race!
76T had proposed a conceptual 8 Metre Rule Class event that had similar aims or could be well adapted to this particular discussion.

read here
None so blind
Main problem is match racing is not possible on SOL....
There is no enforcement of ISAF rules

And I don't quite see what 1 on 1 would add to SOL.
There are some good ideas in terms of a 'season' and divisions etc, but again I cannot see what 1on1 adds here?
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
May I suggest that some thought be given to the idea of a "start line" as in IRL racing? Boats could leave the "docking point" 1 hour prior to the start, BUT twa=0 would not be allowed until after the start (so the boat MUST be constantly in motion.) I realize that this could penalize those who cannot be at their computers at the start, but that too corresponds to IRL. (Calculate the time from dock to start line, set DC time and course, and go---if over early, must re-start, again as IRL)
'Starting' is usually considered to be a significant part of IRL sailboat racing---to neglect it here is somewhat un-realistic.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Interesting idea Rod, though I am hard pressed to figure how and afternoon local-time start and a middle-of-the-night start in the same race mirrors IRL. In the current format, I have the same start in the same wind in the same boat as the Big Boys. (My talent is then applied and I either creep or vault to the back of the pack :)) Since many races appear to be won/lost in the first few hours, it feels like an underway-start would penalize more people than benefit.

Also not sure how the server would identify and then notify of an early-over start. A DC off by even one second would essentially result in just going for a virtual sail for the several hundred miles or more. I suppose you could set a close DC and then go TWA=0.01 and have a reasonable chance, but I believe your point is that to be able to compete effectively, you MUST be at your computer at the designated start time or the race is a toss.

Only other alteration I can think of would be to have multiple start times (this goes back to a "Divisions" conversation) but then you are only racing against those choosing that start time and I don't see how the all-important rankings would then be managed.

I'm sure others may have a more learned perspective and will look forward to reading more on this thread.

SP
Start time would be same for all, and could be done on DCs. 'Over early' would be seen as a position number which would rapidly get larger. It would add the requirement to chose a tack, and to choose which end of the line. It would spread out the fleet much like IRL.
Among other things, it would help to make SOL into an 'off-season' practice for those who also race IRL, even if radio-sailing such as I do.

--- Last Edited by Rod at 2012-01-20 04:04:08 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.

Page: 1 2 Next

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

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!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bosphorus Strait Sprint 2025


Welcome to the Bosphorus for a testing sprint twice through the narrow channel separating the Black Sea from the Mediter-ranean - the traditional bound-ary between Europe and Asia.
Race 1914
INFO by brainaid.de
Dehler 30 OD PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPRQ2 - SPRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: May 04th 09:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

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 starts: May 03rd 21:30 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bay to Bay 2025 - Leg 1 - Great Sandy Strait

Prepare for an electrifying start to the 2025 Bay to Bay Yacht Race! In partnership with the Hervey Bay Sailing Club, this first leg will see our SOLers take on a fast-paced, 16-nautical-mile sprint through the stunning waters of the Great Sandy Marine Park, weaving past the breathtaking landscapes of the Great Sandy National Park. Racing in high-powered 18-foot skiffs, the fleet will battle shifting winds, tricky tactics, and fierce competition—all in pursuit of victory! With the thrill of the race and an unforgettable sailing experience ahead, we can’t wait to see you on the start line!
Race #1905
INFO from brainaid.de
18ft Skiff PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: B2B - SYC
Race starts: May 03rd 01:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

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

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

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 starts: Apr 20th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

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
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Valparaiso to San Francisco 2025

Get ready for an exhilarating new challenge as we set sail on the fourth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! Following in the 19th century footsteps of Isabel Allende's heroine, Eliza Sommers, 'Daughter of Fortune', this all-new route takes us across the vast eastern Pacific, from Valparaíso, Chile, to San Francisco, California - a 3500nm journey of endurance, strategy, and pure sailing adrenaline. This leg will be raced aboard the powerful Rapido 60, pushing sailors to their limits as they navigate the open ocean. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Pacific? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Rapido 60 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Apr 07th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Patrick70119
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client