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Profile for Zembu



Name Zembu
Email Address
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Posts41
  • 2015-04-11 08:32:46
    Re: 2015 CHAMPIONSHIPS
    Board » Flag Officers » Championships
    Thanks WIN (Piero) - Very well organised. This should encourage folks, including me, to race more often - if I can find the time!!
  • 2015-03-16 16:32:07
    Re: RTW start
    Board » Flag Officers » Races
    I agree with svein. And also with Rod at 16:15 on chat today 16th March 2015 where he said "As I have said and hoped, many times, SOL is not supposed to be an "arcade game", but is intended as a simulation of ocean racing navigation reality."
    So - way to go SOL management! - ;-)
  • 2015-02-08 23:03:19
    Re: Weather data compression and resolution
    Board » Technical Discussion
    ITA, Yes, I am aware of the fact that Bluewater needs to have part of the grib "disabled", when the grib straddles the dateline. This is not a problem and I do not think that it is the reason why Bluewater signals that the file is smaller than expected. There is no need to change the discontinuity to Greenwich. One merely uses the grib manager in Bluewater to not use the unwanted part for routing. When I have used Bluewater in the past when the grib straddles the dateline, I don't recall noticing the following from Bluewater;
    "The following errors occurred while loading C:/SOL/Races/
    weather_100_global_gfs_20150201_1627.grb Attempt to add Grib Sequencies anyway? "Only read 18904 out of 19068 bytes for EntireMsg (offs=1029672)""???

    Further to the above, as of approximately 10th/11th Feb 2015, the above message is no longer displayed by Bluewater. From discussion noted in the chat, I surmise that Brainaid has fixed the problem.
    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2015-02-09 17:02:42 ---

    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2015-02-11 17:06:30 ---
  • 2015-02-02 14:29:42
    Re: Weather data compression and resolution
    Board » Technical Discussion
    Hi hmm, I am wondering if the change is the reason that now for Sanya to Aukland, when loading the grib into Bluewater, the following report appears;
    "The following errors occurred while loading C:/SOL/Races/
    weather_100_global_gfs_20150201_1627.grb Attempt to add Grib Sequencies anyway? "Only read 18904 out of 19068 bytes for EntireMsg (offs=1029672)""???
  • 2015-01-29 15:19:30
    Re: January 2015 weather update problems
    Board » Technical Discussion
    I am prompted to write because there appears to be no decision yet from the management as to the current (if still current) weather update problem. Comments have been made from a few, including me.
    What is important to note is that until it runs out, the race grib currently installed on SOL remains operational, so if no update takes place, the grib previously provided to players through the brainaid site (the same grib) continues to be valid.
    So those using routers can continue to use the grib they have. And it makes no difference to those not using routers.
    The problem arises if SOL management decide to update the operational grib at random times (due to delay of a new grib). In that situation it is unfair to those who choose to log in only or most frequently at the predicted wx update times. But would be beneficial to those who are always racing 100% of their time.
    So it has to be clear that the wx update will be applied within, e.g. a half hour period, every six hours, and that if for technical reasons this turns out to be impossible on any instance, the wx will not be updated until the next scheduled timeslot. I think this was the logic that hmm applied when he said in his post of 2015-01-27 13:28:48 "In the case when NOAA structure changed on 14th of January, I could have updated the weather around 18:30 UTC, two hours later than expected but I chose not to." (I think he chose not to because he recognised it would be unfair.)
  • 2015-01-27 15:01:39
    Re: January 2015 weather update problems
    Board » Technical Discussion
    I agree with StuArt. It is obviously beneficial, if using a router, that the router work be done and new dc's set as soon as possible after a fresh wx is applied to the course. Otherwise we would be running old dc's on new weather. So, we need to have fixed times for the updates, as always has been the case. However, I think leeway of half an hour is acceptable. But if it cannot be done in that half hour it would be better that the wx be left until the next scheduled time. Also, apart from what I just said, it is no good just letting it come in at any time unless there is a statement on the race page saying when the last wx was applied. Otherwise persons just logging on will not know whether or not there has been a wx change since they last looked at it.
  • 2012-11-15 17:56:44
    Re: Aaron James Gage - 1971-2012
    Board » In memoriam
    Having not visited SOL since the end of the last VO70 Round World Race I was shocked today to hear from Terry O'Neill that our friend Aaron had died. Many times he helped me, and today I reviewed all of his emails with great sadness.

    This is a quote from one of Aaron's emails, including his "smileys" -

    "I highly recommend you read 76Trombones' post 'Ramblings on Routers' - it explains a lot... Yes it is also the name of his blog, but I mean the actual post here - indeed all of his posts are worth reading, and then reading again a month later ;-)

    As I mentioned, as you probably know anyway - SOL, like any other sport, virtual or not is VERY competitive at the top end of the fleet. Not to say we aren't all friends, and if I had seen WINSTON (or ita10267 or Gilles etc) looking like he was going to run aground I would certainly have sent some warning emails or something, but we still all want to win, while maintaining much respect for each other. Which is another thing I like about sailing... Seems there is more sportsmanship than in some other sports I have been involved in.

    Finally, please do not ever think you are asking me too much, or taking too much of my time... I am more than happy to correspond with you on anything you like. If I happen to be busy my reply will just be a little later is all ;-)"

    This is typical of his generous, friendly, co-operative nature.

    My sincere commiserations to his family.

    Andrew Cormie
  • 2009-08-11 19:27:56
    Re: Email to Commodore McIrvine RORC re action against SOL, 9 August 2009
    Board » General Discussion
    Well done Rainbowchaser. I also sent an email to RORC via their website - but nothing much compared to yours - as follows;

    This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.rorc.org/ from:
    Andrew Cormie <andrew@zembu.plus.com>

    I'd like to know what are your grounds for objection against Sail Online (SOL), resulting in your action in sending them a solicitor's letter. Your action has caused trouble for several hundred people engaged in an innocent activity which was not causing you any problem.

    HAVE OF COURSE HAD NO REPLY.
  • 2009-06-26 19:52:37
    Navigational Sailing Strategy
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    I would like to suggest that SOL put on site some navigational sailing strategy advice. I have the impression from what I have read here and there on the site that one of the objectives of the system / game developed here is to assist sailors to improve their navigational skills. But whereas the system is good for practice for navigators who know what they are doing, it reduces to a mere game for those who don't know enough. Speaking as one of the latter, who for a while thought he knew how to approach this, I now feel somewhat at a loss as to how to improve my performance. Some guidance on this would be appreciated - and I think there must be many who would benefit from such advice.
  • 2009-05-01 09:00:16
    Inability to access the Technical Forum to respond to posts
    Board » General Discussion
    Has anyone had this experience? When I am logged on to SOL and an email notification arrives telling me of a forum item I might wish to read; when I click on the URL, Internet Explorer says:-

    The website cannot display the page
    HTTP 500
    Most likely causes:
    The website is under maintenance.
    The website has a programming error.

    What you can try:
    Refresh the page.

    Go back to the previous page.

    More information

    If I log out of SOL, then click on the URL, it does display. But to respond, I have to log on. So I log on, and then I can't access the Technical Forum to make a response. However, I can access others such as this one.

    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2009-05-01 09:09:43 ---

Races

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Current Races:

Beketov by Balloon 2026 - In Siberia


Way-back-when France and England, and Spain as well, were squabbling about who should control what of North America, only to lose the most of it to their own insurging colonists, their eastern European neighbour empire, Russia, was quietly assimilating vast, thinly nomadically populated territory of its own – Siberia! Amongst the many explorers and adventurers that served Russia so well in these conquests was the Cossack hetman Pyotr Beketov. Let’s pretend we’re he and eschewing horseback, let’s travel by balloon from Yekaterinberg to Krasnoyarsk – just a short 2000km (1100nm) section of the Trans-Siberian Express’ 9289km!
Race #1972
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
Race starts: Feb 03rd 13:00 Registration Open!
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West Papua to Oregon 2026

Our next race in our Ocean Championships is the first of a series of great natural migrations we will track in 2026. The leatherback turtle is the most widely distributed marine reptile on planet Earth, and chooses to breed in warm tropical waters, but prefers to forage in more temperate habitats, travelling thousands and thousands of miles effortlessly annually to maintain this way of life. Our race will follow one of the typical trips of this turtle, from breeding grounds in the seas off West Papua to the coast of Oregon. It’s only 5900nm, so to keep up, but in comfort, we’ll follow in our Gunboat 90.
Race #2006
INFO by brainaid.de
GB 90 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - OCCH - MIG - SYC
Race starts: Feb 02nd 11:00 Registration Open!
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Race to Up Helly Aa 2026

A-OI!!! The fiery spirit of Shetland’s legendary Up Helly Aa returns, and Sailonline’s annual race to Lerwick is once again upon us. Covering 383 nautical miles from Aberdeen, SOLers will tackle winter waters steeped in Viking tradition. This year, we race the classic Frers 33, a proven cruiser-racer born from the golden era of offshore racing and still a sturdy performer both on the virtual and real water. Can you master the course and reach Lerwick in time for the flames?

SAILING NOTE: Gruney may be approached from any direction but must be passed for rounding purposes as indicated on the chart.
Race #2005
INFO by brainaid.de
Frers 33 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SYC
Race starts: Jan 30th 17:00 Registration Open!
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Red Eye - Hobart Convict Run 2026

Back in 2010, one of our SOLers of the first hour, AUS_Scott76, came up with this ‘Convict Run’ out from Hobart, past Cape Raoul and the penal colony of Port Arthur, round Tasman Island, up and back down the east coast of Tasmania, to finish with a tight technical run – so Scott called it – up the picturesque D'entrecasteaux Channel, home to Hobart once again. It’s 250nm, ideal for a bit of ‘Red Eye’ in comfortable Finngulf 43’s, and if the original idea was to pick up some convicts on the way for a bit of R&R and sea air, you may always drop’m back before returning to Hobart!
Race #2002
INFOby brainaid.de
FG 43 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RED - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Monday,
February 2 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jan 27th 12:00 Registration Open!
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New Ice Age 2026 - Longyearbyen to Browerville


Although we have by no means exhausted the possibilities of ice boating on lakes at high latitudes or high altitudes, it was noticeable that as our 2025 Series progressed, there were calls from time to time for longer-distance challenges, and so in response to these calls we will pretend that global warming has reversed and as a result the coastal waters of Antarctica and Russia and Canada have fully (and smoothly!) frozen over offering us the possibility of a 4-race New Ice Age series in our trusted no-PL DN machines. Our first leg takes us 2600nm from Svalbard’s Longyearbyen east to North Alaska’s Browerville. You’ll be a few days on the ice, so dress warmly and take some provisions; go!
Race #1968
INFOby brainaid.de
DN PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: NIA - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Monday,
February 2 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jan 22nd 07:00 Registration Closed
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