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 » Races » Starting points for races and practice races

Posted by
Rod


Users avatar

Posts
392
Registered at
2010-06-24 22:30:48
2013-12-14 15:42:31 - Starting points for races and practice races
May I suggest a change in the choices of the locations of race starts. Instead of starts in the open ocean, could they be located reasonably close to the obvious port or harbour?
I realize that some sailors are starting on DCs, at times when they cannot be at their computers, and therefore have objected to "in harbour" starts, and I am not suggesting this.
Starting in the open ocean impacts the practice races, as it reduces the PR courses to pure geometric exercises. Usually there are no islands or channels that can be included in the PR courses, and this is frankly a bit boring. Merely setting a course from mark to mark results often in processions of boats on the same track.
The current Hawai PR course is an example of this problem--it gives little choice of course, and therefore little exercise to the mind.....
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Posted by
A2


Users avatar

Posts
347
Registered at
2009-10-26 00:39:42
2013-12-14 17:08:56 - Re: Starting points for races and practice races
With all due respect to Rod & other Practice Racers who may hold this point of view let me say that this would be an example of the Tail wagging the Dog.

In the particular case of no obvious obstacles to fashion courses from the opportunity does exist to utilize the weather as the key element of the course.

I am suggesting a triangular Olympic style course that emphasizes Upwind/Downwind legs which does offer competitive racing.

The orientation of the marks to the wind direction could be deferred until the most recent Wx update is in place. The starting point could be predetermined & the course aligned as needed. The distance of the legs could then accommodate whatever wind speed is available to yield the desired duration.

None so blind

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

New Ice Age 2026 - Scott Base to Neumayer Station


To complete our DN circumnavigation of Antarctica and our 4-race ice-boat marathon series, we continue clockwise, now departing from Scott Base back to Neumayer Station. It’s about 3500nm back as well, which, as said if there’s wind at all, should, well-wrapped in your DN-cockpits, not take you much more than five days. And remember: charts down here are unreliable – what is land and what is ice?!
Race #1971
INFOby brainaid.de
DN PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: NIA - SYC
Race starts: Aug 27th 07:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cross the Convergence 2026 - Tenerife to Fernando de Noronha


The sixth race of our series of ocean voyages across the World’s convergence zones takes us back up the Atlantic to Tenerife, from whence we will depart on a classic transatlantic passage to Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha. It’s 2150nm as the albatross flies, but you will undoubtedly have to take some and sometimes sudden detours to get your Volvo 70v4 through the doldrums stretching across your path from the Amazon to the Niger.
Race #1986
INFOby brainaid.de
Volvo 70v4PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: CCZ - SYC
Race starts: Aug 23rd 18:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Palk Bay TIMED Race 2026

This month’s TIMED race takes us to the shallow waters of Palk Bay located between India and Sri Lanka. Sail the impressive MC 38 around a roughly 140 nm course through two narrow channels before returning to the start/finish line in Jaffna.
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 #2054
INFOby brainaid.de
PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
29 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 16th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ 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 Panpyc
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member cdhinman
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rthinman
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member ms0689
  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