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Board » General Discussion » Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.

Posted by
Roddo


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2014-06-28 00:51:17
2016-06-13 03:08:36 - Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
I have been genuinely inspired by the Soler's amazing ability to read the weather and I'm on a mission to get a better understanding.
I've noticed that there is a time for a straight line and a time for a bent line but I do not understand why.
I've seen sailors take a straight line and be overtaken by someone sailing around the outside and other times the opposite.
I would appreciate any pointers anyone would like to share. Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Rod
Posted by
Gilles


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2009-07-18 11:05:22
2016-06-13 07:15:20 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
Hi Rod,
I guess that is happening during wind rotation,following the rotation whit a bend, or big wind gradient where you sacrify the angle for a better wind.
As this is really depending from the particular situation, ask in chat during the race.
A lot of people will help you for the analysis.

A great spot to exercise are also the PR, Practice Race. there you can experiment with other people and get the "tricks"
Short race before the official race go on.
have a look for Rainbow Chaser in the chat.

Good wind
Gilles
Posted by
kroppyer


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2010-02-05 15:25:55
2016-06-13 07:19:41 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
On a small scale (where your course is straight and others' bent) I distinguish between two changes in wind: changes over time (windshift/wind picking up/wind decreasing) and changes over space (wind gradient).
- For changes over time, I use VMC to steer my boat. If the wind does not change over space but only over time, then this is the fastest way. You just need to find out the bearing to use for VMC, but without changes over space, this bearing will remain constant (until the next waypoint). Have a look at outlaw's post on solfans
- For changes over space, it's harder to come up with a strategy that is always optimal and easy to apply (not counting using routing software). Imagine your waypoint is straight ahead, to the left of you the wind is better and to the right of you the wind is worse. Now starting off heading slightly to the left and bending slowly to the right is faster than sailing straight to your waypoint, because the bendy line is barely any longer, but does bring you into better winds. But when you make you sail a line that is too curved, you sail a lot of extra distance that you can't make up with the better wind you have.

Then there is also the "rule" of making course changes larger than a couple of degrees:
only make a course change larger than 3 degrees (or 2, or 5 if you don't need to squeeze out some seconds) if:
- you're rounding a mark
- you're rounding a landmass
- you're tacking/gybing, or hopping some other dent in the polar
- the new wx update forces you to pick a different route
- you admit you made a mistake in your last course and need to change course as soon a possible (there no advantage in slowly correcting a mistake)

--- Last Edited by kroppyer at 2016-06-13 07:22:04 ---

--- Last Edited by kroppyer at 2016-06-14 10:40:08 ---
Posted by
Rod


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2010-06-24 22:30:48
2016-06-14 01:37:06 - Re: Why is the bent line Better - sometimes.
I always compare the hourly positions along both the COG and TWA lines. Many times you are ahead at 3hrs and behind at 6hrs.
In addition, often by following the TWA line, you end up downwind of your destination and it is slow to beat back up wind.
It is not dissimilar to using VMG or VMC---sometimes you end up downwind, or there is an island in the way.
I hadn't got as far as the analysis by Kroppyer, above here, but I take anything said by Kroppyer as the word of G--! (Sorry about that,RC!!! I try not to bring politics or religion into SOL)
One thing I have observed---it really pays off to keep 'mending' your course by tiny amounts every 5-10 minutes, even if you go only a tiny bit faster and further--over several hours you'll be surprised by how much many tiny bits add up!

--- Last Edited by Rod at 2016-06-14 01:42:04 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.

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