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 » Technical Support » Crossing the Finish Line

Question: Is there a server-side algorithm that recalculates finishing time in case a boat is not at 100% perfection?

Background: I rode shotgun with Wolff in the latest 40' Class race. At a critical and inopportune moment, just before the finish, he received an emergency call from his work.
I made the last 2 - 3 course changes.

Wolff finished 3rd as witnessed by the top bar and right column. Within moments he was 7th! Then, after another few moments 6th, which he was very happy with; but I am still astounded by the result changes.
Rankings of an individual race are calculated every minute or so. The DTF is updated more often. So it may be the case that the ranking updates and places boat A on #1 and B on #2, just before they finish. Then B overtakes A and they finish. The leaderboard will update DTF, showing #1: A, #2: B, both with DTF 0 (finished), and after a minute, maybe little more, they switch position to reflect that actual finish order.

I'm not sure how to explain two changes after DTF has reaches 0, but the main idea is that the actual ordering/ranking of the leaderboard is lagging behind a little bit, which usually isn't a big deal, but when people are finishing close together, the leader board need a couple of minutes to settle.
The short and correct answer is that only leaderboards on the frontpage matter...

Ranking order is updated like every 5 minutes (?).
DTF leaderboard and fleet positions every minute.
Actual boat positions, as in observing your own boat, every 10s (nominal, may be closer to 11-12s, and somewhat random), or every 30s (precise, 30.00s) for 'inactives'.

The key is that updates are sequential, no two boats have the same update time.

Now imagine three boats that are very even, then their ranking is determined by who has the most time elapsed.

Leaderboard shows
A xx:01:09
B xx:01:07
C xx:01:01

Now update intervals are not precise, we get a roll-over

B xx:05:09
C xx:05:03
A xx:05:01

B has not sent a command for 18 min and is switched to 'inactive'

C xx:10:07
A xx:10:05
B xx:09:40

Next step we cross the line...

C xx:10:07+2s
A xx:10:05+4s
B xx:09:40+29s

Nobody gains anything.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Chesapeake and Potomac TIMED Race 2026

Welcome to the Chesapeake Bay, the sailing capital of the United States. Feast on Maryland crab cakes or crabs seasoned with Old Bay spice before sailing down the Bay aboard a Formula 18 catamaran on a 128 nm course that will take you up the Potomac River finishing at Quantico, Virginia. 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 #2032
INFOby brainaid.de
Formula 18 catamaran Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
23 May at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: May 10th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Tobruk to Iskenderun 2026

Welcome to the fourth of our nine races across the length and breadth of the Magical Mediterranean Sea, and the second that is not in partnership with a real-life event, this time for good reason, which we won’t get into here. From Tobruk to Iskenderun it’s 670nm in length, with the added complication that the island of Cyprus will be in your way. Hoping, possibly forlornly, for plenty of downwind sailing, we’ll take the Lagoon 55 for the voyage!
Race #1976
INFO by brainaid.de
Lagoon 55 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MED - SYC
Race starts: May 05th 15:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Tasmania to Kamchatka 2026

Welcome to yet another all-new route. Tasmania to Kamchatka, part of our Ocean Championship and also the third leg of the ROW (Round the Old World) series. Be aware of the obstacles on the way, likely to split the fleet. It's like X:mas to X:mas, crossing the same waters, navigating the same archipelagos. This second race of OCQ2 2026 will be sailed in our revised 'version 2' Imoca 60 Foil. Race #2031
INFO by brainaid.de
Imoca 60 Foil v2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - ROW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: May 04th 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

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