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Board » Technical Support » More Digits

Hi Jakob,

Would it be possible to add a second decimal digit to Boat Speed and VMG ?

When racing these quick day races on slow boats the second decimal number will came handy.

So, format X.XX instead of X.X

Thanks a lot,
Antonio (Tuze1)

P.S.: as you know on the Mobile interface the Boat Speed and VMG return with format X.XX already.
Hi
We will consider but we also want to avoid racing SOL becoming a mathematical exercise by giving too much data away... but I totally understand your question. no promise ;-)
...one of the guys behind the game...
Post annotated by Jeroen :
I agree Jakob.

I think the steering compass should only be in whole degrees, or even only every 5 degrees. Sailing any boat is hard, but in real sailing, it is only within 5 degrees that any helmsman can achieve after years of practice.

Further most marine steering compasses are only marked every 5 degrees in any case. (Plastimo Contest 101, Silva etc)

Perhaps even a random number combining wind strength x length of time within 10 degrees TWA x fetch could be used to provide a more realistic "wobbley" course.

So in an ocean race in heavy weather with 30+ knots TWS for days in the same TWA direction would produce a wobbley course with a random change in-accuracy of +/- 10 or 20 degrees.

By comparision, a gentle breeze of say 9 knots, in a steady direction for a few hours, close inshore with a small fetch would result in a better held course with only a +/- 2.5 degree random "wobble".

I think the TRUE WIND DIRECTION should also only be in whole degrees.

Who in real life can measure the wind direction that accurately on a moving yacht?

Same for Apparent Wind Angle.
Most digital instruments only show whole wind angles as degrees and analogue pointers are like a compass, accurate to +/- 2 degrees.

Amplified wind direction for close hauled / flat running do show more, but Virtual and IRL speeds are very slow. For SoL I think amplified decimal degrees (x.x) are just mathmatical display cleaverness that IRL is outside of practical sailing.

Therefore "decimal degrees (x.X)" are outside of SoL's stated goals, as per home page.

New helsmen will always "write their name in the ocean" when first they steer a yacht.



--- Last Edited by Jeroen Tiel at 2009-03-17 08:40:15 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Post hidden by Jeroen :
Hi paul, I combined the two posts for you now.
Sorry Jeroen. I realised that and edited the "double" post into an extra comment about whole degrees only for TWD & TWA.

Can you show it now in its re-edited state? Thanks.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!

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