Sailonline.org - Online Sailing

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!

Tweets by @sailonline

Board » General Discussion » Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind

Posted by Chappo Posts 53 Registered at 2009-04-17 12:00:35	2009-08-11 01:36:37 - Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind
	I would expect the expert IT and yachting technos know the answer and I believe the answer is linked to the polar performance but presuming the polar shows a steady increase in speed as TWA increased. I am interested to know that if you are sailing at say 50 deg TWA and sail into a backing wind, is it quicker to reach a point to sail TWA and then adjust to say 45 TWA to reach the point or to sail in compass increments of 50,49,48,47,46,45 TWA.
Posted by NZL_PaulR Posts 311 Registered at 2008-07-22 12:21:30	2009-08-11 01:54:28 - Re: Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind
	A definate maybe, becoming a perhaps and possibly developing into "most Likely". It depends upon the speed of wind change vs the performance drop from large course changes vs the hours available for SOL. In my case, because SOL is my home page, I can check often, perhaps too often, but then again, when I sleep, I go aground, also far too often! Look at your VMG when changing courses. Sailing a cc is necessary if winds are changing and freeing for your current tack because speed is generally improving. If winds are heading, the same TWA will main tain a speed, but your course will swing. TIP: It can be a good idea when on a CC course to use the "wheel" and overlay your existing course but then set the TWA. Now your predicted course will ben "bent", sometimes helpfully, but according to Plato's Rule, 80% of the time it will bend the wrong way. Forrest Grump said "Shit Happens!" . . . and then there is sailing My $0.02c worth If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Posted by Chappo Posts 53 Registered at 2009-04-17 12:00:35	2009-08-11 02:30:30 - Re: Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind
	Thanks Paul, that was more like $5 worth. As you say the VMG is also quite relevant although it changes in slow increments unlike the boat speed which moves quickly. I am also curious when setting a best VMG when working, for the the same VMG number do you choose the highest BS setting, the lowest BS setting (to get best VMG hidden decimal places!!??) or go for a middle setting. I find the middle setting seems best. What yacht are you helming? Peter (Chappo)
Posted by NZL_PaulR Posts 311 Registered at 2008-07-22 12:21:30	2009-08-11 02:41:59 - Re: Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind
	Middle = Highest VMG and hopefully the distribution graph is not skewed too much. NZL_PaulR If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Posted by Chappo Posts 53 Registered at 2009-04-17 12:00:35	2009-08-11 02:57:30 - Re: Sailing TWA vs Compass Course in backing wind
	Thanks for VMG confirmation. Ahh a Kiwi. I was born in Greymouth (well described as the least pretty town in NZ) but left in a flying boat when old enough to fly at 6 weeks so now officially an Aussie. Been back a few times for skiing, yachting, gliding at Omarama.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Kamchatsky to Tromsoe 2024

Just before the light failed entirely in Antarctica, Skip Novak managed to get his Pelagic 77 out of the ice and north up the Pacific to Kamchatsky. The sun is shining (24/7) and not a penguin to be seen, and Skip believes the Norh East Passage is ice-free (sufficiently) to attempt it, so all aboard for a c 4250nm voyage from east to west across the top of Siberia, Russia and Norway to Tromsoe!
Race #1779
INFOby brainaid.de
Pelagic 77 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: HLAT - SYC
Race starts: Jul 18th 19:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Cowes to St Malo TIMED Race 2024

Organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club since 1929, the Cowes to St Malo Race is a true RORC Classic. Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, Cowes, IOW, a magnificent spectacle can be watched from The Parade, Cowes. The Cowes to St Malo Race is part of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series. Dating back to 1906, the Cowes to St Malo Race precedes all of the world’s famous races including the Fastnet Race. This is a TIMEDrace, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to show your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1828
INFOby brainaid.de
TP-52 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
27 July at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jul 14th 12:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Lake Ontario 300 Challenge 2024

Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) welcomes Sailonline to a second race of their annual series, this time as hosts of the virtual LO300. As the name implies, the LO300 is a 300nm offshore race across the length and breadth of Lake Ontario, from and back to Port Credit YC. Once again, as is our wont on Lake Ontario, a fleet of Beneteau First 36.7s is being made available to virtual racers. There is an overall prize for the SOLer who best bosses Lake Ontario over the two races hosted on SOL, this 300 and the Susan Hood raced back in May; so let the competition be fierce!
Race #1805
INFOby brainaid.de
First 36.7 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: LOOR - SYC
Race starts: Jul 13th 15:10 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

SSANZ Triple Series 2024 - Race 1

Welcome once again to our online buddied Short-handed Sailing Association of New Zealand brilliant long-standing SSANZ Triple Series for two-handed yachts on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf, sponsored this year by Lewmar Marine. Commencing with a c 46nm quick dash out to Motuora Island via The Haystack and home, we will as always compete in virtual Young88s, against the real-life fleet of the members of the ever-Young 88 Association!!
Race #1823
INFO by brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SSANZ - SYC
Race starts: Jul 12th 21:15 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Tall Ships Races 2024 - Tallinn to Turku

Welcome to the second of three virtual Tall Ships Races on the Baltic Sea which are concurrently being organized in-real-life Sail Training International . This second race is from Tallinn, Estonia to Turku, Finland; circa 150nm in Sailonline’s stately Full Rigger.
NOTE: Starts and Finishes in tall ships racing are always offshore to avoid conflict with shipping and shipping lanes.
Race #1812
INFO by brainaid.de
Full Rigger PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: TS - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
July 19 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jul 11th 14:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Southampton to Punta del Este 2024

Sailonline is delighted to offer our sailors a 'reversed' Atlantic ocean race. As the RTW championship Atlantic part takes a detour to the Bahamas, we will offer you a reversed course as we will not do the 'usual' leg this year either. It is the July edition of this year's Ocean Championship. Our boat is the OD_65v3.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race# 1820
INFO from brainaid.de
OD65 PARTICULARS
WX updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ3 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Jul 01st 11:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client