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 » Basic Right of Way Rules

How about writing code to identify basic Port v Starboard right of way. Then port leeward v port windward, etc. Say 20 minutes after the start these rules apply. If a boat hits another boat and they don't have the ROW then a performance hit equal to the 720 degree penalty turn is applied. This would add a realty dimension and improve everyone's knowledge of basic sailing right of way. Also make mark roundings much more interesting...

Poll: Should the basic rules of sailing 'right of way' be added?

You need to be logged in to vote.
If it can be done ot is a intergal piece of sailboat racing and tactics.
If it can be done ot is a intergal piece of sailboat racing and tactics.
Your proposol would effectively remove any possibility of sailing on dc's. With 500+ boats heading for the same waypoint, a boat on dc would likely end up spinning like a disco ball on a Saturday night.

Philip
Thanks for the suggestion but in my view the resolution we run these races at there is no need for this.
We run mostly long races and the extra time needed to micro manage your boat at a rounding would not add to the game.

Posted as Jeroen, not SOL

--- Last Edited by Jeroen Tiel at 2010-03-26 14:57:25 ---
Well, it seems that this proposal is not getting much support.

I admit that I also voted against. I consider that the focus of Sailonline should firmly remain on overall routing strategy, and should not move towards boat and race micro-management.

There are other virtual sailing games for those interested in sail choice, sail trim, race rules and such. Participating in these games requires to stay almost permanently in front of the screen. As a consequence, most races are rather short (a few hours), unlike the races on Sailonline. Personally, that is not what I am looking for. I had rather do the real thing then.
;)

Regards,

Francois
Even if this sort of realism was deemed desirable I believe IMHUO (in my humble uninformed opinion) there may be practical system limitations which would be a major hindrance to its implementation.

I have noticed that it is currently difficult to precisely determine the relative placement of other boats when they are very close to my own. This is due to the way that the browser client is updated from the server. The sort of accuracy necessary under right of way conditions would require a serious increase in server CPU resources not to mention the inherent variations in ping times throughout the various SOL client locations.

--- Last Edited by Aethereal at 2010-03-25 18:09:19 ---
None so blind
Just assume that all port tack boats duck stb (we're all very sportsmanlike here at sol, no need for protests) the reason you can't see it is that the tracks are updated every 200m or so...

Although the SOL screen looks crowded, check the actual distance between boats. 10 seconds is an eternity when crossing at 6 knots...
When the time comes that we all have mastered the ever elusive Polars and get to the finish line within 5 minutes to each other after a long race we then can graduate to another level.
Until them let's stick with what we have here - it is Fantastic as is.
Thanks,
Antonio

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-03-26 14:01:05 ---

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Newport Bermuda Race 2026


The 636-mile Newport Bermuda Race is one of the oldest regularly scheduled ocean races, and with the Fastnet and the Sydney Hobart Race, it is one of the three great classic races of the yachting world. First raced in 1906, now in its 54th biennial, the Race can again also be participated in online. In real life, the race is open to entry in four different division – Double-Handed, St. David's Lighthouse, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, and Finisterre Division – which in the past we have also offered online. This year, however, our online race will be all-in one-design in silky swift Club Swan 50 yachts, so that your results can count towards SOL’s SUPerBUDdy title, whilst hopefully still giving you a chance of overall line honours against the fastest yachts of the real-life Gibbs Hill Division, especially if you can find some forecast winds that don’t quite work out that way on the real water!
Race #2038
INFOby brainaid.de
Club Swan 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Jun 19th 17:05 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Shetland Race 2026 - Leg 1


Get ready to tackle the North Sea as we sail from Norway’s stunning outer Korsfjorden to the rugged Shetland Isles! Welcome to an exciting new chapter for this classic 190-nautical-mile ocean route, bringing our global community together for a true test of strategy and seamanship.

This year, the race is a proud stop in Sailonline's 2026 Super Buddy Championship, which features our real-life racing partnerships over the calendar year. We are stepping aboard the Linjett 33, a sturdy Swedish cruiser-racer designed by Mats Gustavsson and built by Rosättra Båtvarv. Seasoned veteran or eager newcomer, prepare for intense competition.

Plot your course and see you at the start line!
Race #2039
INFO by brainaid.de
Linjett 33 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SHE - RED - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Jun 17th 11:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bluefin Tuna - Mexico Gulf to North Sea 2026

Join us and follow the Bluefin Tuna, as they migrate from their spawning grounds in the Gulf of Mexico to their feeding grounds in the North Sea off the coast of Norway. This 4300 nm race is part of our Ocean Championship and the final race of OCQ2 2026, and also the second leg of our Migration series. We will be sailing in our Gunboat 90. Race #2035
INFO by brainaid.de
Gunboat 90 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - MIG - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Jun 08th 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Thessaloniki to Port Said 2026

Welcome back to the Eastern Mediterranean for the fifth race of our Magical Mediterranean Series. Only marginally less unlikely to be ever raced in real life during SOL’s lifetime than our previous race from Tobruk to Iskenderun, this 710nm race takes us from Greece’s ancient northern port of Thessaloniki through the Aegean island maze, south east into the Levantine Sea to a finish in modern Port Said, in splendid Swan 65s!
Race #1977
INFO by brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MED - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
June 17 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jun 06th 15:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

TuziTekwini TIMED Race 2026

Sailonline is delighted to have been invited again to partner with the King Shaka Yacht Club (KSYC) of South Africa to bring a virtual version of the Tuzi Tekwini Ocean Raceto our online community.
The Tuzi Tekwini Ocean Race is a near 90 nautical mile race down the east coast of South Africa from the port of Richards Bay to the port of Durban. Achievable in a single day and seen by some as an easy mile-builder, the course is more tactical than some think and should not be underestimated. This iconic race promises to be an unforgettable experience for yachting enthusiasts.
Our online version of the race will be 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 #2037
INFOby brainaid.de
Sailonline’s virtual yacht for all your runs will be our much-loved Farr 38 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
13 June at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: May 31st 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

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