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 » General Discussion » Router Shootout - Software Test (Review)

Page: Previous 1 2

Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2010-12-07 19:19:10 - Re: Router Shootout - Software Test (Review)
How long did it take you to optimize routes in Bluewater using a grid size of 1.0nm, even 0.25nm, and such a small time-step of 0.1667?

I have only just given it a look, but most often it really doesnt like grid size < 10.0nm! almost useless...
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
BER_Baggus


Users avatar

Posts
70
Registered at
2008-12-26 18:46:10
2011-10-03 15:18:34 - Re: Router Shootout - Software Test (Review)
Just resuscitating this old classic!

Does anyone use routing software IRL. If so, what is the favourite?
Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2011-10-09 09:19:21 - Re: Router Shootout - Software Test (Review)
1st I will amend my previous question - having worked out how to get more high-res routes in BWR - as a test case I managed to route 120nm course with a grid res of 0.05nm, and 0.00833h time res, which is 30seconds! Sure very OTT, but I just wanted to see how far I could push it - its not worth waiting 30+ minutes for the job to complete for the extra enroute time saving - better to do that 'in-client' ;-)
[NOTE: to route such high-res, evem 1nm@5mins, you need to use smaller polar files (than brainaid's csv), such as produced by my PolarCreator/Converter for SOL, & 'trim' away excess wx data from the gribs - which Schakel kindly saved me from explaining on the soltools blog, by doing so on his own]

Now, I don't personally use any IRL (not that type of sailing) but I know a few who do, & a few I have also helped out with some setups and small custom utilities that tie into their router - 4/5 of those use Expedition, and the other used completely custom software.

In the process of aiding these guys I have been able to check out Expedition quite well, and if you can afford one of those yachts, then you can afford to buy it, and should - for anything & everything other than computing a basic route between 2 points given a polar and grib, it eats Bluewater alive - but given it costs 1200+ US smackos, and BWR is written by a sole developer, it should! Given its background, BWR is very good software indeed, and as I said, will produce just as good a route as Expedition...

So, for use in SOL - there is not much between the 2 (in terms of producing good route)
IRL - BWR shouldn't even be considered, given all the non-routing functions Expedition has. (unless budget is a concern?)

For instance, currently Expedition also supports NMEA and AIS data streams from COM or network ports, and will display the data very nicely (& customizable), and has a *few* other features that make it slightly nicer for SOL use than BWR - but I repeat, the routes from each will be well within statistical insignificance (of each other)... And BWR is showing indications of such support soon, but unlikely as aesthetically pleasing as Exp.

Expedition also has the ability to compute routes with a user specified scaling of the polar or wx data, for example you could tell it to plot a route multiplying all polar BS values, or TWSs by 90%. Also, you can load multiple gribs (ie, official SOL, standard GFS & PredictWind's GFS (even try CMC?)) and either plot 1 route using the wx averages, or see routes for all gribs, which can be useful when trying to plan 6+hrs ahead more accurately.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__

Page: Previous 1 2

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Susan Hood Trophy Race 2026

Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) welcomes racers to Sailonline’s virtual version of their annual Susan Hood Trophy Race. This year, this pleasant weekender on western Lake Ontario will be of about 60nm in length, and online for convenience will start and finish at the Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC). At or before the real-life Skipper’s Briefing a decision will be made to race the course clockwise (course Delta) or anti-clockwise (Echo). If there is time we will match this online. As before, the race is the first of two that will count towards a special Sailonline's LOOR Series medals, but this year we sail in Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300s. Bon voyage!
Race #2033
INFOby brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3300 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: LOOR - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: May 29th 23:45 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SoCal 300 2026


With California Offshore Race Week already well under way, here now is your chance to participate virtually in SDYC's challenging 243nm (as the seagull flies) SoCal 300 from Santa Barbara to San Diego. With as ever a wide and wild range of boats entered for the real race, whose progress we hope we will be able to follow on our own chart by linking to the YB tracker, virtual SOLers will have to dig deep to remain competitive in our trusty Santa Cruz 52s.
Race #2036
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 52 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: May 28th 20:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2026

Welcome to Sailonline’s virtual Vasco da Gama Ocean Race, in partnership with the Royal Natal Yacht Club’s real-life event. Some 260 nautical miles in length from Durban to East London, the Vasco da Gama is South Africa’s oldest coastal ocean race, and is renowned for the rough seas and strong currents that competitors have to contend with. Online this year we will be racing in slick Salona 39’s. History, endurance, camaraderie – It’s time to honour Vasco’s legacy; see you on the start line!
Race #2034
INFO from brainaid.de
Salona 39 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: May 24th 08:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cross the Convergence 2026 - St Helena to Cape Verde


The fourth race of our series of ocean voyages across the World’s convergence zones takes us out of the Pacific into the Atlantic for a 2200nm race in Judel Vrolijk 62’s, from the desolation of St Helena, there where Napolean Bonaparte saw out the end of his life, to the even greater desolation of Fogo in the Cape Verde’s. You’ll have to cross the equator, with the coasts of Africa and South America your only navigational restrictions.
Race #1984
INFOby brainaid.de
Judel Vrolijk 62PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: CCZ - SYC
Race starts: May 22nd 18:00 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 CLOSE: Tuesday,
June 2 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: May 04th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ 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 KaSToR
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member HoratioPugwash

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client