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 » Technical Support » Routers

Posted by Laughing Sally Posts 5 Registered at 2010-07-15 03:46:22	2010-11-28 05:36:12 - Routers
	I have seen a lot of talk on the chat line about computerized routers. I'm curious as to what percentage of the leaders use them. Is a router something I simply must have to think of winning one of these races? I have placed as high as 21 without one but don't want to be at an unfair advantage. Also, just how much difference do they make? I've heard one sailor here estimate his finish time with a router to within 3 seconds of his actual finish. My guess is that a router will give you ideas you can build on. I also would expect one to be extremely useful when you need to be away from the race for any long period of time. Other than that, just how essential are they? Am I at a disadvantage without one? And my boat carves her wake for the sheer joy of giving life to sheafs of spray
Poll: Do you use a computerized router? You may select up to 2 answers: Yes No Show Results (You won't be able to vote.) You need to be logged in to vote.
Posted by zero Posts 120 Registered at 2010-02-07 16:56:30	2010-11-28 22:10:41 - Re: Routers
	Hi, I think it is very difficult, if not impossible to beat the router sailors on a long leg. By "long leg" I mean legs that take more than 24 hours or so. I think you have a change to win (without routers) long races that are composed of several short legs. (Legs that takes less than 24 hours). Recent examples: Around Turkey race and The Caribean Race. Recently SOL, under the leadership of RainbowChaser, has been very good in schedule all types of races; short races, long races and long races with several waypoints. Therefore there are always a race for the "non-routers" to be in contention. I also have to add that the use of a software router is NOT a sure recipe to victory. If we all used it there would still be a big spread between the fleet. After 2 years of SOL'ing I found that the routers users are also very "fast" when not using software during very short races. Hope this helps. Antonio
Posted by 76Trombones Posts 362 Registered at 2009-08-03 18:04:56	2010-11-29 18:59:41 - Re: Routers
	Good questions! I started a reply here but it sort of started to get out of control. I moved it to my blog: http://76trombones.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/ramblings-on-routers/ I feel a little differently about long races, but agree 100% with Zero's other comments. At the very top, routing is not what makes the boats fast, but it does make it easier for them to be fast. It's a great tool. Even if you have no intention of using software during a race, it's worth a look at what is possible and how it can help. Lots to learn. Apologies for posting off-site. I'll try to be more succinct next time. Happy to answer any related questions here. --- Last Edited by 76Trombones at 2010-11-29 19:07:27 ---
Posted by zero Posts 120 Registered at 2010-02-07 16:56:30	2010-11-30 02:03:07 - Re: Routers
	Thanks 76T, your writing is very interesting. So much to learn. Antonio --- Last Edited by zero at 2010-11-30 02:04:10 ---
Posted by Laughing Sally Posts 5 Registered at 2010-07-15 03:46:22	2010-12-01 01:17:12 - Re: Routers
	I thanked 76T on his blog but I want to thank him here too. Very interesting blog article by the way. Jeff And my boat carves her wake for the sheer joy of giving life to sheafs of spray
Posted by Incognito Posts 183 Registered at 2008-12-06 13:43:52	2010-12-05 10:32:55 - Re: Routers
	I have one of the better commercial routers for the real-life boat. I did use it a few times on SOL. The great plus is that I learned to use my routing software and got used to its idiosyncrasies. The great minus is that I started to find SOL boring. The problem was easily solved: I almost never use my routing software for SOL races anymore!
Posted by Laughing Sally Posts 5 Registered at 2010-07-15 03:46:22	2010-12-05 11:40:11 - Re: Routers
	Incognito, that's very much how I feel. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Jeff And my boat carves her wake for the sheer joy of giving life to sheafs of spray

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Silverrudder 2025

Ahoy, SOLers! Get ready for the epic Silver Rudder – Challenge of the Sea! This 125nm single-handed race around Denmark’s island of Funen is back—shallow waters, narrow straits, and shifting winds await. This year, we trade up to our single-handed X-99s—can you master their power where precision counts most? It’s the world’s largest solo regatta, and your virtual helm is calling! Chart your course, trust your instincts, and race for glory in this ultimate test of seamanship!

It is imperative that you read AND understand these special Starting Conditions for SILVERRUDDER 2025:
Starting Conditions!!
Race #1948
INFO by brainaid.de
X-99 Single-handed PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Sep 19th 09:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Rome to Tripoli 2025

The next race in the ARCH series will take us almost straight from Rome to Tripoli. But don't expect this 550nm race to be an easy one. The Mediterranean always offers some surprises. So let's prepare your Lagoon 55 with due care and... Fair Winds.
Race #1943
INFO from brainaid.de
Lagoon 55 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ3 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Sep 15th 17:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Carib Rum Run 2025

Welcome to the Caribbean and Sailonline’s legendary Carib Rum Run! This year we trade tall ships for pure speed as we race our sleek Santa Cruz 70s on a 1759nm slalom through the rum islands. Yer mission: plunder barrels from the region’s finest distilleries and deliver ‘em to the rum-thirsty sands of Cancun, Mexico. Finish on or before International Talk Like a Pirate Day, 19 September, to etch yer name in legend! Join SYC before race end and ye scallywags can disguise yer boat with a pirate name for this race only! Hoist the sails, sharpen yer cutlasses—the rum run awaits!
Race #1944
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Sep 15th 00:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Roslagen TIMED Sea Race

Welcome to quite possibly the most challenging TIMED race of the year. This month finds us in Sweden with lots of islands and narrow passages when we sail our Seacart 30 trimaran over the 86nm from Lidingö outside Stockholm to the beautiful coastal village of Öregrund. Consider yourself a winner if you complete the course nonstop! This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1945
INFO by brainaid.de
Seacart 30 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
20 September at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Sep 07th 12:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Great Nicobar to Marion Island 2025

The Adventure Continues – Leg #6 of the RWW Series.
We’re setting sail on the next stage of the RWW Series: a 4,400-nautical-mile passage from Great Nicobar to Marion Island. This demanding leg will test endurance, strategy, and seamanship at the highest level. As part of the 2025 Ocean Championship, this marks the ninth legendary challenge in the series — and one of the most exhilarating yet. The race will be contested aboard the Archer 78’ ketch, a vessel built to push sailors to their limits across the vast Indian Ocean.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1942
INFO by brainaid.de
Archer 78 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ3 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
September 25 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Sep 01st 11:00 Registration Closed

▶ Flash

GO TO RACE

Go to race archive