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 » Headsails

Page: 1 2 Next

Posted by
ShamrockPirate


Users avatar

Posts
189
Registered at
2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-08 19:15:32 - Headsails
Hi All... a newbie here. Didn't take long for SOLaddiction to set in and work is wondering where I am! I have searched through a number of threads to see if this question has popped up. Has there been discussion of adding a "headsail" option for the boats? Not sure if this would add too much variability (read that as server capacity I guess) but it would add another layer of sophistication. Have a few ideas on how it could be accomplished but certainly longer than a simple post.
Really looking forward to being a frequent SOLer.

Shamrock
Posted by
zero


Users avatar

Posts
120
Registered at
2010-02-07 16:56:30
2010-12-09 04:40:07 - Re: Headsails
Pirate,

You are completely missing the point of SOL.
The beauty of SOL is that is very simple to play and very difficult to win.
All you have to do is point the boat to where you want to go and the computer picks the maximum speed possible based on the wind speed and direction. Simple.
SOL assumes that we all have the best crew inthe world and our boats are always in ship-shape conditioning.

Looks easy, right?
Well, yes but try to win races.

What you are asking for is to give the sailors ability to sail at a speed other than the optimum, by changing sails.

This would make the game extremelly complicate and would spoil the pleasure.

Antonio (zero)




Antonio (zero)

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:40:38 ---

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:42:07 ---

--- Last Edited by zero at 2010-12-09 04:53:32 ---
Posted by
A2


Users avatar

Posts
347
Registered at
2009-10-26 00:39:42
2010-12-09 18:10:13 - Re: Headsails
Pardon me for for venturing into waters were I am most likely beyond my depth but there are some subtle distinctions at play here.

SOL is not exactly a sailing simulation, per se, in that what matters here is not How you sail but rather Where you sail.

We all have the same composite polar and derive equal benefit therefore of its realized potential as far as sailing performance goes.

The challenge that is left is a pure routing exercise, which is the raison d'être of the company that provides the server resources for our mutual enjoyment.

None so blind
Posted by
zero


Users avatar

Posts
120
Registered at
2010-02-07 16:56:30
2010-12-09 20:26:10 - Re: Headsails
Monsieur Bonisseur,

You said very well. Thank you.

Antonio

Posted by
ShamrockPirate


Users avatar

Posts
189
Registered at
2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-09 21:15:10 - Re: Headsails
Thanks all for the reply and education. Hopefully other new members will benefit from my question and not completely miss the point as well. Certainly agree it is easy to sail but difficult to sail well. If it weren't a challenge.... why do it?

Cheers.
Posted by
sol


Users avatar

Posts
299
Registered at
2008-08-14 11:08:14
2010-12-16 04:21:12 - Re: Headsails
It also wouldnt be possible, as different polars would be needed for the different headsails (on boats which carry/allow them), and current polar data only accounts for the best possible (theoretical even?) performance of a boat
Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2010-12-16 04:26:51 - Re: Headsails
Apologies, that last post was me - oops.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
ShamrockPirate


Users avatar

Posts
189
Registered at
2010-12-03 17:49:57
2010-12-16 13:43:37 - Re: Headsails
Thanks AG... As I learn more about SOL and processes behind it, I can see how/why this would be really tough to incorporate. Appreciate the responses!
Posted by
Capt.D.P.


Users avatar

Posts
66
Registered at
2009-10-27 01:51:32
2010-12-16 17:18:36 - Re: Headsails
Already now we have a lot of work and being present at the computer especially on weather reports and if we would need to change the sails than at each wind shift we should be present,especially when the spi should be hoisted.
Posted by
76Trombones


Users avatar

Posts
362
Registered at
2009-08-03 18:04:56
2010-12-17 14:40:19 - Re: Headsails
My take:

SOL could pretty easily update the polars to include sail-change data. The info is pretty much in there already in the more detailed ones.

But... when working out navigation/strategy/route-finding, you always use the composite polar. You want the solution with the boat sailing at max performance. Since SOL is a navigation game, the way it works now makes perfect sense, and reflect what you'd do IRL.

Sail changes aren't a strategic choice. There's no decision to be made, but rather simply looking up on your table which one should be up for the given conditions. We don't have gear damage, sea states or crew fatigue to account for.

We're the Afterguard... leave the grunt work to the trimmers and foredeck :-)

(and the routers would eat the fleet... not based on skill, but simply efficiency of setting DC)

Page: 1 2 Next

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 rumskib
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member HoratioPugwash
  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