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 » Sydney Hobart and Google Earth

Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2010-12-26 08:13:12 - Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
Using brainaid's NMEA tool, and a program called NavMonPC to read the NMEA data and forward it on a com port (virtual), and loading the kml file from here, it is possible to setup so that google earth reads that GPS data and overlay your position and track (and waypoints) with the real fleet in the race...

Instructions for those unfamiliar with this type of thing:
1) Download and install NavMonPC from here
2) Login to brainaid's site and open (or download and run) the NMEA proxy - login using that applet and click 'Start'.
3) Note the IP address and port that brainaid's tool indicates, you need to enter this in NavMonPC. (discard whatever is before the /)
4) Start NavMonPC and go to File->Connections->TCP/IP Client menu item, and enter the same IP address and port (you must enter both) as specified by brainaid's NMEA proxy and click 'Connect'. - You should see characters scrolling in the little text box below, and your SOL boat's data shown on the dials. Click 'Done' just above where you enter the IP address and you should also see your exact location coordinates, COG, SOG etc...
5) Now go to File->Connections->Virtual Ports menu item and select a COM port from the drop down list (doesn't matter which one) and click 'Connect'. Also checking the auto start will do this for you every timeyou start NavMonPC. You can also specify 2 more COM ports for other programs to use, like a router etc.
6) Open Google Earth and load the kml file from above, you will see the real Sydney to Hobart fleet, updated approx every 10 minutes by default (you can change by right clicking the main (top/root level) race and selecting Properties->Refresh tab.
7) On the tools menu in Google Earth select 'GPS'. On the options window that is displayed select 'Magellan' and 'Serial' on the 'Import' tab, and NMEA on the 'Realtime' tab then click 'Start'. Google Earth auto scans your com ports and should display 'Reading COM#' (where # is the number you setup in NavMon) when it finds your GPS data, on the Realtime tab on the GPS dialog. You should see a entries in the 'Places' section of google earth under 'Realtime GPS', including your position and path, which (on my pc) is displayed as a red line.
Note: for some reason, the number of duplicate wqaypoints seems to build up in the list each update...
[EDIT:]
NOTE
*** The latest release of Google Earth may be needed (from some chat in the race)
*** The default GPS polling time is 4, you may want to increase this? maybe to 60 seconds

Enjoy!
:-)

PS: As per my previous post, the AIS feature in NavMonPC can be useful for close racing in any SOL race also.
AIS = Advanced Identification System = other boat's COG/SOG etc ;-)
(although brainaid's site does advise that SOG can be up to 10% out)

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2010-12-26 11:33:27 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
RainbowChaser


Users avatar

Posts
2656
Registered at
2009-06-14 09:44:50
2010-12-27 10:29:19 - Re: Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
Hi Aaron - thank you very much for this! I had a blast yesterday getting this set up on my wee computer and the end result, seeing 'Chaser in amongst the boats of the IRL Sydney-Hobart race was (and is) fun!!!

:-)
Posted by
Arthur


Users avatar

Posts
32
Registered at
2008-12-23 14:43:47
2010-12-28 22:36:59 - Re: Sydney Hobart and Google Earth
WOW, very brilliant tool to find out who is doing what/where/when :-)
Thnx!!!

Arthur
If you're still in control, you're not going fast enough.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Tristan da Cunha to Coronation Island 2025

The adventure continues as we embark on the second leg of the RWW series, racing from Tristan da Cunha to the remote and uninhabited Coronation Island. Nestled between the Scotia Sea and the Weddell Sea, Coronation Island was named in 1821 by whalers in honour of King George IV of the United Kingdom. Prepare for a thrilling journey through the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties, where relentless winds and challenging seas will test the mettle of every crew. This leg will be sailed aboard the iconic Cape2Rio 74 and is part of the prestigious OCCH 2025 series. The RWW series ranking will be determined by each team's best 7 out of 8 race results, so every moment counts! Are you ready to face the ultimate test of skill and endurance?
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1890
INFO by brainaid.de
C2R74 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Mar 03rd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

San Diego Islands Race 2025


Sailonline is proud to once again team up with the San Diego Yacht Club for the annual Islands Race! This 140nm course will take our SOLers from Long Beach, around the Catalina Islands, and down to San Diego, testing skill, strategy, and precision.

This year, we’re racing in the sleek and powerful Ker 40, a high-performance yacht built for speed. With shifting winds and tactical routing, every decision will count as you battle for victory.

The competition is fierce—the race is on! See you at the start line!
Race #1881
INFO by brainaid.de
Ker 40 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Feb 28th 20:30 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Northern Triangle 2025 - Leg 3 - Whangarei to Auckland


Welcome to the third and final leg of the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand's 2025 Evolution Sails Northern Triangle series, a short c 75nm race from Whangarei back to Auckland. The race, which, as in the previous two legs, we will be sailing in our Young 11, will start in full sync with the real fleet, so that the start time will not be confirmed until after 60% of the real life fleet have finished the second leg!
Race #1894
INFOby brainaid.de
Young 11 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - NTR
Race starts: Feb 27th 21:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Northern Triangle 2025 - Leg 2 - Mangonui to Whangarei


Welcome to the second leg of the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand's 2025 Evolution Sails Northern Triangle series, a challenging c 300nm offshore race south from Mangonui to Castle Island just south of the Coromandel Peninsula and then back up along the peninsula and north to a finish outside Whangarei Harbour. The race, which, as in the first leg of the Triangle, we will be sailing in our Young 11, will start in full sync with the real fleet, so that the start time will not be confirmed until after 60% of the real life fleet have finished the first leg!
Race #1893
INFOby brainaid.de
Young 11 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - NTR
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
March 1 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 23rd 23:30 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Cape Horn TIMED Resupply 2025

Word has reached Puerto William that supplies are needed 172nm away for some RTW yachtsmen sheltering inshore near Noir Island. SOLers respond in their Pelagic 77s and race against the clock to deliver grog and vittles in this TIMED race!!! Which route will be quicker - inland or inshore? Make as many trips as you like!! This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to 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 #1896
INFO by brainaid.de
Pelagic 77 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
01 March at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Feb 16th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Dondra to Toamasina


Above you see a stratospheric balloon, that if only we had gribs at that altitude would get blasted along quite rapidly and predictably. Alas we just have our SOL balloon that sails rather lower to the sea and that we have crossed the Atlantic in, west to east, last year for the first time in the southern hemisphere. So much fun was had by all, that this year we will attempt the Indian Ocean, but in four legs. Another great piece of fiction, the voyages of Sinbad By Balloon not magic carpet, although you may need a bit of magic to make any progress at times. Pack your wicker basket full for your first leg of at least 2300nm from Sri Lanka to Madagascar; it’s not a picnic hamper, you could be in the air for longer than you hoped!
Race #1883
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - SBB
Race starts: Feb 05th 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 Patrick70119
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Satori
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

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

The mobile client