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:

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