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 » Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages

Page: Previous 1 2

Posted by
NZL_Scotsman


Users avatar

Posts
251
Registered at
2008-10-04 07:59:40
2012-11-26 18:38:58 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Redress is applied after the finish. The finish time is corrected after a race committee decides what time was lost. This happens IRL, for example when a racer deviates to help a boat in distress.

I do not like the options where the boats are held or moved. As Piero says, the wx moves on. Tactics are based on predicted wx, so changing the boat positions will not work.

The admin folk do a great job already and have a lot to do. We should be able to set up race committees that do not require much time from the current admin, most positions could surely be filled with volunteers. It would also help to have people on the race committee who know how this works IRL.

Kevin
Posted by
hmm


Users avatar

Posts
118
Registered at
2011-11-03 13:35:22
2012-11-26 18:44:56 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Lou, no need to be sorry. I think it's really good to have discussions on what to do on server problems.

Naturally we do always our best to prevent any problems but when you face running a game which basically requires 24/7 uptime for weeks, you have to be realistic that downtime happens.

When there are any issues with the game the admins naturally try to do the "best effort" so that the issue is resolved and the effect to the players is a minimal as possible. Discussions like this help us to think what are the best possible actions in the problem situations and also how players view them (instead of us just guessing).

However, there is always the limiting technical side of the things. With the current sol sailing server we can do:

- Stop the whole server, so that all boats freeze
- Remove future dc's for a given time or a race (or all of them)
- Restart a race

However, without developing new features the server in my knowledge the following can't be done:

- Freeze just one race
- Freeze the weather model, so even if the whole server is freezed weather will go on
- Give time allowance to any boat (redress)
- Move the boats from where they are (except to race start)

I believe freezing just one race and the time allowance would not be very hard to implement but tampering with the weather model I can't see happening as it is very deep in the server (and client). Moving boats is somewhere there between.
Posted by
Jeroen


Users avatar

Posts
245
Registered at
2007-08-15 09:17:47
2012-11-26 20:43:39 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Thank you all for your input so far, there is realy some good thoughts in this and like Markku noted, we like to know not guess what you all feel works best.

As far as technical options its like Markku noted, we can stop all races but not individual ones at this time. Nor redress a single boat during a race. Tampering with weather in short or long term messes up the long term planning for a race. Esp in long races where you wan't to be is everything.

That said if we come up with a good idea that can really help us out the technical problems should be able to be solved.
I am a ex-admin of SOL who joins in from time to time.
Posted by
Lou


Users avatar

Posts
10
Registered at
2011-03-03 20:54:54
2012-11-26 21:56:21 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Hi,
Just on the fact thats is impossible to freeze one race, from my point of view thats no point, if there is a server problem, this problem would be the same for all races, so it's almost logic that all races are freezed as soon as possible.
Ciao,
Lou
Posted by
hmm


Users avatar

Posts
118
Registered at
2011-11-03 13:35:22
2012-11-30 12:54:31 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Unfortunately it was found out that freezing all games proved to be very difficult as well. The sailing engine tries always to make up for the time it has been down (but there is an upper limit on the time it tries).

The reasoning in freezing different races is that the races can be in very different situations so the same action is not necessarily the best for all of them.
Posted by
Lou


Users avatar

Posts
10
Registered at
2011-03-03 20:54:54
2012-11-30 14:39:14 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Just an idea, is it possible that a router, at the moment of a shutdown, calculates an ETA , with the weather forecast of that moment, for all boats in competition, and that you make a ranking with that result, and then restart from a central postion, with the average of the results make a final ranking. Probably a lot of work, but a honest solution, a machine takes the decision.
Ciao,
Lou
Posted by
Jeroen


Users avatar

Posts
245
Registered at
2007-08-15 09:17:47
2012-11-30 15:26:36 - Re: Global Challenge downtime - how to cope with server outages
Certainly a interesting scenario when you choose to abandon a race and would like to calculate the more true result.
Restarting from a single point in a race like the Golbal Race does take away a lot of tactics and has a big impact as a solution itself. It would be nice to keep the spread out fleet in this case alive.
I am a ex-admin of SOL who joins in from time to time.

Page: Previous 1 2

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Lake Victoria TIMED Race 2026

This month’s TIMED race takes us inland to Lake Victoria in the heart of Africa. Starting at Rosebery Channel in Uganda sail the AC72v2 on a 196nm course around Bugala Island on the way to the finish line in Tanzania’s Speke Gulf. 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 #2018
INFOby brainaid.de
AC72v2 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
28 March at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Mar 15th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 4

The final challenge awaits in Leg Four of the Round North Island Series! From Napier, the fleet sets off on a 354 nautical mile run back to Auckland, completing the full circumnavigation where the journey began. Fatigue may be setting in, but this last leg could decide the overall standings. Sailing the fast and responsive Sun Fast 3600, our skippers will need sharp tactics and steady focus to finish the series strong and claim victory!

The start time for this race may change at short notice to align with the real race. The confirmed start date and time will be announced via an in-race “L” flag message — Please monitor race communications closely.
Race #2014
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 12th 22:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 3

Leg Three of our Round North Island Series, in partnership with SSANZ, keeps the pressure on! From Cook Strait, the fleet turns north for a 187 nautical mile passage up the east coast to Napier. It may look like a quick overnighter, but shifting coastal winds and the ever-lively Cook Strait demand sharp focus. In our responsive Sun Fast 3600s, a proven short-handed racer and powerful downwind performer, tactical decisions and precise timing will make all the difference!

The start time for this race may change at short notice to align with the real race. The confirmed start date and time will be announced via an in-race “L” flag message — Please monitor race communications closely.
Race #2013
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 08th 22:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

South China Sea Race 2026


Welcome all to the South China Sea and a virtual chase in Cookson 50’s of the Rolex South China Sea fleet, racing 650nm – as the local red-footed booby flies – from Hong Kong to Subic Bay on the southern tip of The Philippines’ Luzon Island. Chances are it will be a fast downwind ride, so see how you can keep up with the real-life fleet which we hope to be able to follow on our monitors.
Race #2016
INFOby brainaid.de
Cookson 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
March 14 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Mar 04th 03:20 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Iceland to the Falklands 2026

Welcome to an all-new route, the first of three Round the 'Old World' of Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. To give each leg of the ROW a bit of length we'll try to hug the coasts as little as possible, so starting in Iceland our first leg of the series, which will also be the final leg of our Quarter 1 Ocean Championships takes us 7200nm to the Falklands, the full length of the Atlantic end to end. To make sure we'll get it done within the month we'll be sailing our Maxi Trimaran.
Race #2010
INFO by brainaid.de
Maxi Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - ROW - OCCH - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

San Diego to Puerto Vallarta 2026

Welcome to California! Established in 1953 this 1000-mile run from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera has become a tradition and online as well the tradition strengthens with this the fourth time Sailonline is making the race available to virtual sailors. Let's see how our virtual SC70s perform against the real fleet!
Race #2015
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SUPBUD - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
March 13 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 28th 20:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  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