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Profile for bc



Name bc
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Posts10
  • Re: Aaron James Gage - 1971-2012
    Board » In memoriam
    I am in shock. I've been trying to contact Aaron for weeks and only just today came looking to see if he'd posted online. I haven't known him as long as most of you but in the short time I have known him he made a huge impact in my life.

    Like EVERYONE at SOL, Aaron was very helpful when I started racing here. He learned that I used to write software quite a few years ago (Any of you ever hear of DOS *grin*? Yeah it was a while ago). Aaron told me that I should get back into it. He said if I wanted to get started again he would help me.

    Lots of people talk like that but Aaron meant it. He said the move from C and C++ to C# would be easy and sent me lots of references to help me get started. He reviewed my code, made suggestions and if he felt I was missing something we'd connect up with Skype and TeamViewer and get me straight.

    Aaron loved sailing and software and his enthusiasm was contagious. Like so many others others I will miss him deeply.

    Bruce AKA bc sailing Morgaine

    John Masefield's "Down to the Sea" seems so appropriate.

    I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
    And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
    And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
    And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

    I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
    Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
    And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
    And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

    I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
    To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
    And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
    And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

  • Re: Is there a test server?
    Board » Technical Support
    Hi RainbowChaser,

    Thanks for the reply. Yes I did know about having to have a DC set within the hour of start. I set mine for 30 minutes before. Again, its probably cockpit issues, if it were a server bug I wouldn't be the only one experiencing it. The screen shot is a great idea for next time around.

    I didn't know about "evening practice races" though. Are they announced somewhere? That would be ideal for testing.

    Thanks again for the help. Hope you catch your rainbow, saw one end over an Irish pub once. Didn't find a pot of gold but the beer was really good :)
  • Is there a test server?
    Board » Technical Support
    Here is the situation: twice now I've loaded up my course prior to a race start (6/8 hours before)than log in a few hours after the start to find that I'm still at the starting line. The first time I figured it was cockpit error, maybe didn't covert the time correctly or something.

    This time (start of SWR leg 3) I was careful to verify course and time. Heading 30 minutes prior to 10:00z was set to 33 degrees, again at 10:00:01z (just in case) another course set of 33 degrees. There were multiple course updates after that.

    When I woke this morning and checked the progress I was still at the starting line. I can see that my list of changes had been executed up to the current time but I was still in irons at the start. I manually set my course and it started fine and auto course changes are being executed now without an issue.

    I'm still trying to wrap my brain around how this could happen. I'm certain I read in the manual that after the toe back to the start area (1 hour prior to the start) that course headings could be entered and the boat would hold that position until the start. Just to make sure this time I didn't even do practice racing prior to the start so I was already in the starting area.

    The fact that the course change list had incremented leads me to think this is server side but even if the headings prior to the start time were ignored (and I doubt they were)the 10:00:01 and following headings should have worked.

    On the other hand, I don't see how this could be client side because the the course was loaded via Brainaid's DC editor and the client listed the course in the course list.

    SO, Is there a test server/race anywhere where I can set up starts to try and duplicate/debug this anomaly OR does anyone have any suggestions why this might have happened and how to avoid it in the future?

    Bruce


    --- Last Edited by bc at 2012-01-14 15:38:41 ---
  • Re: Client Update (3Jul)
    Board » Technical Support
    Hmmmmm, out on the water (real water) seems to me that one of the major strategies is stay with/cover your competition. True, virtual sailing doesn't require the boat handling skills of real sailing but that makes this competition even more strategic.

    Not speaking for the rest of the fleet but I'm always looking to become better than my competition, that involves watching them carefully and learning "why" they do, not just "what" they do. Eventually you learn to spot the error and take advantage of an opportunity.

    I think "stealth mode" interfere with that learning opportunity. I'll tell you, the best competitors I've known are usually willing, even happy, to help someone who wants to learn. It improves their game too.

    Just my opinion but it possibly is an indicator of they type of opposition you might see to such a feature.
  • Re: NMEA Proxy Feed
    Board » Technical Support
    whatever it was, it cleared up.
  • NMEA Proxy Feed
    Board » Technical Support
    Anyone besides me having trouble with the NMEA Proxy feed on the Tasman race? I receive some data but much of the data is missing, position for one. I get the AIS data. I tried verifying this with both the NavMonPC and a router. Both work fine with the feed from SWR but fail on the Tasman Race.

    I'v verified the ports and the rest of the configuration. Tried restarting, rebooting.

    Anyone else having similar problems?
    Anyone have any ideas how to troubleshoot this further?
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Of course, having brought up this subject for the purpose of proposing a Bermuda Race, I now realize that the biggest reason for following the Gulf Stream in that race is because of the effect of the wind at the boundary. *DUH* So in the virtual world, with wind data that is universal across the fleet, the need for current and temperature is really unnecessary.
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Excellent reasons, though I think the current data is available in grib files. More important is the Angel and Financing. I sure know that story. I maintain a server now at an 80% loss. Those writing the code should be compensated somehow.
  • Re: Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    In a way I think I'm glad. I have enough trouble with the wind for now. I'm happy the quiver's empty though, how about the blunder buss.

    Thanks for the welcome.
  • Possible Feature
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    Still pretty new here so maybe this has been addressed before. If not, perhaps I risk painting a target on my back and handing out arrows at the same time BUT, has anyone considered adding currents to SOL? I fear it would add a magnitude of complexity to coding and sailing but it would make races like Newport/Marion to Bermuda race a realistic, challenging race.

    *looking for a rock to hide under*

Races

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Current Races:

Regata dell’Accademia Navale 2025

Welcome to Sailonline’s first partnership with the City of Livorno, in cooperation with the local yacht clubs and the Italian Navy, to offer you the online opportunity to race the Regata dell’Accademia Navale. 630nm in length, starting and finishing in Livorno, the race takes you the length and breadth of the Tyrrhenian Sea via Porto Cervo and Capri. Online, you will be sailing a Class 40, which should keep you well in with the top of the real-life fleet which we will be tracking on screen!
Race #1902
INFO by brainaid.de
Class 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 26th 10:00 Registration Open!

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Gulf of St Lawrence 2025


The Gulf of St. Lawrence, with one of the largest and deepest estuaries in the world, will be the site of a completely new race in SOL. Our Melges 40 will take us 950 nm from Bathurst in Baie des Chaleurs around the islands of Anticosti, Pelee and Prince Edward admiring beautiful landscapes along the way. Fair winds.
Race #1910
INFO from brainaid.de
Melges 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ2 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Apr 21st 17:00 Registration Open!
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Transat à Deux 2025

Above you see a single-handed sailor semi-foiling his Beneteau Figaro III to the horizon. It is in fact Ireland’s Sailor of the Year and the overall winner of last year’s Solitaire du Figaro, Tom Dolan. Somehow, we got our hands on a polar for the Class, and rather than trying to surreptitiously track Tom and his mates in the 2025 edition of the Solitaire, sailing rather-short, single-handed legs across the Celtic Sea and Biscay, we thought we’d see how our virtual craft would fare on the Class’s double-handed 3900nm Trans-Atlantic, from somewhere in Brittanny to somewhere in the Caribbean via somewhere in the Canaries. Allez, mes braves!
Race #1901
INFOby brainaid.de
Figaro III foil PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 20th 11:00 Registration Open!
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Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race 2025


Sailonline is thrilled to partner with the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club for the 2025 Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. This 308 nautical mile offshore classic takes our fleet from Brisbane to Gladstone along Australia's stunning east coast. Racing in high-performance Cookson 50s, SOLers will face shifting winds and tactical decisions at every turn. It’s time to test your skills in one of Australia’s most iconic yacht races. See you on the start line!
Race #1904
INFO by brainaid.de
Cookson 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Apr 18th 01:00 Registration Open!
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Bahamas and Back TIMED Race 2025

Welcome to sunny South Florida for this race that has us crossing the Gulf Stream twice. We depart from Palm Beach for a short run over to Freeport, Bahamas then it’s on to Miami before heading to the finish line back in Palm Beach. 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 #1911
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
26 April at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Apr 13th 12:00 Registration Open!
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Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Toamasina to Baia de l'Oiseau


You may recall that when last we visited Madagascar in the company of Sinbad, the Sultan commanded our intrepid inspirator to seek out fabled islands where in Summer the sun barely set. We did and we returned but the Sultan wasn’t happy with Sinbad’s report, so here we go again, now by SOL Balloon instead of sailing vessel. Expect to be in the air for at least 2100nm and depending on how the wind brings us, anything between two weeks and two months before we shall descend at the Sultan’s given coordinates!
Race #1884
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - SBB
Race starts: Apr 09th 11:00 Registration Closed
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Valparaiso to San Francisco 2025

Get ready for an exhilarating new challenge as we set sail on the fourth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! Following in the 19th century footsteps of Isabel Allende's heroine, Eliza Sommers, 'Daughter of Fortune', this all-new route takes us across the vast eastern Pacific, from Valparaíso, Chile, to San Francisco, California - a 3500nm journey of endurance, strategy, and pure sailing adrenaline. This leg will be raced aboard the powerful Rapido 60, pushing sailors to their limits as they navigate the open ocean. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Pacific? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Rapido 60 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Apr 07th 11:00 Registration Closed
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Melbourne Osaka Cup Double-Handed Yacht Race 2025

Welcome once again to what these days is Sailonline’s almost annual virtual Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. In real life, this double-handed 5500 nm race between these two sister cities, one deep in the southern hemisphere, the other high in the northern hemisphere, is run every four to five years, and this year is such a year. So, this year’s online version is in sync with the Melbourne Osaka Cup 2025 organised by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), and the Sandringham (SYC) and Osaka Hokko (OHYC) yacht clubs. We’ll be racing the well-known First 40, a popular size of boat which should be a good match for many of the boats entered in the real race. With the doldrums unavoidably lying across our course, you can expect to be at virtual sea for at least a month!
Race #1669
INFO by brainaid.de
First 40 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
April 23 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Mar 16th 06:00 Registration Closed

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  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
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