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Profile for dtayls



Name dtayls
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Posts29
  • 2020-10-03 04:41:53
    Re: qtVlm thread
    Board » Technical Support
    Interesting. I wasn't aware of the 'selection tool'. I'll have to give it a go.
  • 2020-10-03 04:34:24
    Re: Weather - Brain Storm
    Board » General Discussion
    I agree with you @Zorba that "random factors should come from the weather itself".

    As you know I like the idea of using a different and more accurate model (perhaps ECMWF) for the underlying simulation but that might depend on gaining access to a high quality model to which most users do not have access.

    Another approach might be to introduce a certain degree of randomness in to the simulation's weather model, but what should the source of this randomness be?

    One option would be to choose a random mix of two or more models. This could be (a) fixed for the whole race or (b) change over time or (c) vary by lat&lon across the GRIB or (d) both meaning <x,y,t>.

    If model volatility or uncertainty GRIBs were available then this could also be used to add a little to the randomness model but I suspect many would consider this to be a step too far :-)
  • 2020-10-01 03:03:21
    Re: Weather - Brain Storm
    Board » General Discussion
    While they do indeed say "you will need to accept the terms of the ECMWF Standard licence and pay for the associated data and handling costs." what if that cost was $0 or the equivalent in Euros? I think you will find that their licensing model depends very much on how the data is to be used. The fact that SOL is a not-for-profit, that the data would not be made available for download to end users, and that we would not require 24x7 support might all have a big impact on the quoted price. Maybe someone should contact them and request a quote.

    As it stands in SOL we are given perfect weather information for each 6 hour window which is a little unrealistic. What's more, some people know the idiosyncrasies of how the SOL server interprets the data and are therefore able to use that knowledge to their advantage. Is this really fair? And given that we allow this and the use of routers then we'd might as well allow full autopilot control of our boats!

    If there is instability in in the weather then I would expect the underlying weather to reflect that and probably differ from the predictions. Those who understand the weather the best will generally make the best decisions and may even have a chance at winning over those who can drive the tools to perfection.

    Ideally the underlying weather model used in the SOL simulation is based on the most accurate available. But some people may have access to this unless we 'rule' it out. So maybe we could also introduce some variations in to areas where the model is unstable. Again, this could be fun :-)
  • 2020-09-29 00:27:13
    Re: Weather - Brain Storm
    Board » General Discussion
    VIbex: The key to my idea is to use an underlying weather model for the simulation which powers our virtual boats that is different from the predictions available to SOL competitors.

    I agree when you say "we're not actually living on the boats so you need some measure of predictability" but I don't think that means we need to be able to 100% predict the weather.

    When the weather is very stable and highly predictable then the models will likely be very closely aligned. In those cases it might be safe to sail very close to a mark or an island, but when the weather is less stable you might choose a wider safety margin over absolute performance.

    As for the question of using 'rules' to control which models can or can't be used, there is always going to be someone who wants to cheat.

    Ideally, I like the idea of using something like a pre-release beta version of the ECMWF model not generally available except to researchers, if such a thing exists. Another alternative might be a psuedo-random merge of multiple model GRIBs ... This could be a fun project :-)
  • 2020-09-27 00:57:45
    Re: Weather - Brain Storm
    Board » General Discussion
    ij said @ 2020-09-10 20:03:13:
    Also, they explicitly mention not-for-profits in their license selection guidance so you're just dreaming and there's little point in trying to ask anything from them.
    --
    i.

    Is it possible to get access to the ECMWF model for internal use only on the server while using the GFS model in the gribs provided to users?

    It seems to me that this would fit the licencing requirements for the not-for-profit use of the real-time ECMWF data.

    It would also be closer to reality in that the underlying model used on the server would be different to the forecasts available to users.

    There may also be a need for a new SOL rule that makes it illegal to use commercial paid-for products not available to all users for free.

    I think this would make for some more interesting racing.
  • 2020-09-26 12:13:06
    Re: AGL14 Releases
    Board » Technical Discussion
    dtayls said @ 2020-09-07 04:13:07:
    14.2.3 doesn't seem to automatically download GRIBs anymore :-(


    Looks like this only affected the Mel-to-Osaka race. Seems to work perfectly in other races. How bizarre!
  • 2020-09-26 11:32:29
    Merge of steering and DC tabs
    Board » General Discussion
    I really like @Zorba's idea of merging the 'steering' and 'DC' tabs. Maybe allow for 8-10 lines of DCs bacause if anyone is using more then they are probably using other tools to generate them.

    It would also help to be able to set an actual time rather than just a delay period.
  • 2020-09-26 11:26:04
    Extended predictors - Suggestion re the hourly indicators
    Board » General Discussion
    Love the new extended predictors. Thanks @ij.

    One small suggestion: Hourly indicators are open circles. Perhaps fill every 6-hourly circle to make a large dot. This would help in interpreting the longer predictors.

    The longer predictors will be really helpful when training up those new to SOL. The curly-whirly patterns can be very instructive.
  • 2020-09-07 04:13:07
    Re: AGL14 Releases
    Board » Technical Discussion
    14.2.3 doesn't seem to automatically download GRIBs anymore :-(

    This might help explain it:

    Exception in thread "Thread-1" java.lang.NullPointerException
    at grib.GribFactory.waitForGrib(GribFactory.java:215)
    at grib.GribFactory.run(GribFactory.java:146)
    at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)


    --- Last Edited by dtayls at 2020-09-07 04:30:17 ---
  • 2020-04-22 23:11:23
    Re: Poetry Saved for Posterity
    Board » General Discussion
    Pushing haiku to new limits:

    Laozi *pokes
    bonknhoot
    what the *

Races

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Tyger Memorial Race 2025

Dear Robert Neilson, gone too soon, but, a volunteer crew having brought his Tyger home in our first Ocean Race of 2025, here is a further opportunity to remember him and his great contribution to Sailonline, by blasting around an 80nm triangle on his home waters of Port St Philip Bay in spanking-new-to-SOL very-Robert very-macho, grind-greedy Cookson 50s. Tell tales of his derring-do in Chat or add something for posterity to his Tyger IN MEMORIAM Forum page. Sail on, SOLer.
Race #1891
INFOby brainaid.de
Cookson 50 PARTICULARS
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Race starts: Feb 08th 06:00 Registration Open!
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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 Open!
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Barbados to Tristan da Cunha 2025

Sailonline is proud to present to our virtual sailors, an all new series RWW 2025 (Round our Water World). Sailing from remote island to remote island with forever only a faintly curving line between sea and sky on the horizon. "Dry land is not a myth". The series ranking uses best 7 from 8 races for scoring, and this first race, from Barbados to Tristan da Cunha, a 4000nm leg into the Southern Atlantic, will be sailed in ex-Volvo OD65s (version 3). The race is also part of the OCCH 2025, ranking best 10 from 12 races.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1889
INFO by brainaid.de
OD65v3 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Feb 03rd 11:00 Registration Open!
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Seychelles Circuit Sprint 2025


Nothing better than a winter break in The Seychelles, and especially if there is a fleet of X-332’s available to charter and to race round an impromptu course of c 21nm taking in some of the archipelago's granitic islands. Tarry awhile before and after, but beware the navy and the pirates, mind!
Race 1895
INFO by brainaid.de
X-332 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPRQ1 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
February 6 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 02nd 03:00 Registration Closed
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Race to Up Helly Aa 2025

A-OI!!! The fiery spirit of Shetland’s Up Helly Aa festival is here, and Sailonline’s much-anticipated annual race to Lerwick is back! Spanning 383 nautical miles from Aberdeen, this exhilarating event pays homage to Europe’s largest fire festival. Piloting our Dehler 46s, designed by Judel/Vrolijk in 2015, our SOLers will navigate the challenging waters, competing for glory as flames illuminate the Lerwick skies in celebration.

SAILING NOTE: Gruney may be approached from any direction but must be passed for rounding purposes as indicated on the chart.

Will you master the course, outmaneuver the competition, and claim victory? The challenge is on—join us!
Race #1880
INFO by brainaid.de
Dehler 46 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
February 7 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jan 30th 15:00 Registration Closed
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Africa by Sea 2025 - Port Said to Tangier


Back in the 7th C BCE, pharaoh Necho II may have commissioned Phoenician sailors to explore south down the Red Sea and if possible return north via the Straits of Gibraltar. Herodotus was inclined to dismiss the story as it included reports of the sun standing in the north, which had to be nonsense. Silly old Herodotus, but who cares, 2800 years later we will repeat the feat, but we’ll go the other way round, and not in a galley but in different modern sailing yachts, beginning with the comfort of an IY 14.98 for the first leg of 1900nm from Port Said to Tangier.
Race #1854
INFOby brainaid.de
Italia 14.98 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
February 9 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jan 22nd 17:00 Registration Closed
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Vendee Home - Cape Horn to Olon 2025

Welcome to our 2025 Ocean Race Championships starting off with the classic 6900nm drag race from Cape Horn back to the coast of Brittany leading or following the boats of the Vendee Globe fleet. A new polar from the board of the BNH Design Partnership is being made available to you for this one, in the hope that aboard her you too will be able to cover 600nm in a day when the conditions are right! It's winter outside, so like the IRL sailors, enjoy and stay inside!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1874
INFO by brainaid.de
IMOCA 60 Foil v2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
February 8 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Jan 06th 11:00 Registration Closed
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