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Profile for Zembu



Name Zembu
Email Address
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Posts41
  • Re: 2015 CHAMPIONSHIPS
    Board » Flag Officers » Championships
    Thanks WIN (Piero) - Very well organised. This should encourage folks, including me, to race more often - if I can find the time!!
  • Re: RTW start
    Board » Flag Officers » Races
    I agree with svein. And also with Rod at 16:15 on chat today 16th March 2015 where he said "As I have said and hoped, many times, SOL is not supposed to be an "arcade game", but is intended as a simulation of ocean racing navigation reality."
    So - way to go SOL management! - ;-)
  • Re: Weather data compression and resolution
    Board » Technical Discussion
    ITA, Yes, I am aware of the fact that Bluewater needs to have part of the grib "disabled", when the grib straddles the dateline. This is not a problem and I do not think that it is the reason why Bluewater signals that the file is smaller than expected. There is no need to change the discontinuity to Greenwich. One merely uses the grib manager in Bluewater to not use the unwanted part for routing. When I have used Bluewater in the past when the grib straddles the dateline, I don't recall noticing the following from Bluewater;
    "The following errors occurred while loading C:/SOL/Races/
    weather_100_global_gfs_20150201_1627.grb Attempt to add Grib Sequencies anyway? "Only read 18904 out of 19068 bytes for EntireMsg (offs=1029672)""???

    Further to the above, as of approximately 10th/11th Feb 2015, the above message is no longer displayed by Bluewater. From discussion noted in the chat, I surmise that Brainaid has fixed the problem.
    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2015-02-09 17:02:42 ---

    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2015-02-11 17:06:30 ---
  • Re: Weather data compression and resolution
    Board » Technical Discussion
    Hi hmm, I am wondering if the change is the reason that now for Sanya to Aukland, when loading the grib into Bluewater, the following report appears;
    "The following errors occurred while loading C:/SOL/Races/
    weather_100_global_gfs_20150201_1627.grb Attempt to add Grib Sequencies anyway? "Only read 18904 out of 19068 bytes for EntireMsg (offs=1029672)""???
  • Re: January 2015 weather update problems
    Board » Technical Discussion
    I am prompted to write because there appears to be no decision yet from the management as to the current (if still current) weather update problem. Comments have been made from a few, including me.
    What is important to note is that until it runs out, the race grib currently installed on SOL remains operational, so if no update takes place, the grib previously provided to players through the brainaid site (the same grib) continues to be valid.
    So those using routers can continue to use the grib they have. And it makes no difference to those not using routers.
    The problem arises if SOL management decide to update the operational grib at random times (due to delay of a new grib). In that situation it is unfair to those who choose to log in only or most frequently at the predicted wx update times. But would be beneficial to those who are always racing 100% of their time.
    So it has to be clear that the wx update will be applied within, e.g. a half hour period, every six hours, and that if for technical reasons this turns out to be impossible on any instance, the wx will not be updated until the next scheduled timeslot. I think this was the logic that hmm applied when he said in his post of 2015-01-27 13:28:48 "In the case when NOAA structure changed on 14th of January, I could have updated the weather around 18:30 UTC, two hours later than expected but I chose not to." (I think he chose not to because he recognised it would be unfair.)
  • Re: January 2015 weather update problems
    Board » Technical Discussion
    I agree with StuArt. It is obviously beneficial, if using a router, that the router work be done and new dc's set as soon as possible after a fresh wx is applied to the course. Otherwise we would be running old dc's on new weather. So, we need to have fixed times for the updates, as always has been the case. However, I think leeway of half an hour is acceptable. But if it cannot be done in that half hour it would be better that the wx be left until the next scheduled time. Also, apart from what I just said, it is no good just letting it come in at any time unless there is a statement on the race page saying when the last wx was applied. Otherwise persons just logging on will not know whether or not there has been a wx change since they last looked at it.
  • Re: Aaron James Gage - 1971-2012
    Board » In memoriam
    Having not visited SOL since the end of the last VO70 Round World Race I was shocked today to hear from Terry O'Neill that our friend Aaron had died. Many times he helped me, and today I reviewed all of his emails with great sadness.

    This is a quote from one of Aaron's emails, including his "smileys" -

    "I highly recommend you read 76Trombones' post 'Ramblings on Routers' - it explains a lot... Yes it is also the name of his blog, but I mean the actual post here - indeed all of his posts are worth reading, and then reading again a month later ;-)

    As I mentioned, as you probably know anyway - SOL, like any other sport, virtual or not is VERY competitive at the top end of the fleet. Not to say we aren't all friends, and if I had seen WINSTON (or ita10267 or Gilles etc) looking like he was going to run aground I would certainly have sent some warning emails or something, but we still all want to win, while maintaining much respect for each other. Which is another thing I like about sailing... Seems there is more sportsmanship than in some other sports I have been involved in.

    Finally, please do not ever think you are asking me too much, or taking too much of my time... I am more than happy to correspond with you on anything you like. If I happen to be busy my reply will just be a little later is all ;-)"

    This is typical of his generous, friendly, co-operative nature.

    My sincere commiserations to his family.

    Andrew Cormie
  • Re: Email to Commodore McIrvine RORC re action against SOL, 9 August 2009
    Board » General Discussion
    Well done Rainbowchaser. I also sent an email to RORC via their website - but nothing much compared to yours - as follows;

    This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.rorc.org/ from:
    Andrew Cormie <andrew@zembu.plus.com>

    I'd like to know what are your grounds for objection against Sail Online (SOL), resulting in your action in sending them a solicitor's letter. Your action has caused trouble for several hundred people engaged in an innocent activity which was not causing you any problem.

    HAVE OF COURSE HAD NO REPLY.
  • Navigational Sailing Strategy
    Board » Sailonline Yacht Club
    I would like to suggest that SOL put on site some navigational sailing strategy advice. I have the impression from what I have read here and there on the site that one of the objectives of the system / game developed here is to assist sailors to improve their navigational skills. But whereas the system is good for practice for navigators who know what they are doing, it reduces to a mere game for those who don't know enough. Speaking as one of the latter, who for a while thought he knew how to approach this, I now feel somewhat at a loss as to how to improve my performance. Some guidance on this would be appreciated - and I think there must be many who would benefit from such advice.
  • Inability to access the Technical Forum to respond to posts
    Board » General Discussion
    Has anyone had this experience? When I am logged on to SOL and an email notification arrives telling me of a forum item I might wish to read; when I click on the URL, Internet Explorer says:-

    The website cannot display the page
    HTTP 500
    Most likely causes:
    The website is under maintenance.
    The website has a programming error.

    What you can try:
    Refresh the page.

    Go back to the previous page.

    More information

    If I log out of SOL, then click on the URL, it does display. But to respond, I have to log on. So I log on, and then I can't access the Technical Forum to make a response. However, I can access others such as this one.

    --- Last Edited by Zembu at 2009-05-01 09:09:43 ---

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

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 starts: Mar 04th 03:20 Registration Open!
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SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 2

Leg Two of our Round North Island Series is where the real challenge begins. After Mangonui, our SOLers face a demanding 491nm passage around the top of the North Island and down the rugged west coast toward Cook Strait. Long miles, exposed waters, and relentless tactical choices will test every SOLer. In our powerful Sun Fast 3600s, a proven short-handed performer and true downwind flyer, endurance, timing, and smart routing will be key to success!

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 #2012
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Mar 02nd 21:00 Registration Open!
▶ 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 Open!
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GO TO RACE

SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026 - Leg 1

Welcome to Leg One of the Round North Island Series in partnership with SSANZ. The four-leg circuit of New Zealand’s North Island is a true test of short-handed skill, and it begins with the 150nm passage from Auckland to Mangonui. This year, our SOLers will be racing the dynamic Sun Fast 3600 – Jeanneau’s renowned racer-cruiser and a proven flyer downwind. A gentle opener on paper… but coastal tactics and shifting breezes will demand focus from the start!
Race #2011
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RNI - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Feb 28th 21:00 Registration Open!
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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 starts: Feb 28th 20:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

New Ice Age 2026 - Browerville to Longyearbyen


Our 2026 long-distance ice-boating challenge continues with a second race in Arctic waters, now from Browerville, where we arrived less than a month ago, continuing east, back to Svalbard’s Longyearbyen, leaving Canada’s Ellesmere Island to port and Denmark’s Greenland to starboard. It’s about 2500nm, which, if there’s wind at all, should, well-wrapped in your DN-cockpits, not take you more than a day or three, thus to complete your first (of several) online circumnavigation of the planet of 2026!
Race #1969
INFOby brainaid.de
DN PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: NIA - SYC
Race starts: Feb 19th 07:00 Registration Closed
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Beketov by Balloon 2026 - In Siberia


Way-back-when France and England, and Spain as well, were squabbling about who should control what of North America, only to lose the most of it to their own insurging colonists, their eastern European neighbour empire, Russia, was quietly assimilating vast, thinly nomadically populated territory of its own – Siberia! Amongst the many explorers and adventurers that served Russia so well in these conquests was the Cossack hetman Pyotr Beketov. Let’s pretend we’re he and eschewing horseback, let’s travel by balloon from Yekaterinberg to Krasnoyarsk – just a short 2000km (1100nm) section of the Trans-Siberian Express’ 9289km!
Race #1972
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
March 4 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Feb 03rd 13:00 Registration Closed
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SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
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  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
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  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY

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