Just 19 more hours before the start of the next leg. I have already set my sails and course in case I forget to log in tomorrow morning. I also noticed that we get an extra sail (code zero) for this leg.
Congrats to again to Christian for winning the last leg. Enjoy it, it may be your last
Not too late to sign up if you are interested. Boats only really need tending once or twice a day. Nice long term strategy game.
Virtual Sailing!
Re: Virtual Sailing!
On yer mark.........
Bill
Bill
Re: Virtual Sailing!
With just over five hours before the start. Here is a little reading from the Volvo site on how to tacke leg 2.
-- Wouter Verbraak his view on Leg 2 Cape Town to Abu Dhabi --
The start of leg 2 is “a do or die” scenario with some nasty hurdles to overcome in the first five days. Just exiting the bay of Cape Town can be a real challenge as the South-East winds don’t turn the corner and tend to stay a tantalizing couple of miles offshore. You might find yourself actually sailing away from the next mark to get to it!
Once in the wind, an important choice has to be made to go east along the South-African shore, or dive south to get to the Westerlies in the roaring forties. It all has to do with the timing of the next front; you want to invest South when you know that you can hook into the North-West winds ahead of it, and surf it like a wave East as long as you can.
Fast, fast, fast, lots of fun, but you will have to wreck you brain when to leave this fast train and head North. This is a tricky one, as you will have to see how you can get passed the high pressure area with light winds that are blocking your way. If the high is very far East, you will have to take off at an early station, and slug your way upwind, past Madagascar and the islands of Mauritius. Alternatively you can hold your breath and try to get around the Eastern side of the high. High risk? This option is tempting with downwind, fast sailing, and a great wind angle in the Trade. It’s best to be sure that the door doesn’t get closed on you though, as you will be trapped in light winds for a very long time. Ouch!
Say you made it passed the High, you can have a couple of days to recover in the Trade winds. The only hick-up could be a tropical cyclone crossing your track, as there is still hurricane season after all.
When you get through the Trades , nicely rested, the Doldrums are the next stop, literally. The Doldrums in the Indian Ocean are a mess. There is no obvious narrow point to cross, thunderstorms are numerous and the pattern chaotic. The advice for the last race was to cross further East, yet the West came out best. The models were of little guidance, probably more a distraction than help. Getting north, as best as you can is actually your best option. At least from behind the computer, you will neither have to deal with the heavy downpours with zero visibility, nor worry about getting stuck in one of the numerous fishing nets.
The stretch from the Maldives to the entrance of the Gulf will either be a fast reach if the NE-monsoon reaches you, or a real light, 1000 NM drift off, if it doesn’t. The NE monsoon doesn’t really start in full power until January, so you will have to play it by ear.
The strait into The Gulf is typically light and, to some extent, very light. During a race I did around five years ago, we looked for wind along the Iranian shore. It worked well until we had an Iranian navy plane dive a bit too low for comfort over us; best to tack out and stay at a safe distance.
To sum up: it is a leg with lots of snakes and ladders, and it won’t be over until the finish. Just keep pushing the limits! Be always sharp to anticipate the next twist in the story.
-- Wouter Verbraak his view on Leg 2 Cape Town to Abu Dhabi --
The start of leg 2 is “a do or die” scenario with some nasty hurdles to overcome in the first five days. Just exiting the bay of Cape Town can be a real challenge as the South-East winds don’t turn the corner and tend to stay a tantalizing couple of miles offshore. You might find yourself actually sailing away from the next mark to get to it!
Once in the wind, an important choice has to be made to go east along the South-African shore, or dive south to get to the Westerlies in the roaring forties. It all has to do with the timing of the next front; you want to invest South when you know that you can hook into the North-West winds ahead of it, and surf it like a wave East as long as you can.
Fast, fast, fast, lots of fun, but you will have to wreck you brain when to leave this fast train and head North. This is a tricky one, as you will have to see how you can get passed the high pressure area with light winds that are blocking your way. If the high is very far East, you will have to take off at an early station, and slug your way upwind, past Madagascar and the islands of Mauritius. Alternatively you can hold your breath and try to get around the Eastern side of the high. High risk? This option is tempting with downwind, fast sailing, and a great wind angle in the Trade. It’s best to be sure that the door doesn’t get closed on you though, as you will be trapped in light winds for a very long time. Ouch!
Say you made it passed the High, you can have a couple of days to recover in the Trade winds. The only hick-up could be a tropical cyclone crossing your track, as there is still hurricane season after all.
When you get through the Trades , nicely rested, the Doldrums are the next stop, literally. The Doldrums in the Indian Ocean are a mess. There is no obvious narrow point to cross, thunderstorms are numerous and the pattern chaotic. The advice for the last race was to cross further East, yet the West came out best. The models were of little guidance, probably more a distraction than help. Getting north, as best as you can is actually your best option. At least from behind the computer, you will neither have to deal with the heavy downpours with zero visibility, nor worry about getting stuck in one of the numerous fishing nets.
The stretch from the Maldives to the entrance of the Gulf will either be a fast reach if the NE-monsoon reaches you, or a real light, 1000 NM drift off, if it doesn’t. The NE monsoon doesn’t really start in full power until January, so you will have to play it by ear.
The strait into The Gulf is typically light and, to some extent, very light. During a race I did around five years ago, we looked for wind along the Iranian shore. It worked well until we had an Iranian navy plane dive a bit too low for comfort over us; best to tack out and stay at a safe distance.
To sum up: it is a leg with lots of snakes and ladders, and it won’t be over until the finish. Just keep pushing the limits! Be always sharp to anticipate the next twist in the story.
Re: Virtual Sailing!
could someone better explain the controls of the game to me. Currently I'm on the same heading in relation to the wind direction and my windspeed is slightly higher, than a nearby boat but he is going 4 knots faster. Is there some sail trim that I don't know about?
Re: Virtual Sailing!
OK found out crew strength makes up the difference. Do you lose crew strength as time progresses or do your changes drive the rate that the strength changes?
Re: Virtual Sailing!
Could be sail selection. Most of us use the free sails, the ones you can use without purchasing the extra sail package. Right now that consists of the jib, code zero, and the medium spinnaker. This way we keep it free and everyone pretty much has the same sail configuration.
My boat's name is Habagat. Scroll through the postings and you will find the others. Post your boat name, so that we can add it to the friend list and we can then track your progress and you can see ours.
My boat's name is Habagat. Scroll through the postings and you will find the others. Post your boat name, so that we can add it to the friend list and we can then track your progress and you can see ours.
Re: Virtual Sailing!
Could be sail selection. Most of us use the free sails, the ones you can use without purchasing the extra sail package. Right now that consists of the jib, code zero, and the medium spinnaker. This way we keep it free and everyone pretty much has the same sail configuration.
My boat's name is Habagat. Scroll through the postings and you will find the others. Post your boat name, so that we can add it to the friend list and we can then track your progress and you can see ours.
My boat's name is Habagat. Scroll through the postings and you will find the others. Post your boat name, so that we can add it to the friend list and we can then track your progress and you can see ours.
Re: Virtual Sailing!
weird... I don't have any friends anymore, I would have thought they'd carry over from leg to leg, but none of you are my list anymore.
Add 1Mizu again!
later
C
Add 1Mizu again!
later
C
Fleet 1 Webmaster
http://www.sj21fleet1.org
http://www.sj21fleet1forums.org
SJ21 1974 MKI #897, Mizu
http://www.sj21fleet1.org
http://www.sj21fleet1forums.org
SJ21 1974 MKI #897, Mizu
Re: Virtual Sailing!
Same sails, same wind, and same heading. The difference was crew strength. My boat name is Smallfry I.
Re: Virtual Sailing!
The course for leg 2. The fleet still has a long way to go. Just of off the coast of South Africa with favorable winds to head north and east.
Close up of the fleet with tracks showing. From left to right - smallfry (aqua), Wooglin (blue), 1Mizu (blue), Habagat (green and *ahem* currently in the lead), Krysiary1 (blue), Lunacy I and Lunacy II (both blue - and what appears to be corporate sponsorship to be able to field two boats )
Close up of the fleet with tracks showing. From left to right - smallfry (aqua), Wooglin (blue), 1Mizu (blue), Habagat (green and *ahem* currently in the lead), Krysiary1 (blue), Lunacy I and Lunacy II (both blue - and what appears to be corporate sponsorship to be able to field two boats )