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G'Day Sailors,
I hope this is PC to mention as it does not really have any connection to our wonderful boats, but I found this web site, a few years ago while waiting for something to dry, and have been returning more and more often and have found it to be a great leaning tool for navigating around weather.
It's called virtualregatta.com and it's free to join and race around the globe, running parallel to real races being run, while using real weather wind directions and force as the x factor to challenge your navigational planning. I'm currently racing in the virtual "Volvo Ocean Race". There are over 73,000 racers so far in this race and I'm currently in.... wait, let me check.....17,827th place. The racing is in real time so a race around the world like this will take months but all it takes is setting a course to take advantage of the wind and check back as often as you care to, for a look at your progress with wind and weather changes every 12 hours. The site is stable and have worked out bugs years ago. It's originally a French site but you can get the instruction in spanish and english also. I've even got the app on my phone to keep track of my progress while away from the desktop. If you really want to be competitive you can spend some cash and get the better sails and various navigational tools but I have done well with just the basic setup which is free.
This is a great way to spend time while on the hard. I've met sailors from around the world with this Virtual Regatta and as the years go by, making good friends. Try it out and look me up on the race course. Currently, I'm heading SSW going around the Cape Verde Islands..... In my mind.[Image Can Not Be Found]
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Sorry Scott. I see I should have posted this in the " Non Downeaster Forum". I promise to pay closer attention in the future.
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lol.. we will forgive you just this once 🙂
sounds pretty cool... I'm scared to try it though as I don't need anything else sucking up less than available time. It sounds addictive 🙂
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Addictive? Hardly. I've been racing these races for years and I could give it up any old time. lol.
I got to say it has been interesting to learn about weather patterns, as the game uses real time weather, and I find myself always looking for higher wind pressure. Thankfully, the game supplies us with the current high tech boats which are being run in the real races or the races would last a lot longer. Last night I got caught in an area that was blowing less than a knot of wind. 0.7knots to be exact, yet I as able to keep the boat going almost 2 knots on a broad reach. I wish I could get my DE to do that in light air
Anyway.... As I have gone around the world, virtually, several times, the thing I have noticed is that most of my time is spent searching for wind. Since I'm not getting cold and wet, not having to endure getting knocked about on these flat sided boats, the only hardships I incur is when I micro manage the race and get up at three in the morning to take advantage of a wind shift with a timely tack. So I'm looking for bad conditions, storms and, of course, I rarely get to be in front of one, to push me in front of the leaders. Other than when we are sailing in those lower latitudes of forties and fifties most of the time it's blowing less than twenty.
It seems we, or at least, I spend a lot of time getting my boat ready to be able handle force 10 winds, I really should spend as much time thinking of how to move when it's only blowing 10 knots or less, as well.
Until next time...
Nahnoo Nahnoo [Image Can Not Be Found]
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