VENDÉE GLOBE round the world race

[rgleason]

Hmm, I'm thinking there are two Virtual Races here.

The one on this forum is:
Virtual Loop de Mer free Registration and Races
QtVlm SourceForge Software
QtVlm Wiki-English
QtVlm Rick's Wiki Discussion Page -from advice by Phillipe
QtVlm Help Card - English
La Tavern Forum - Click on English thread (Google Translate > 404 Fail)
La Tavern English Forum
Here is a direct link to download the software:
http://www.virtual-winds.com/~oxygen...tup-3.3-0+.exe

If I am not mistaken, the Virtual Racing you mention must be "Virtual Winds" where I believe the players can buy special sail sets and the racers must pay for a race (Perhaps Maitai will correct me here). I believe they are running a Vendee Race too....Lets call that virtual race "VW-Vendee".

This thread has largely been focused on the Virtual Loop de Mer "VLM-Vendee" Race where there are over 1200 players competing or registered. It is free. In this race cannot buy extra sails as far as I am aware. The VLM has web based software and a computer based interface that sends instructions to the server. You sign up for the race on line.

[maitai]

Rick,

They are speaking about Virtual Regatta, which is a commercial company. Nothing to do with VLM and Virtual-Winds. Btw Virtual-Winds is just hosting the official forum of VLM. A bit like Cruiser Forum is hosting the official forum for OCPN.

In VLM you cannot buy anything. Every one has the same boat.

[rgleason]

Chasing double flag (12 knot) winds is very elusive, especially the edges and tongues, because the next forecast is often somewhat different. Perhaps it is best to set a generally efficient course towards those winds but not depend entirely on the edges of the double flags. Fortunately I'm out of the 3-5 knot area, in 8-9 with the wind slightly forward, but there is 30 hours to get to double flag wind.

Maitai thanks for the clarification.

[rgleason]

I suppose we can cross WP4-Good Hope Gate as low as we want provided we go inside of WP2 -Gough Island Gate and come back up and touch WP5 Kerguelen Gate. Depending on the storm it might make sense to go pretty low. Getting to gate WP4 is going to be interesting.

I just Moved the end POI (Shift-Cursor left button) of a Route to Good Hope [originally created as a "Routing" with a Pivot around WP2 Gough Island] and then "Simplified" and "Optimized" it and it worked great. Is this a legitimate technique? - How nice!!

[messias]

Sorry there... my mistake!
I was in fact talking about the Virtual Regatta vendée, where you can buy things... and things are going a little bit wrong there.

Please just disregard the comments, because I wasn´t aware that you were talking about a totally diferent animal...

Good winds to all, in any VR!

[rgleason]

Messias, you should try qtVlm and racing in the VLM there are many races to join, long and short. It takes awhile to get the hang of it, but Maitai is very helpful and you have this thread and several others.

Maitai -why do I think your name is Phillipe? Is that correct?

[maitai]

Yes, it is

[rgleason]

Hey, this is pretty cool. I can put the cursor over an intermediate POI on the current Route being used by the Autopilot, press Shift-Left mouse button, move the intermediate POI, release Left mouse button, then release Shift. A message pops up and Confirms the WP change? Hit Yes, and your boat realigns to that course, this is in VBVMG mode. This is useful for making small course changes to gain speed in a certain wind or to adjust your boat course more directly.

Just increased boat speed to 10.33 from 10.18 with a small course adjustment.

[messias]

Thanks rgleason.

I didn´t know that, but I´ll have a look at it right away

(You´re thinking: Ohhhh... these rookie guys)

[rgleason]

Messias, the more the merrier, and we'll learn more that way.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by maitai

@Barnakiel what exactly "wx" stands for? I am wondering since the begining...

weather, mate, weather

b.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by maitai

Rick,

They are speaking about Virtual Regatta, which is a commercial company. Nothing to do with VLM and Virtual-Winds. Btw Virtual-Winds is just hosting the official forum of VLM. A bit like Cruiser Forum is hosting the official forum for OCPN.

In VLM you cannot buy anything. Every one has the same boat.

Of course. And VR, VLM, VW are not the only racing games out there.

I do hope next time VD will change the supplier of the virtual race (the game) as what there is right now is pretty wobbly. People pay for a service and the service is not delivered. Looks like a niche for an entrepreneurial cruiser there!

b.

[maitai]

Nest interesting race on VLM starts next Sunday (9/10 days to cross atlantic in imoca).

You are welcome. The good point of a free system is that you can resign after 5mn and not have spend a penny

[rgleason]

Looks very doable, but having been at 841 and then moved up to 17 and now back down to 279 in the Vendee, these races have a life of their own, so I'm not quitting yet.

Atlantic Rally 2012 Grand Canary to St. Lucia
Boat: Imoca VAC: 5 minutes
Duration: 10 days
Depart 14h00 CET (13h00 GMT) Wed 25 November 2012

[rgleason]

Some comments on La Tavern about Routes disappearing:

Back on the "bug" roads that disappear qtVLM. This happens:
- When the server is down or rowing,
- And qtVLM stuck on 91% at the start, but eventually appear.

In this case, only the roads disappear qtVLM, there remains only the waypoints (which is different from the default display of roads, when it is due to shifts in the weather).

The roads are affected for a particular boat. If the server is [down] for example, if your boat happens between 2 restarts, qtVLM will not find the boat corresponding to this road and therefore removes the route, but not the POIs. Asctuce [??], if it does not, please "Exit without saving" and ...the next reboot. if the boat is OK, this time the roads are good.
... Good to know that, even if it is not dramatic to have to rebuild some roads in exceptional cases.

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In the menu "File GRIB" just between "Open" and "Close" an item "Reload" which re-opens file. Use the Grib with the same name as the service ...