Zezo forum:

Post by theo | 2020-11-19 | 10:03:42

Hello guys, about 200 miles south of last jibe, we the west team have done, I had the programmer on to correct my route from 129 I was at that point, to 120. I went to bed and 4 hours later found my yacht heading 0,0!!! Before I go to bed I was in the head of that group. All leading yachts where in a 3-5 mile distance to each other. Before, I was about a mile behind ARYLLA and at my west site, I had Tessa94 parallel, in a short distance. After I made the mistake to sleep, I was 32,8 miles behind Arylla. I reported to VR, I gave them screenshots of my position before and of my route-print where is clear the 12,5 miles north course, that my yacht traveled because of the bug (it is even now visible with zoom,at 200 miles south of my jibe). I asked to be re-positioned back and a distance 5-10 miles from the lead of west group, would be OK, I would happily accept it.I also told them I only ask for a chance to have some kind of a fair race and that is, or should be your top priority as race organizers. I also said If re-positioning is not an option, then I would have to request the money I spend to buy the foul-pack. No respond from VR so far and additionally I failed to find my topic. I am not so familiar to VRs inner shit. Maybe is there somewhere and I couldn't find it. Anyway, I thought to report it here too, if not to be seen from mr Philippe Cagne (probably wrong spelled), but at least to alarm you guys, as that bug is real and kills your race. I know many are aware of that bug, but many more are not. Now I managed to shorten the distance to the lead of west group to about 22 miles, but even if I manage to overtake them, which I doubt, how does that sounds to you, me giving 30 miles handy-cup to all the top names?? That is not fair and VR seams ignoring whatever ruins their fiesta all about the record broken of participants (ofcrs, same time they send notice to fleet that due to excess amount of players ..bla,bla,bla, we have to drop the functions of the game to absolute "no function"!!! LOL. Ridiculous isn't it?). Is not only my case, they should have made ASAP a real help desk to attend all lost miles from bugs in the programmer(there is the killer bugs, in the programmer) and some short of re-positioning procedure.Other cases that I know of, earlier in the race, when the many changing of direction, ppl got ruined from bugged programmer, that ignored the turning buoy, etc. I am deeply disappointed from VR. I was expecting bugs, as they don't bother to get through some kind of beta test period or something, but, of course I expected that they have at least secured a fair race for all participants.

12 Comments

Post by zezo | 2020-11-19 | 11:09:04

Based on my prior experience I have to say that VR are doing better than usual in this race.

Lack of beta testing and customer support have not changed, though. It's been like this how long, 12 years or a bit more.

Post by theo | 2020-11-19 | 17:33:06

Truth. Good point this one Cvetan. I also noticed the progress in several fields.Only to have the fleet moving ahead, together with yr yacht, with just ONE click is..WOW!! We ve been witting for that so long. But when you have been struck by such a disaster, when you find yourself 30 miles behind within 2-3 hours, while took you a week straggling to get you where you where, all that, all the rest seems to be so meaningless and unimportant. After-all what could be more important in a race, than the secured and standard conditions for a fair race??

Post by zezo | 2020-11-19 | 18:11:48

That's Stockholm syndrome. We are sure there will be bugs and the game will break, but keep coming for more and setting alarm clocks at 4AM.

At least I paid my 30 silver coins fully aware that the experience won't be smooth. Got my missed turns too, but luckily it was not that bad.

Post by theo | 2020-11-20 | 20:50:59

Yes, in such conditions luck is important. I was also expecting bugs and all, I just didn't expect that, such a hard strike, so much ...bad luck. Well, it is what it is! I must accept it some how and and try to motivate me again. Thnx Cvetan. I wish you a fair race

Post by zezo | 2020-11-20 | 21:26:28

It ain't over till it's over. There will be fleet compression, and nothing is lost as long as you catch the same low pressure system as the leaders. The rendez-vous point is becoming clear now, and the train will be there for a while.

Post by YourMomSA | 2020-11-20 | 22:18:54

In 2016, somewhere south of India, I was running 60th or so, in a thick pack of boats. The eventual winner (now called MattJohnston) was someone I was tracking, so I was happy to have him roughly 200 nm behind me.

The lead pack hit some light wind, and he ran right up, closing the gap, with hundreds of other boats. Nothing the leaders could do.

The race was decided on the northbound routings up the Atlantic at the end. He chose an excellent path up the West side, and won.

The early stages of this race are really about maintaining a reasonable position. The endgame is where the gaps that matter will occur.

Post by blkhd48 | 2020-11-21 | 07:19:56

Hi theo
This is the first race I've paid for in 3 years after finishing one in 11 th position and being scored 140 th. VR eventually admitted it was a bug but refused me any redress because it would ' penalise the other players'. I sympathise with you and hope there has been an improvement in VR mentality. But I doubt it......

Post by theo | 2020-11-23 | 08:15:09

Hello guys, good morning. I thought to give you the replay from VR. Here it is:

Jessica (Virtual Regatta Offshore)

Nov 21, 2020, 16:46 GMT+1

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us.

We are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience caused on the latest races.

However, these issues were related to temporary maintenance and not bugs. Hence, we do not think about giving any compensation.

Do not hesitate to get back to us, should you have any other issues.

Thank you for your understanding,

That's it, For some reason they are freaking out with the word BUGS!! which is the second name of VR since I remember. Maybe this is why. Anyway, a cynic answer, that goes well along with the high standards (!!!) of Client service the company is famous for. "Yes, we screw yr race, yes we ve sent you 30 miles behind, but guess what you naughty boy, that was not a ...bug you silly, was only ...."temporary maintenance"!! So, be happy and comply with the romantic stories we airing, about the brave eastern group that had the honor to lead for a bit the VG race and show understanding. Of course, we give no money back. Why??? There is no reason we know of, for ..giving (we are not forgiving though) any "compensation" LOL

Post by blkhd48 | 2020-11-23 | 13:40:41

Thought so theo, Not much has changed in 3 years.

Post by BlueJadeOS | 2020-11-23 | 16:18:54

Sorry to hear about it. Life continues. Alex if fighting. Jeremie is pushing hard.
For us. It's good training to be on water. And you know. Sailing is technical sport. You know. Sometimes something brakes. What I suggest. Train your brain to accept breakage and move forward much harder that would every good man would do! Write complain, change course. You are still in race!

Post by jfloviou | 2020-11-23 | 17:15:57

I had the same exact bug beginning of the race. Lost miles.

Post by Rostef | 2020-11-26 | 14:43:45

I'm not sure if my comment will help in any way. Few of our Team and some I follow have run into that Bug. It's maybe just bad luck and can hit any of us. So I'm also one of the guys setting the alarm 3am (I will be happy for some nights to come when we can just let the twa on 140 throughout the night).
What I have noticed is that if you are in the programmer to check some slight changes but decide you don't want to apply - you leave the programmer with an x, and then another two x at the popup - one of your programs might stuck to 0degrees (sometimes it is even a command from the past). This is just in the game and nothing is visible in the dashboard. If this happens I will always re-enter the Programmer and not touch it at all and leave with just one x at the top right. Or I change something and revalidate and check the dashboard.

As I said, I have no clue if this is what makes so many boats bug, just something I noticed. But since it is always this 0 degrees thing...