Zezo forum:

Post by zezo | 2015-01-14 | 19:27:39

Today NOAA changed the data format of the GFS model output.

I haven't downloaded the new files, and it remains to be seen what data the game will use at the change.

Details here
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin14-46gfs_cca.htm
and here http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes/gfs_upgrade.shtml

55 Comments

Post by pollsall | 2015-01-14 | 19:42:28

Presumably this will impact on all routing software and grib file apps utilising these regular noaa wind data reports. Wonder how long this takes to resolve? My Sailgrib app certainly isnt able to produce data. Some pretty rough weather due here in UK in next 24 hours.

Post by zezo | 2015-01-14 | 19:45:48

That would depend on whether the app used the depreciated data sources or not. I think that most apps should not be affected, but you never know.

Post by mpako | 2015-01-14 | 22:26:35

Hi Cvetan,

any estimation of near future of wind load?
thanks in advance

Post by paradolf | 2015-01-14 | 19:45:44

I hier that main GFS run will be replaced by new parallel one who have better resolution.
So we will be suprised at next wind change :)

Post by zezo | 2015-01-14 | 19:46:37

There seems to be a 1/4 degree grid available now in addition to the old 1 and 1/2 degree.

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-14 | 20:01:41

Strange that they don't have some kind of transition period in which they offer both models.
this gives people time to adapt there sofware and applications ..

Post by zezo | 2015-01-14 | 20:14:57

This was planned at least 3 months ago and there are notices posted on the site, but someone has to follow the notices.

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-14 | 20:44:04

Notice or not, I would have introduced a transitional period if I was the NOAA ..

Post by RickW | 2015-01-14 | 23:42:45

My last DL was 2000 CET. I am assuming that a lack of data is the cause for "bubbles" on the routing map. Anybody know if VR is effected too? The forecast there is really jumbled. Will we see the regular 0500 UTC update here.

So, at the 0800 CET it will be, BOO ! :-)

Post by pollsall | 2015-01-14 | 23:58:57

RickW, the bubbles show wind speeds less than ~3. I assume the wind forecasts will remain as originally forecast as of this mornings data until the revised format data has been input into VR and Zezo.

Post by RickW | 2015-01-15 | 00:09:35

Thanks for the info. I will take the inflatable off the transom platform.

Post by tlew | 2015-01-15 | 00:10:40

I wonder if they were prepared for this in the real boats in VOR?

By the way, does anyone know if the skippers are allowed to use any advance route planning software in VOR?

Post by SallyJo | 2015-01-15 | 00:16:05

As far as I can tell, VR has not publicly recognized the grib file issue. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Post by mpako | 2015-01-15 | 00:20:45

I believe there is no issue in VR, but we do have issue as this wonderful tool is not loaded with the same winds as the game.
:(

Post by paradolf | 2015-01-15 | 00:35:07

Agreed. When they do, all of us will be suprised and there will be happy and sad ones in here.
It is hard to decide what to follow now.

Post by SallyJo | 2015-01-15 | 00:34:50

By my eye Zezo is in sync with VR. But, I am on my second martini...so who knows.

Post by tlew | 2015-01-15 | 01:50:32

Lol

But I think your eyes are still good. I haven't started on my first, and also think they look to be in sync :-)

Post by NOR7034 | 2015-01-15 | 00:36:58

Did VR update the weather forcasts at t12z and t18z? Where my boat is located the Zezo weather (which was not updated) and the VR weather seems identical. May be VR has problems downloading the new files too....

Post by paradolf | 2015-01-15 | 00:59:00

No. The forcast winds are from 06Z.
On my opinion zezo is atm. the ideal route planning tool as long the VR will not import new grib files :) After that bam :)

Post by NOR7034 | 2015-01-15 | 01:19:42

How do You see the VR forcast winds are from t06z? Could be interesting to check if the VR forcasts are updated again..

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-15 | 08:21:17

In the statusbar in ZeZo on your screen below on the right there's information about the forecasts. It will either say 0Z, 6Z, 12z or 18z. When the forecasts are updating a + will appear behind the forecast tie indicating it is being updated. When you hover with your mouse over this number you can see how many hours have been updated starting from day 1, the beginning hours, of the new forecast.

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-15 | 08:23:50

If you mean in the game, I took snapshots of the wind at the bottom of the flag at Pualu We. That way I could see the wind was changed into the game last night.

Post by mpako | 2015-01-15 | 00:37:40

zezo knows... please - tell us...

it looks like I'm on the same wind in the game and here

Post by paradolf | 2015-01-15 | 07:06:36

Zezo and VR are no longer sync. Our bunch should get 2kt at next wind update says Zezo, but in game says we will get 4kt in two hours...

Post by WaterHammer | 2015-01-15 | 08:04:24

Yes, it was visible last night at 0000 CET that VR updated the predicted winds to something else than zezo. So I presume VR has adapted to the new format by then. So Cvetan, I would give it a go. Many thanks for your great work!

Post by Finn | 2015-01-15 | 10:06:45

Please Cvetan. Update as soon as possible, or I will go over the edge of the earth. I'm totally lost without Zezo.

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-15 | 10:10:15

If you Finn SLT then TWA115 is fine for the time being ..

Post by balticsailor | 2015-01-15 | 10:15:04

I have the same problem as Finn - I am lost. Please, Cvetan, do your best to update soon. Thanks a lot.

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-15 | 10:16:51

I would go on TWA 115 Balticsailor ..

Post by balticsailor | 2015-01-15 | 10:17:46

Thank you GeorgeBest :-)

Post by GeorgeBest | 2015-01-15 | 10:21:15

That'll get you somewhere until things start working again. It also matches some of the courses around you.

Post by TJ_02 | 2015-01-15 | 10:46:53

The site I use to cross check takes the data from;
GFS / NCEP / US National Weather Service
and gives right now the same weather as the VR-game.

Post by MBalhuizen | 2015-01-15 | 12:09:04

I am not very up2date with all the tools but I was wondering if a workaround would be possible:

- We can download gribfiles with extention .grb.bz2 using ZyGrib
- We can decompress them using 7-zip into .grb

I cannot however import these .grp files into VRTools.

Can they be imported on the serverside of ZeZo?
Is there another grb source that we can use for VRTools?

Does this make sense to anyone?

Post by Finn | 2015-01-15 | 12:10:04

NOW IT SEEMS TO BE IN SYNC WITH VR. ;-))))

Post by oxynorm | 2015-01-15 | 12:41:45

So someone please explain in simple language, what do I have to do, to get Zezo running propelly with VOR game...

Post by balticsailor | 2015-01-15 | 12:53:59

Now it seems sync for me too, but is a very differend to the weather predicted by the game from the next weather change - can I trust zezo?

Post by feriber | 2015-01-15 | 12:58:33

Thank Cvetan. Zezo is working again

Post by Whitbyweather | 2015-01-15 | 13:04:55

There are huge swings in the route now, perhaps Cvetan is still working?

Post by paradolf | 2015-01-15 | 13:04:05

Let`s wait until Cvetan says it is ok.

Post by zezo | 2015-01-15 | 14:00:41

Data should be back in sync now, but the update schedule (early updates) may not work exactly as expected today. It still remains to be seen how the new NOAA process works and at what times the new data will be available.

Post by nologo34 | 2015-01-15 | 14:15:26

Many thanks Cvetan. Great work. As usual

Post by Couleapic | 2015-01-15 | 15:05:06

There is still a problem in the +36h routing calculations and followings

The wind datas taken in account for the routing (rectangular window) seems to be wrong and don't correlate with the wind displayed on the chart for the same time frame

Post by Couleapic | 2015-01-15 | 15:59:01

Things now seems to be back in order along the full time frame.... with a noticeable change in the routing to Singapore

Thanks

Post by 3dayslate | 2015-01-15 | 16:17:11

not convinced - things seemed to be back to normal at 14:00 but not at 16:00 the route is quite different again

Post by Sir_Petrus | 2015-01-15 | 17:43:14

Not calculating routes above 7� North.
Or is only me?

Post by tlew | 2015-01-15 | 18:43:40

Looks the same for me

Post by RickW | 2015-01-15 | 18:52:44

Well, this has been a bit of drama. Communications has been disappointingly nil but for this string. Thanks, folks.

I have a routing to 7N 20, 93E 49.

Let us know when you are comfortable, Cvetan.

Post by NOR7034 | 2015-01-15 | 19:07:23

Looks like the last weather forcast update messed up again. Now the weather situation 2 hours ahead differs. Which forcast can we trust? Zezo seems to have made an update, but VR decides....

Post by zezo | 2015-01-15 | 19:11:25

I believe my new download procedure is OK now, but there may be some glitches.

The schedule will also be a bit different - the new model takes more time so the early update will probably be at :45 instead of :30

Post by NOR7034 | 2015-01-15 | 20:08:47

I think You are right. Seems like the forcasts at VR updated just minutes after I wrote my message. This was much later than before and with no way to see if the forcast has been updated or not we really have to depend on Zezo now.

Keep up the good work!

Post by lotsemann | 2015-01-15 | 19:43:42

Good afternoon!

I questioned VR about this wind mess, open and private. Let's see what we will get.

Post by RickW | 2015-01-15 | 20:10:18

That was good. You dinged them but diplomatically.

It is also interesting that their forum has gone quiet for many hours during this time. Sorry, I am always looking for communications and sharing. I am a pest and will be quiet for a while.

Post by RickW | 2015-01-16 | 03:40:19

Just to make a contribution as a newbie for those that do not know:

I see ZEZO and VR in sync. Yes, there has been some searching by the router but it has settled down in the last few hours.

ZEZO and VR are the only places reporting apparently valid wind data. VRTool has no DL of wind. Paco Tool wind data is not that of the game and well off the mark. Other boat data appears correct.

VRTool boat data and on map presentation is correct to the wind that we have but no wind arrows.

VR appears to be functioning in navigation however is silent to the issues during this period.

I do not know what the four wind date times are here now. It may need to be restated because of the drama this wind period and the uncertainty we have all seen. Cheers...

Post by mpako | 2015-01-16 | 23:51:59

I believe that thanks to Cvetan are right, on the other hand - why not to donate?
both ways are fine - increase moral and increase possibilities of Cvetan to improve this tool for all the sailors (armchair sailors)
:)

Post by kigwen56250 | 2015-01-24 | 21:42:52

Hello Cvetan,
There really has a problem on forecasts of winds, zezo is far from the actual forecasts that Virtual Regatta gives us from 17:00.
The good are those of Virtual Regatta.
so we do not rely on Zezo ...
Can you please solve this problem, because without zezo we really lost on the strategy to follow ...