Zezo forum:

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-01-26 | 11:31:32

race start: 7 feb 07:00 (I presume CET)

206 Comments

Post by Lazy_Hikers_Finland | 2018-01-26 | 14:25:31

And once again Virtual Regatta organizers are lazy and do not deliver what they have promised.

No gates as in the real race :

e. Philippines Waypoint 18� 37.388'N 121� 09.287'E Light
f. Dai Island 07� 53.300�S 160� 37.150�E Island
g. Santa Ana Island 10� 50.000�S 162� 28.200�E Island

Personally I will again honor the route issued for the real boats.

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-01-26 | 14:37:49

they promised slalom between the Islands at first. now you just need 6 waypoint cards to program the buoys and the finish to make it top 1000

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-01-26 | 16:03:16

sorry, this is about Clipper leg 7 ...

Post by Rostef | 2018-01-26 | 15:41:40

But in this leg, IMO we have no real alternative to passing east of the solomons. So we don�t need the waypoints.

Last leg the middle option was there because we had more wind and better angle approaching the solomons and also better angle as soon as we hit the trade winds north of the islands.
This time, it would mean (unless you catch a nice cyclone) to sail a lot more upwind approaching Auckland.

It�s more interesting to see if we�ll get some sushi on our way...

Post by toxcct | 2018-01-26 | 15:47:51

And BTW, where is leg 5 ?!

Post by Rostef | 2018-01-26 | 16:02:35

With 60�000 boats in the zhujiang River delta you could probably walk from hongkong to guangzhou :-)

Post by Lazy_Hikers_Finland | 2018-01-26 | 16:27:37

Too slow - winner will take the train. 2 hours.

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-01-26 | 16:04:32

gone to VR Inshore apparently. The real boats do HK - Guanzhao and back as leg 5.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-01-26 | 17:23:18

My understanding is that the real Leg 5 isn't really a race. I believe they actually motor to Guanzhao and back, and they're awarded 1 point each for completing the leg (which Vestas presumably won't get because they're staying in HK for repairs). It's just a delivery parade for the fans and to enable more in-port racing. Nothing that would be appropriate to run a virtual offshore race for.

Post by toxcct | 2018-01-26 | 22:50:56

Strange that they still call it a "leg" then...

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-01-27 | 00:24:16

Is a transition leg, race no counts towards the championship.
no idea why the do this kind of useful leg.
maybe merchandise strategy.

Post by ujami-JK-Ada | 2018-01-27 | 00:42:26

def merchendise strategy.
lets call it AliExpress leg

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-01-27 | 17:22:34

They have to meet the sponzors. China and Hong Kong have 2 ships in this volvo. Its the biggest growing market,. Maybe next Volvo there will be even more racing.

Post by Henkano | 2018-01-29 | 16:37:03

Well, Volvo Car Group is chinese nowadays

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-04 | 17:58:16

Anyone else enjoying the way the Zezo route flips from "north of Taiwan" to "South China Sea" depending on Time shift being on or not?

Could be some interesting bets on which way to go in this race.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-05 | 10:18:30

It will be interesting leg. Still looks like all the way to Japan (but not West of Taiwan. The wind in the channel is quite strong, but from the wrong direction.

Post by SailorSam | 2018-02-06 | 07:32:10

I don't even know what time shift is or does.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-06 | 07:43:31

"Timeshift" applies the forecast valid for the actual race start time. Without the checkbox you see the current weather conditions.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-06 | 08:20:25

The route south of PNG looks quite feasible right now (IF that high stays centered at Auckland in 20 days, and that's a big IF)

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-06 | 14:51:15

I just signed into this leg for the first time... Is the buoy in the Solomons new? It seems to eliminate any realistic consideration of going south of PNG.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-06 | 15:12:41

Thanks. It was not there a while ago. Not sure when it appeared but will add it now.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-06 | 15:34:29

Apparently it still isn't in the mobile app. There will be some unhappy people who go south only to discover the buoy later.

Post by Thistle1678 | 2018-02-06 | 15:36:40

It's there now, they must have thrown it in finally!

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-06 | 15:45:55

buoy just added, so no south of PNG option.

Cvetan, could you add a waypoint/gate for it?

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-06 | 15:56:01

it's already there! Great job Cvetan!

Do your routing again and for the not-full-pack sailors that already bought options: Bad luck.

I think I wait until tomorrow morning, mayb VR drops is another buoy ;)

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-06 | 16:06:25

Well request of Lazy_Hikers_Finland which started this post seems to have been heard :)

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-06 | 16:18:52

By the way: Does VR post this compulsory gate somewhere??? Where can I see if I have to stay port or starboard of the gate????

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-06 | 16:42:40

They don't publish any formal information about the race course (like Sailing Instructions). They did in the past, but haven't for at least a year. But, you can see the answer to your question based on the arrows spinning around the buoy. They're going clockwise, so you need to leave it to starboard.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-06 | 17:30:35

Figured that out too but seems normal to me that you publish some sailing instructions before you put in a restriction. So much for all studies more of us probably have done.
But he, looks like we all agree here on the short comings of the VR organisation. W'll have to cope with it :)

Good sailing to all. Let the games begin :):)

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-06 | 21:12:02

Zezo's current track is due east for 33 hours and then heading to 24 deg N (?!) and looping up towards Japan in a massive semi-circle before heading straight south to Auckland.

What the...?

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-06 | 21:20:54

That is what Bouwe and Capy did in the last race in 2015 too. Only they needed to take into account the current

Post by zezo | 2018-02-06 | 21:40:12

This time too. See the real routing.

https://twitter.com/RaceExperts/status/960509087501955072

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-07 | 06:05:13

race started, fair winds to all!

Ursus Maritimus (c0 + w + p)

Post by harri | 2018-02-07 | 10:37:28

Shouldn't the route go around the waypoint? Now it squeezes through PNG and AUS.

And fair winds all from me too.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-07 | 14:25:23

Uncheck "ignore gates".

Post by harri | 2018-02-07 | 20:20:39

Ah, thanks

Post by JohnT | 2018-02-08 | 02:34:46

I have to thank the forum: without this thread I would have happily continued on a plan E of PNG (which looked an interesting gamble), and then wondered why I didn't finish...as it is we'll see how a position to the SW of optimal pans out...

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-08 | 20:44:54

Real fleet has split, AKN and Scallywag are the only ones heading north.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-08 | 22:11:25

The rest of the fleet tacked North too.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-08 | 23:28:58

I see that, strange that the last four would wait and then all flip together.

Maybe a game of chicken to see who could get farthest east to cover the rhumb line?

Post by metch | 2018-02-09 | 07:23:15

I'm new to this game.My ranking no. is 46193 and I am steering 033. I have only five other boats on my screen,close to me, many more well to the South yet Zezo shows some are as much as 108 miles ahead. Is there something I can do to see more boats on the screen? Where are all the boats ahead of me.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-09 | 07:52:00

Use the search function (magnifying glass in lower right corner) to find boats. Often folks here have the same forum name as boat name. Once you find someone interesting, click the lower right button in their profile (Add button). Then do it again because the stupid game interface requires that.

This will get you 20+ folks you can track.

As for seeing the fleet, not something that is easy. Perhaps not possible.

BTW, welcome!

Post by zezo | 2018-02-09 | 07:58:35

I see some of the the usual suspects around me.

MacAll, LJadra, arthurdayne, Toppen

Sideshow, Mangina and You Mom took the direct route to Taiwan and lost about an hour as a result.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-09 | 10:53:50

I'm there too.... a little nothing ahead of you Cvetan...again...lol :P

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-09 | 20:15:42

Nicky761 up there with MacAll, Toppen, etc. Might be leading.

I'm taking consolation in having Mangina behind me, and I keep reminding myself that it's a long leg.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-10 | 04:56:14

Yeah ..so you said your Abracadabra word went ghost and ...and heading ...let me guess ..way way way north :P

As Tessa :P

Don't be so sad Mom, I'll try to be a decent Dad here in front :)))

Kidding to keep you smiling..it happens to all

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-02-10 | 14:32:24

Check boat by boat in top 50 race overall ranking. Then make friend with who ever is interesting for you to follow. You always see your "friends".

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-09 | 09:29:33

Hmmm. I think I might have 30 minutes on YourMom but I have yet to actually keep it like that to the finish line. I am happy if I break into the top 1000 finishers.

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-09 | 10:27:30

DancingDJMike was renamed to Ursus Maritimus.

Unfortunately not (yet) my username on zezo.
Is there a way to do that, or should I make a new account, Cvetan?

I'm also upnorth 1.5h behind the leaders as I don't have a full pack (only c0, winches, polish). I will end up 15 to 20 h behind according zezo at start so that build up of DTL is in line.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-09 | 10:46:16

Interesting. I still have DancingDJMike in my 'tracked' boats list. I see you in my track, about an hour back.

When did the name change happen?

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-09 | 17:22:45

month ago at least, but I've heard it from others that they see DancingDJMike on the map and Ursus Maritimus when they click info ;)

Post by zezo | 2018-02-09 | 18:18:11

I like your current nick more then the other one ;-)

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-09 | 23:43:19

current nick on zezo or boatname?

Post by tabasco2 | 2018-02-09 | 18:37:45

I see you in my track as Ursus Maritimus.

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-09 | 18:39:41

The Chinese tour was the worst show in VOR history in my opinion, really boring this in port series.
less merchandising and more spectacle.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-10 | 04:57:59

No funny pictures this time Trailaspress? :)

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-10 | 14:01:20

hahaha, quite busy, but is coming soon.

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-10 | 07:23:27

There will be a re-start in the next few days.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 08:04:37

Hope so because I just found out I did run aground..lost 2 hours.... Did you see what kind of island??
F...Big Dick );

Post by toxcct | 2018-02-10 | 10:19:55

Same. I was sure I could pass by with enough distance from it, but the figured out too late I was stuck right in the shores :(

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 10:46:59

Small comfort I was not the only one:) Lets get them back!!!! Some bold manoeuvres maybe?!

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 11:19:09

Can someone please tell me how I can post a image in a post?

Post by zezo | 2018-02-10 | 12:27:18

[img ]https://i.imgur.com/d4GNoCF.png[/img]

Without the space in [img ]. But you have to host it somewhere.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 12:39:10

Ok thanks Cvetan found the website but can you explain a little more in steps for me as simple computer user :)

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-10 | 14:07:18

free host
http://img.fenixzone.net/es/

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 15:53:42

Flying Dutchman grounding on a Bloody big f. dick :) Fucked:)

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-10 | 16:14:54

ahahahahahah, you get to rape for a dick island, hhaahaahaaaa

Post by WretchedExess | 2018-02-13 | 04:50:39

I spent 4 hours on the nut sack so dont feel bad.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 16:01:34

thanks Tralaspress

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-10 | 17:14:53

Sat�lite view of dick island,

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 18:54:17

points down:) mine pointed up:) If not I would not have grounded ;)

Post by Trailaspress | 2018-02-10 | 17:14:54

watch your ass guys...

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-10 | 12:28:39

I almost hit the southern tip of Ukejima island. I have set the course well of the coast but in the next 20 min I was going to hit ground?!? Fortunately I checked my course a mile before coast and turn in time...
Then I checked the dashboard and my course (server side) was 3 degrees off than course displayed in the game. Strange!! After restarting the game it was back the same like in dashboard.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-10 | 15:11:09

LJadra why do you think there will be a restart?

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-10 | 16:27:52

Boats from behind will have constantly more wind than those in front, at least for the next 48 hrs. So boats from behind have already came closer and will continue to close the gap as we cant sail across the front. In the router you can set the destination point some time in the future (36 hrs) on the track to Auckland and then choose different staring points and see the results.

We will be much closer after 48 hrs, just some N/S separation.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 18:55:22

Gives me hope again after my grounding :)

Post by nsp | 2018-02-11 | 02:14:55

@ LJadra

You are totally right!

The boats in front of the northern group are running like they have a wall in front of them....that ridge... and the strong wind is always coming from behind until now. Bringing with it the boats in the back

It's like: what should I do to don't go so fast to hit the ridge and still to fast to don't be catched....tricky!!!

And it's so frustrating because you see the spped constantly dropping, every minute one ore more decimals...

It's fun on the other hand...keeps things alive :)

I saw boats running aground, more than one, that now are in front :)))

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-13 | 14:56:13

Yep!!:)

Post by Lasse | 2018-02-10 | 15:32:23

I run aground on Kakeromajima. Thankfully, a friend of mine called me, I was sleeping, and told me I was aground! Only lost 15 minutes.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-10 | 18:56:58

what friends are for:)

Post by nsp | 2018-02-11 | 00:46:37

This Gybe towards South zezo was pointing a couple of hours ago to northern group in front was totally pointless. More...potentially damaging!!!

This are for those who say that in every situation it is a win to follow Zezo like the troll the other day... that following zezo turns us into robots that will win no matter what.

Tottaly wrong. If you don't think, if you don't look and make your analysis, if you can't interpretate, this amazing tool can be also your worst nightmare.

It all depends on the situation.

Because I'm an idiot and I was having dinner and in auto mode, so skipped the due analisys it costed me a really confortable leading of the Norther group, by far, and when i noticed it, it was too late.

To my consolation i was not the only one to make the same mistake.

And that doesn't mean that that routing suggestion didn't pay for some boats, because it really did.

That or troll comes again with "zezo blah blah robot champions" and I'll torpedoe his boat.

Other than that, all is good and passed far away drom Dick Island without hunting rock lobsters hahahahaha.

Fair winds all

Nuno

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-11 | 04:29:09

I see some other folks doing the quick jybe called for by Zezo. Gonna have to do some math and run some predictions before I buy into that.

Post by the-love-boat | 2018-02-11 | 05:21:30

To access the finish line in Auckland, the yachts need to sail down the east coast into the Hauraki Gulf. I think the system might think we can access Auckland from the Manukau Harbour on the west coast.

Apart from that... really appreciate it thank you.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-11 | 06:28:52

Yes and it makes all the difference about the projected course.

Right click and set a destination point some miles northeast of Auckland. It will fix it :)

Post by zezo | 2018-02-11 | 08:49:25

I may add a gate at Cape Reinga if/when needed. It may start affecting the route somewhere after the Solomon islands if the approach from West is viable.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-11 | 10:42:42

That would be great Cvetan. Maybe already now?

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-11 | 09:03:33

I feel lonely here... (0 options)

Post by the-love-boat | 2018-02-11 | 09:12:19

You think you're lonely?!? All my crew have either gone to bed, or jumped overboard:

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-11 | 12:42:14

Well my crew had a party and suffer a big hang over

Post by zezo | 2018-02-11 | 09:14:39

Weird thing, this front we can't overtake. My no-money-foils-only boat is about 10 minutes behind the Bird

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-11 | 09:43:46

Weird indeed.
Yesterday I was thinking to sail with Spinnaker to avoid multiple sail changes with autosails or sailing with wrong sail all night, like I did yesterday. But loosing a few miles overnight does not make much difference :)

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-11 | 12:40:22

In the JVT I got stuck for hours in such a trog with left and right 15 kts wind differences and I just couldnt get out of it as it had the same speed as my boat, very frustrating.

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-02-11 | 09:26:52

Pick your startline position:

RESTART in 24h

Post by nsp | 2018-02-11 | 10:41:56

Yes in 24 hours the front will end in a pool of 4knots low wind lol

thinking about the frigate...hummmmmm

yes ....no...yes.... i think so....

heheheh

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-11 | 11:59:58

Hey guys, using zezo the second lap now, newbiee to this forum though :)

What do you guys think about the southern guys? Does not look to nice for them right? Just projected the leader, zezo says he'll be far behind... we'll see :)

Post by Xeelee | 2018-02-13 | 07:37:38

I tried the south route just as a gambling option, but it will probably not pay...
But the current GFS projections are probably not very accurate. There is a lot of
uncertainty coming from the cyclone 'gita' which is currently over the fijis,
the path of such systems is not easily predictable. And there is another cyclone
preparing to attack further east.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/13/cyclone-gita-tonga-devastated-by-worst-storm-in-60-years

Post by Slapdash | 2018-02-11 | 13:18:37

They will all be sucked down through the plughole that is moving over them...... and they will pop out near New Zealand. :)

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-11 | 13:37:19

best case for them it's like this, agree :)

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-13 | 06:49:37

I have the problem with approaching the destination from the wrong side of the island as well now....

Would a waypoint solve this?

Cheers

Post by zezo | 2018-02-13 | 07:58:38

Done.

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-13 | 11:04:02

cool, much appreciated!

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-13 | 15:06:16

Thank you Cvetan

Post by IW1BUL | 2018-02-13 | 18:34:34

Congratulations to Cvetan for the excellent work done, really remarkable.Good wind to all.

Post by DSTroy | 2018-02-13 | 20:57:58

When is YourMom going to make her move, or is she going for a Transpac finish?

Post by Lazy_Hikers_Finland | 2018-02-14 | 03:46:07

On his way to Itajai - via Panama canal ?

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-14 | 05:20:09

I've been routing to a spot East of Tonga the whole time. Between Volvo and Clipper, I'm really sick of the doldrums and wanted to try to go around them. It probably isn't going to work but at least it's interesting. I actually have another full day or so of going more East than South. But a day and a half from now, I'll be going close to due south to my destination East of Tonga. Then it's a matter of getting lucky enough to have the nice hot downwind angle from there to Auckland that I've been counting on the whole time.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-14 | 09:38:13

I am interested in how this goes for you.

A few years back (I have forgotten which year) the VOR went from China to Brazil. I would have to dig to find the actual cities. I remember being a bit of a Maverick by running much further east than most of the fleet before turning south. It was not a stupendous finish for any records but it was memorable for me 'cause I actually got into the top 10% of the fleet for the first time. I remember spending days of time staring at grib files and fiddling with VRTool (?) to get the forecasts right and then split the cells for the best speeds. That might have been the beginning of this addiction...

Anyway, I am watching you, as always. ;-)

Post by Lazy_Hikers_Finland | 2018-02-14 | 16:50:09

Are you aware that leg 7 from Auckland starts on March 18th ?

Post by woffer | 2018-02-14 | 17:14:16

For the 1st several days of this leg I thought you were joining us few doing an alternate race to Spitsbergen.

Post by DSTroy | 2018-02-14 | 07:28:42

Right on Mom! I though you were Honolulu bound. It looked like Mangina was on the same track but bailed early. Good Luck to you! Send IT South!

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-14 | 14:04:19

Heads up fellow sailors!

We have a collection of islands coming up. It would suck big time to get around the corner, leap into the top 10% of the fleet and then spend a night on a tropical island while the fleet sails past you.

Post by tacky09 | 2018-02-14 | 14:21:56

I've just had a look at my suggested track which heads due east after Saturday. Your mom may have got it right (again)!

Post by UR2L8 | 2018-02-14 | 14:42:55

How can Tessa94 be ahead of me, while behind me just a few days ago?
We are sailing the similar route. Both have the fullpack obviously. But still, Tessa94 outperforms me. Why? What can I improve? Today I carefully check zezo, and I try to be consistent, for instance by checking at 10, 20, 30, minutes time, because if you check like 5, 15, 25 and so on, the router is likely to suggest a different route. The question is, how can I beat the router? Is it by using the polar charts? Is it by analysing the weather systems, and make my own guess? What can I do. I really need the guidance from our experts :-)
Anyone that is willing to share their secrets?

Post by zezo | 2018-02-14 | 16:50:52

Sit back, relax and don't check the router too often ;-)

Few days ago I was also a hour behind the fleet but caught up because of predicted fleet compression.

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-14 | 16:23:36

It is getting interesting!
A big decision of this leg is coming soon...

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-14 | 17:58:24

I say stay high, within reason of course. Bank it when you can!

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-15 | 18:19:08

PORR?

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-15 | 18:29:45

FWIW... I finally compared my ETA to the main fleet's, and it was horrible news. I think I'll be 2-3 days behind the winner. See y'all in Auckland. My flyer turned out to be too much extra mileage without enough extra speed.

It was really dependent upon the fleet having a tough time in the doldrums, and it doesn't look like the doldrums will be very bad this time. The 4-kt minimum windspeed hurts the chances of a route like mine working.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-15 | 19:04:28

Yesterday you had ETA to the main fleet, but it depended on a hurricane-level low pressure system being in the right place, making us overtake it from the East. Actually both tracks sere crossing the eye of the storm.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-15 | 20:56:43

Hey who knows, it could change again in 24 hours.

Either way, you have epically redefined the concept of banging the corner for us all, we salute you!

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-16 | 09:58:27

Mangina was on the same route and headed South 4 days ago, he still makes a good chance. BTW the 4kt min was know before?

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-15 | 19:09:13

600 credits will take you to the frigate ...

... completely legal and you can still win the race :p

Post by zezo | 2018-02-15 | 19:54:24

The frigate is not in a very good position right now.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-16 | 12:29:25

@zezo

How are you getting the exact location of the frigate? I don't see any way of get exact lat / lon.

Just thought it would be interesting to run that location through the route plotter to see what the "median" fleet finish time is.

Post by mak08 | 2018-02-20 | 23:11:17

The Frigate position is in the server messages and the Dashboard could display it (including a routing button).

Actually, Xeelee's VRDashboard patch did display it but I thought it wasn't necessary. We'll bring it back in the next update.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-15 | 21:55:40

Thanks for the encouragement about it possibly changing. And yes, I'm considering the frigate, but not now. Most importantly, things could still change. But also, the biggest reason I took this route was because I didn't want to do the doldrums again. I'm really sick of doldrums after the last VOR and Clipper legs. So I'll keep at it on the current route... If the frigate pops out of the doldrums in a reasonable spot AND it becomes clear that I'm definitely going to finish days behind the winner, then I'll take the frigate and try to finish in the top 5,000.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-16 | 12:05:04

I would not be ready to count you out yet. In the last 48 hours, I believe your estimate versus the fleet has ranged from a few hours in front to a day or two behind. Enough uncertainty there that I am watching it. The weather systems that seem to be driving the uncertainty are the tropical storms wandering around south of the doldrums. Any predictions on where those are going a week in the future is just wishful thinking. For comparison, I look at the storm path predictions for hurricanes coming at the US and even there, path is pretty uncertain up to 36 hours prior and strength up to 6 hours prior. Predicting location of those things a week in advance is just guesswork, IMO.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-16 | 06:50:43

Zezo is routing me through the exact same passage through the Solomons that I took on the way up to HK.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-16 | 13:01:41

I had "ignore gates" turned on when I was checking the main pack, so it was allowing them to skip the mark. The news is a lot better for me with that turned off. :-) Still not good enough to be at the front, but much improved.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-16 | 20:41:03

You can match race Naos he's right next to you.

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-17 | 09:17:27

by the way, what is "timeshift"? can't figure it out

Post by zezo | 2018-02-17 | 09:20:36

Switches the forecast to the time of the race start. Makes no difference after the race has started.

Post by derderdaist | 2018-02-17 | 09:39:02

thx

Post by Foxbox | 2018-02-17 | 11:26:01

hidden game option?

Post by DSTroy | 2018-02-17 | 18:42:07

Beam me up Scotty.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-18 | 20:05:12

I just got back from a camping trip with my son's Boy Scout troop. Very limited cell coverage. That happened while I was sleeping. I think it was a VR bug related to me crossing into the western hemisphere. As far as I can tell, my position after they flashed me back to my programmed course was correct. I'm just glad I was asleep, or I would have freaked out.

Post by Coolcan | 2018-02-17 | 11:46:11

Back to HK?? Forgot something??

Post by tmod | 2018-02-17 | 15:44:10

There is no collusion!

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-17 | 15:49:39

Massive discrepancies between options for the remainder of the leg. 9 day track actually sends you tacking back west through the Solomons and then due south for 6 days before heading east to Auckland.

What's the consensus?

(EDIT)

Hmm nevemind, they have all collapsed back to one option. Anomalies maybe due to checking long range forecast during the hour after the grib update?

Post by zezo | 2018-02-17 | 16:21:18

The only consensus is that the path of that low around NZ is quite unpredictable.

And yes, using partial grib update in unstable conditions brings additional confusion.

Post by sudoeste | 2018-02-17 | 16:58:29

Hello Cvetan

I'm getting diferent wind in the game a on zezo.

Zezo is giving me 12,9kts from 286� and the game 14,2kts from 291�.

Is it still the transition from the wind update?

Thanks

SW

Post by zezo | 2018-02-17 | 17:49:02

Looks like they converged.

We'll probably see a lot of this in the following week.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-18 | 10:00:20

https://twitter.com/RaceExperts/status/964823697067474945

https://twitter.com/RaceExperts/status/965075043582660608

Also notice how the track passes in the middle of New Caledonia even in Adrena.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-18 | 11:07:27

Lots of unsettled weather predictions. Quite the mess.

Post by Avontuur | 2018-02-18 | 15:14:18

hello Cvetan,
is the router limited to 35 degrees south? is it easy to extend this?
it looks there is some wind there:)

Post by feriber | 2018-02-18 | 15:48:37

Post by SYSeaSick | 2018-02-18 | 16:14:24

+1 At least west of NZ.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-19 | 17:10:10

See below.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-18 | 17:12:11

Almost seems like there is a fast route that goes through the Cook Strait between the north and south islands of NZ.

Is it possible to set up the gates to look at that option?

Post by zezo | 2018-02-18 | 17:43:39

That's the gate that prevents approach from the other side. Select "Ignore gates" and route for the tip of NZ.

Post by Avontuur | 2018-02-18 | 17:58:39

sometimes the solution is easier than expected,
thanks!

Post by lorenzo | 2018-02-20 | 16:39:52

I HATE DOLDRUMS! sorry I had to vent...

just about it, from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", Coleridge

[...]
Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot � Oh Christ!
That ever this should be.
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs,
Upon the slimy sea.
[...]

Post by MissAdventure | 2018-02-21 | 00:08:39

I enjoyed reading that, thanks for posting. Getting tired of this "groundhog day" view of New Caledonia myself!

Post by nsp | 2018-02-22 | 09:35:38

good one!!

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-02-20 | 19:11:20

im starting to get little frustrated with this leg. Wind is like a mirage.

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-02-20 | 19:13:00

Im on 300th place ,but sitting duck for next 24h.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-20 | 20:21:18

Mom I believe you were saying something about the doldrums not being too bad and expecting to finish 2-3 days behind?

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-20 | 21:59:31

That's what it looked like the last time I checked, but I haven't been checking the lead pack's ETAs. Better for me to focus on getting to Auckland as fast as I can, and finding out how it goes when I get there.

Post by karriv | 2018-02-21 | 15:33:35

No complaints about the 4 kt min TWS now? ;P

Post by Lazy_Hikers_Finland | 2018-02-21 | 16:28:29

Of course there are complaints ! We were pormised real life conditions and with the 4 kt minimum we have zoomed way ahead the real fleet.

And with Zero knots wind you can make as many routing mistakes in a week as you like without any effect.

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-21 | 16:36:49

I'm pretty sure my route would be the winner without the 4-kt min.

But I knew about the min when I chose the route, so I'm not complaining.

I've come to believe that the 4-kt min isn't actually to make the game easier for the less serious users. I think it might have more to do with the game having continuously evolving winds and 1-minute intervals. Anyone who has sailed through a light area with rapidly shifting winds in VRO3 has encountered some weird behaviors that can be very difficult to manage if you aren't hand-steering. My guess is that those weird behaviors get WAY worse when the windspeed in the game is 1 kt instead of 4... and that they recognized that in testing and "solved" it with a 4-kt minimum.

I'm totally guessing, though. It could simply be that they want the game to be more fun for more people. While I prefer the challenge of real-life 0.8-kt winds (or, more specifically, sailing extra distance to avoid those winds), if I was a brand new user and I got stuck in that for a week, I might never come back.

Post by karriv | 2018-02-21 | 17:12:02

[quote]I'm pretty sure my route would be the winner without the 4-kt min.[/quote]

I buy this.

Also the logic of the 4 kt min TWS sounds solid.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-21 | 17:39:40

The limit does not affect wind direction, it's applied after all other calculations. So if you see 10 degree difference you'd see the same difference with 0.5 knot wind.

Post by the-love-boat | 2018-02-21 | 18:07:32

awwwww

Post by UR2L8 | 2018-02-21 | 19:57:46

LOL

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-21 | 21:23:38

that depends very much from where you place the starting point. More to the east places the eastern group furtest on the isochrones.

What do you think, Cvetan, do Tessa94 and you still have chance?
I'm only three/four hours behind you guys, as NMS with just C0, winches and Polish.

Post by Foxbox | 2018-02-22 | 17:11:32

Post by MissAdventure | 2018-02-22 | 17:33:27

Post by Research FlatEarth | 2018-02-21 | 19:12:05

winning pack is clear. But - who will be the second?

Post by LJadra | 2018-02-22 | 16:28:31

It seems that west is best. For now. All depends on how fast "the high" will move over NZ.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-22 | 09:31:35

ETA for the three groups is still within an hour or so.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-22 | 09:50:32

Hi Cvetan,

I was thinking and also remembering a post from you from sometime ago.

Would it be possible to have a feature in router with a click that would gave us the estimated route without interpolation?

In the average it seems that in order to set a strategy it would be the most interesting and accurate route suggestion and pregressivelly corrected as the forecast developes even though we have have after to "micro" adjust it to the interpolated weather.

The strong and weak spots of wind are sometimes a little if not a lot "masked" by the interpolated weather. The guys who have chosen a middle route have still days of 4knts wind with purses of a bit stronger breeze. It would be nice to be able to set a route between them using them as much as possible, as an example.

With that feature we would have a more accurate bigger picture.

This kind of solution is specially useful for this kid of legs as well as the one up South America coast. If not for them all.

Thank you.

Fair winds.

Nuno

Post by zezo | 2018-02-22 | 21:23:46

Yep, nothing beats Solomon Sea, but the Cape Horn to FdN part of the route can be tricky. And possibly the Caribbean passage too.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-23 | 01:40:16

Exactly. Do you think you will implement that feature?

Post by sudoeste | 2018-02-23 | 16:27:04

Cvetan

Things not looking good for us...

SW

Post by YourMomSA | 2018-02-23 | 16:33:05

My outlook is improving. :->

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-23 | 18:27:37

Cvetan, I'm ended up on your six, because I chose to stay east with every option just to do something a bit different.

Every time I do multi-day routing it trying to send me dead west, except for the one-day routing. How do you know what's after that day?

Position 175 or so, to my great surprise and only two or so days to go.

Post by zezo | 2018-02-23 | 18:34:13

The router knows nothing. It just selects the point closest to the destination after X days and tracks back the route leading to it.

Post by Flying Dutchman | 2018-02-23 | 18:37:41

Niet te vroeg juichen Ijsbeer, Dont celebrate yet Polar Bear:) We are coming around the corner:) with Captain Sheep (in schaapskleren) in the lead:)

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-24 | 12:10:04

Quite a number of boats will do a roundhouse kick from the west.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-24 | 18:27:34

With that High Pressure system over the North of New Zealand...there maybe is going to happen a new restart before the finish :))))

Post by Foxbox | 2018-02-24 | 18:52:38

Sailing (handsfree) 20 knots under a super moon: Auckland here i come!

Post by MissAdventure | 2018-02-25 | 22:14:36

Beautiful

Post by WretchedExess | 2018-02-25 | 00:54:32

HAVING BEEN AGROUND FOR 4 HOURS IF I CAN MAKE THE TOP 1000 I'LL BE THRILLED.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-25 | 08:10:16

Not sure how real this is...

Predicted arrival is 0100 on the 27th with 570 boats in front of me.

Coming in from the west at 18 knots.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-25 | 20:21:36

Ugh.

I wish they had put a mark on the north tip of NZ so the silly ranking software would give (more) accurate listings. Right now they have a pretty high angle slice on the fleet making "distance between boats" a pretty useless number. I want distance between boats in front and behind me, not some boat off to the side on my beam that happens to be "ahead" because the software ignores land.

Oh yeah, coming in from the west at 13.5 knots.

Need more beans.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-25 | 23:39:11

Anyone else noticing some weird discrepancy between VR and Zezo down near the finish? If I plug the headings from Zezo into VR it sends me looping offshore. Almost like there is an extra gybe required in there somewhere that doesn't show up in the forecast?

(Edit)

Ah-ha! Projected track in VR takes into account if auto-sail will cut off within the projected time shown.

Post by DeepBrine | 2018-02-26 | 14:54:55

That was it?

I had a set of waypoints in but then it scrambled and I could not figure it out. I am trying to make sure I still make it across the finish line even if I can't get to the phone / computer at the critical moment.

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-26 | 16:27:56

That was yesterday, now the wind forcast is just swinging all over the place by the hour. Complete anarchy!

Post by Sideshow | 2018-02-26 | 17:08:42

What the hell is going on?! Wind has gone mental which isn�t helping my stress levels!

Post by zezo | 2018-02-26 | 17:32:02

Looks like you have passed the center of a high with very different wind directions around it.

But it might have been more to it. I was offline at the time.

Post by feriber | 2018-02-26 | 17:32:04

Any resemblance to reality (Zezo) is purely coincidental.

Almost 30 degrees of difference in wind direction.
186 degrees VR against 212 Zezo.

I think I'm going to go around myself all afternoon.

(And I do not know how to get close to land. This morning I started 54, and I ran aground twice, so now I'm 158)

Post by zezo | 2018-02-26 | 17:34:41

They will probably get back in sync too. But in such conditions there is also a difference between game client and server and TWA/HDG/wind direction don't add to 360. It might be safer to sail fixed TWA, but better check the dashboard if possible.

Post by feriber | 2018-02-26 | 18:11:14

It almost synched now

Post by Xeelee | 2018-02-26 | 18:09:51

No wonder if you look at the real world..

https://www.windy.com/?gfs,-35.315,174.944,9,i:pressure

In the 4-knot minimal VR-world this can lead to strange effects...

But anyway, I keep my fingers crossed for you !

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-26 | 18:36:30

Looks like you poked through ahead of the worst of it nice work.

Post by Sideshow | 2018-02-26 | 19:19:33

Thanks. It was the go straight and hope for the best approach :)

Post by feriber | 2018-02-27 | 01:11:03

Congratulations.
Good job!!!

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2018-02-27 | 08:59:10

Congrats! nice job

Post by GBR85 | 2018-02-28 | 09:48:55

Well done, goodshow sideshow!

Post by occupywallstreet | 2018-02-26 | 17:19:04

I was sailing for 20 min in different winds than almost everybody else. Now at least everybody has about same wind...

Post by Stormbringer | 2018-02-26 | 22:19:02

That was a shitshow.

Post by nsp | 2018-02-26 | 22:38:09

Through the eye of the high or near it Happens always the same. It's not a first and it's not the final one. And it's perfectly natural.

It happened to me the same up there in Azores in RORC transat, the wind changes too quick and it's critical to be at the helm at that time.

At those moments it's you, the boat and wind data and the compass. You will always find differences between router and game map.

The smoothest way is keep the course as much as possible - out of there of course, crossing it in the best and shortest and most rirect line possible to take bennefit of the wind at entry and exit and not following the High - correcting it whenever is needed even changing sail or maneouveringif that's the case. :)

Post by WoKeN | 2018-02-27 | 09:44:10

Too bad these windshit shows always happen in the middle of the night (for me)...

Post by the-love-boat | 2018-02-28 | 00:07:33

I slept through the line crossing as it happened early in the morning NZ time. Interesting learnings for me on this leg. It seems the software in Zezo is good for when things are steady, but can go back-and-forth a lot when it's shifty. (this is not at all a complaint to the makers. This is a really good thing you have made and is a lot of fun. I hope you are having fun making it too. Very jealous). There were a couple of times in the tropics where the suggested course flicked back and forth a couple of times, with nothing much in it, but my choosing one path, then almost back-tracking to take the other, and sometimes even back again, cost me bigtime.

Really excited about the re-start for virtual volvo (and the real one, which I will be attending here in Auckland!).

Does anyone here know how we can access the tracks that were used in the previous editions? To serve as a logic check against Zezo suggestions?

What does Zezo mean anyway?

Post by zezo | 2018-02-28 | 08:07:21

Zezo is my nickname. It's actually something like 'tzetzo', slightly shortened, and I'm the sole author of the site (the VR Dashboard Chrome extension is maintained by someone else, but the previous 2 reincarnations of the extension were also written by me)

About the instability - most of the time it's better to stick with the sub-optimal strategy than to switch every 6 hours. Sometimes the changes are decided by a weather system 10 days and 5000 miles in front of you. The only thong you know for sure is that the system won't be exactly there when it comes to it.

I have archived animated fleet tracks of the 2012 game, but every edition uses slightly different route and stopover cities.

This is the Auckland to Itajai leg http://zezo.org/leg5_pro.kmz. Open in Google Earth.