yeah ill give it a red hot shot.. ive played at bit of Virtual Skipper, is it anything like that?

I'm signed up as the Pulpit Preacher

Should be a bit of fun if I've got the time.

On the racing note if the inport race is anything to go by the Spanish seem to be pretty quick.

They've locked us out from using it at the office, rats

sflack said...

im coming last!!! not good!

All you guys are like 24 hours infront of me!!

I doubt it, I thinking I'm up on the North african coast somewhere need to check that

Hi all, it a long race so don't worry about being a little behind at the start. I got within the top 100 then stuck in light breeze and had to work through it - just coming out now so hopefully the gamber pays off - probably one of the most easterly heading down the african coast. Anyone who wants to join the SeaBreeze WA Mob group just message me in the site.

Hey Bender, a few quick points (you probably already know):

1. The breeze changes at our WST at 6am and 6pm - it stays consistent for the 12 hour period, then sometimes massive change.
2. Try to plan position based on current wind and future expected winds in 12, 24 and 36 hour slots (have course highligted and select the forecasts for 12, 24, 36 etc to see the positioning). I took a gamble going too close to the north african coast to get into stronger wind now - didn't allow for the distance quite right and just missed a couple of wind gradients, parking for a while. When you plot a course on the compass rose a line shows the direction from your boat and the estimated position in 12 and 24 hours. this is very handy when looking at future forecast winds.
3. Look at the overall highs and lows when going further into the atlantic to plan longer term. Maybe get an idea on the weather patterns from some of the courses used by real boats in prior races.
4. I am planning on going east of all the Canary islands - close to the African coast - strongest winds seem to be down this line from me whilst I go through (timing appears to be right) - why I took the gamble to be in the position I am now - though it cost ~500 places. You need to plan your approach through these islands based on the expected wind when you will be going through. Then down through to Cape Verde islands (weather high specific) and then across the paddock, aiming to travel across the doldrums in a very short southerly route to the Fernando de Noronha islands (which we must round) just off the eastern Brazilian coast.
5. Beware using the Pro sails Light Kite - sometimes it slows right down and you are faster going to the regular or high wind kite for a little while, then change back - something about having the light kite up for too long.

6. Watch out for SuperJet (my son) - he is rapidly improving and getting particularly good at the strategy of all this though I better make sure I beat him to the finish or I will never live it down.

I think I've recruted my dad to "sail" the boat with me. Works well cause he's in North America

Be interesting to see how I'm going when I get home tonight. Last night I was headed back to the start to get away from the North African coast, go figure.

I'm in on it...Look me up...Stranger With candy

At the moment I've overtaken 10000 boats and I'm in position 15114 and gaining on the fleet...Weather isn't looking good though for us back markers...Hopefull I can get through the canaries before the breeze dies...Not looking promising though!

Not looking good, have to get sleep before bike ride in morning, Heading for a canary, can't gybe out because of a canary so it looks like I have to go pretty low for a while to go round a canary, which I'm pretty sure will lose me some places better thn running aground at 17 knots though