lbrewer

Applause to you for making the call Ray. Larry

I don't think anyone (here at least) would argue against the idea of wearing a PFD, or seatbelt, or motorcycle helmet if they decide that its prudent in a given situation. The problem we seem to agree on is the individual liberty to decide what that situation may be has been removed. Our legislators at the national level have forgotten long ago the reason for their political existence, and the states (with the notable exception of Sukie's New Hampshire) have been far too willing to sell our individual liberties for federal funding and the ability to raise revenue by enforcing these laws. It will continue, of course, as long as we collectively let it. Larry

I can't remember many trips over an hour long that I didn't need a "(insert whatever was missing here)", but I seem to have made it anyway. I'm not going to buy any of the add ons either. Being a virtual race, we can call it adventurous instead of foolhardy when we don't provision for all contingencies. With that said, I sure hope the pro sails option is sponsored again. We wouldn't stand a chance of a decent finish without them in a 12000 nm race. Larry

The entire messing-about fleet is in with the exception of Dennis in "Polar Dip", who after a brief visit with friends in Hainan, sailed directly to the Phillipines and hasn't been heard from since. Rumors of pirates and alien abductions abound, but I have another theory. He may have just realized that it is much warmer there than in the Northwest Territories this time of year, and decided on an extended vacation. . Results are as follows: Hirilonde Ebee Ann Debutante Yellow Scourge Morgaine Lady of the Lake RYD Yachts Wyvern PAR Yachts Polar Dip ???? (E.T., phone home!)

I was able to sail about 90' away from where I was grounded. I just kept moving the compass rose till it showed my boat was moving. Larry

I was trying to follow the construction on the internet a couple of years ago but Rockport Marine only posted enough photos to whet my appetite for more. The old link I was using is defunct now but I found this: http://www.rockportmarine.com/pages/godspeed.html

Here is the link to a tool that I found useful. It is a triangular ruler that overlays the screen. The game tutorial mentioned it and I did use it to help chart the course through the islands at Shanghai. I wasn't quite successful. Apparently there are shoals near one of the islands because I ran aground even though my track showed me close but still offshore. I just happened to be watching at the time it happened so I didn't lose much. http://www.markus-bader.de/MB-Ruler/

Dave has a commanding lead of the messing-about fleet in "Hirilonde" and is closing in fast on the finish at Qing Dao. A strategic decision early in the leg to hug the Phillipines and keep Taiwan to port paid off for himwith favorable winds and left most of us far behind in the Taiwan strait. Great Move! Larry

I built one like that as a kid Frank (even longer than 30 years ago). Followed a plan from one of the "mechanix" magazines. It used mattress ticking for the skin, and as you mentioned, coats of house paint to make it waterproof. It floated too!

The wind forecasts are just that...forecasts. They are real computerized forecasts for the area we are sailing and uploaded to the game from something called Grib files. Just like the guy on the news at six....the forecasts aren't always right on the money. I know at the beginning of the leg I based my strategy on what appeared to be a developing low pressure that didn't quite act like the 12,24 and 36 hr forecasts said it would. I've been playing catch-up ever since. The boats that ran right into the forecast low ended up with great wind angle for the trip north and are now the leaders of the race. Go figure! Larry

Happened to me too. The bad thing was that I saw what would happen and made a course change to prevent it. I guess I forgot to press the validate heading button.

That hung me up a bit on my plans as well. The 2" squares worked out right. Larry

It might be the South China Sea's version of the Bermuda Triangle phenomena.

I just read a message on the "forum" section. Apparently they are aware of the issue and are looking into it. Also, the game tutorial we were looking for in Leg three can be found here: http://static.volvooceanracegame.org/download/VORGame_Basic_Tutorial.pdf Larry

I was wondering about that too. I had been noticing the same kind of things as you are describing. Apparently on your play screen, it doesn't update the position of the other boats you see as quickly as it updates your own. When I read your post above, I checked your position and my screen showed you at a DTF of 2198 nm. When it auto-updated about 2 minutes later. It showed you at a DTF of 2172 nm. I was 12 miles ahead of you on that first look. After the update I was 4 miles behind. Man, you must've been flying since it updates every 10 minutes! I don't think i am going to use real-time comparisons with competitors to make short term decisions. Larry

Since it is "countdown" timer.....that is, showing hours, minutes, seconds remaining until start, I assume the cannon goes off when it counts down to "0". That would be 4 hrs from now.

I think you and I both are correct on the time. 12EST, 11CST etc... is what I think as well. There is a countdown timer online now in the "play" section of the site in case my math is wrong. It shows 13.5 hrs from now. Larry

The next leg starts in 23.5 hrs from now.

who is "they"? I guess I've never known what entity has the actual control of internet domains.

Just think how much you saved on the stamp !

I checked in about 11pm no problem. At about 12:10 no dice. Not much of a grace period is there? :-X

I had seen the plans on the duckworks site. Cool!. Looks great! Larry

If there are better or more detailed explanations on the site I haven't been able to find them either. I don't think being in a group specifically changes any features. It just identifies someone as being associated with others sharing something in common. Those you add as friends, however, can always be located on the chart. Before friends aren't selected the other boats that appear on the chart are random and change as you move in and out of the play mode. I sailed the 600 or so miles from where the game dropped me to the finish without any damage to the sails. I was hoping that sail damage might be an unusual event that would only happen if you steer through a storm system or something. I agree with both the "fun" and the "terrible directions".

Got it Denis. An invitation to the group has been sent. How cold is it up there right now? Larry

Invitation to the group has been sent Docpal.