I'm racing this! Virtually, That is!
There are roughly 20,000 virtual skippers racing. I'm in 6,083rd at the moment, and falling back precipitously. Don't have the old fire in the belly, I guess. Too much going on in my real life!
This (to the right) is the latest shot taken a few minutes ago at 06:20 on 19-Oct.
I have moved up overnight into three digits (624th). Open Container III is featured as the large blue boat at the bottom of the screen.
Belladonna is the black yacht which has just flopped over on to starboard gybe in the upper right hand corner.
Gilliano is the black yacht in the left hand corner, close to the line that represents great circle route to the finish line.
I have passed Belladona as result of having gifted myself of extra electronics and better sails.
I have passed Gilliano as a result of better sailing.
Watch out for the nasty Spanish pirates.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back in!
ReplyDeleteDoc, it's a long race. Keep taking care !
ReplyDeleteI have passed you, Belladonna! But in the time it took me to post the last image, I have lost 50 boats! Have to walk my Dobie now!
ReplyDeleteDon't be so arrogant about Gilliano. She's in much better wind. She may roast your toast yet. As for me, if I had paid for the extras, you would be watching my transom for the rest of this leg.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Vlad !
ReplyDeleteDoc, now that we are on the same track, same heading, nearly same wind, it won't change for some times, but as I said b4, it's a long, long leg.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Bella! Macavity2 and Gilliano are catching me. Do you see anyone without the pricey rigs ahead of me? That would be a real downer!
ReplyDeleteIt's becomming really tactical. There are three zones whith some wind : one on the west side, longest but most windy, one in the middle, middle, and one along the coast, shortest but quieter. who's gonna make (or already made) the best choice ?
ReplyDeleteDoc, your post 10/20/10 10:30am, make a search for a boat called chporgne and look at the ranking of SO boats on the french forum.(SO means Sans Options or without options). You'll be surprised !
ReplyDeleteYou're certainly right! Chporgne is doing great!
ReplyDeleteMaybe in here we should track all of the stock-sailed yachts?
ReplyDelete20,000! If there's a virtual storm virtual Gilligan's Island WILL be crowded.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Tor!
ReplyDeleteOpen Container III has probably reached as high in the standings as she is going to on this leg: 134th. I've just run out of water and had to gybe onto starboard. Eventually the surge of boats surfing along in double digits, is going to drown us coastal skimmers.
ReplyDeleteActually reached 131st place. But it's all over now, Baby Blue!
ReplyDeleteI've had some troubles, due to a busy (out of virtual waters) week-end. I'll now try hard to regain my 1000 something rank.
ReplyDeleteBut, Doc, you look also to have had some peoblems ?
Doc is in a world of hurt right now!
ReplyDeleteBeen in a world of hurt; climbing out, and staging a comeback. I am now in 16,180th place. Time to redeem myself. Somewhat. You will see. (Chart at eleven!)
ReplyDeleteShow'em wot's wot, Doc! Next round is on me!
ReplyDeleteHey Doc, did Paula really passed you ???
ReplyDeleteYes! And I thought she was my friend!
ReplyDeleteDoc, that's what friends do! They pass you when you appear to be lost! Paula is just trying to show you the way!
ReplyDeleteI was just kidding....
ReplyDeleteI'm just smoothing the waters for Doc and Bella! C'mon guys!
ReplyDeleteNo Going Back
Thanks to Paula showing the way, I've now improved 5,345th place, all the way from 16,000 plus!
ReplyDeleteSeems I did too good a job Doc, you've passed me out. Sped by into 4,892th place. just like that!
ReplyDeleteNGB
Thank you Paula for trying to do something for me, but I think I'm too far away.
ReplyDeleteBut, you never know !
2,291......!
ReplyDeleteHi Doc,
ReplyDeleteDon't mean to hijack your blog but if anyone is interested in competing with a fun bunch of people in an X-Race with a multihull in Route du Rhum, I am posting part copy of email sent from RC.
No Going Back
Ciao Tigers - and X-Race skippers: We DO need to login and create the boat NOW (if you haven't done so yet) - in order to sail it back to the start line in time! Because the Pilot Boat is moving further SW for each day basically, the "transport distance" (to the Start Line) will be relatively longer!
Our "X-RaCe-RC" has now decided to confirm the Start Line to be: 50°50'50"N (should be easy for all to remember..?), and basically stretching all the way across the Northern Atlantic! [i](This means you are free to choose your "specific start position" ANYWHERE along this latitude, as long as you are south of this "line" across the Atlantic at the time of the Start - which will probably be @ PM wind update, Nov 12th - this will be finally confirmed no later than Nov 10th)
The planned route will be designed with some "Scoring Gates" (SG's) along the way, the 1st one will be the "The North Cape" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Cape,_Norway) at a "vertical line" @ 25°47′40″E, which will need to be passed "west-to-east". (The Full SI/Route & SG infrmations will be released no later than on Nov 11th.)
OK, now in order to take part in this Great Adventure & X-Race, you DO need to "sign in" either in the VR Froum thread, or send me an email as reply on this mail - so we can be sure to "track" everyone correctly from the Start. Also, if any "Pro skippers" (=bought any options) would like to participate, You are more than welcome! /Danny
creativeheart@live.no
Sailing the Virtual Route du Rhum, those of us who have chosen the more traditional tradewind route are not doing well, overall. Azores High moved east and shut down the breeze machine. Forecast looks better as we approach Madeira.
ReplyDeletehttp://astheanchordrags.wordpress.com
Thanks for the NOR, Paula! Unlimited starting lines are fun fun fun! But I can only be in one place (virtually) at a time, so I am to burdened at the moment to join you! Have fun and keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI have fallen back to 2,307th. Hard on the wind on starboard, 45 degrees. The trans-Atlantic fleet is going to murder us coastal racers, I'm afraid!
ReplyDeleteA month after I started this Leg, I finished. In 5,132nd place. Disgusting. I promise to do better.
ReplyDeleteDid you really find this race interesting ?
ReplyDeleteMe not. Tack, tack, tack........... No strategy, only one alternative route, boring.........
ReplyDeleteBelladonna, I got off to a lousy start thanks to real-time commitments at the start of this race. So I resolved to get a reasonable result in spite of circumstances, which I failed to do. Hopefully, I will be better in the next leg. Can't wait until it starts!
ReplyDeleteDoc, the start of leg 2 is forecast for december 12th. I hope I'll do better than this one where I lost a few thousands places going ashore for a nite of sleep !!!
ReplyDeleteBelladonna