Today, January 20th: Flag turned from RED into ORANGE, which means 75% of chance they finally go in the next 48 hours, after a (too) long wait… Skippers and their “routers” will decide, if the flag is finally set to GREEN or not… but, soon, they will ROCK YOU!

The world of “sailing” is full of legends: sailors, famous races, or fantastic boats.

SL Sailing often renders homage to these legends, whether by the name of some places, some buildings, the organization of events close to reality, and the construction of boats that are superb replicas of legends or more modern racing boats.. The examples are countless.

No doubt that the America’s Cup falls into this category, as Sir Peter Blake to name someone that you all know. Very soon, these two legends will be meeting again on SL, Blake Sea welcoming the ACA-SL Cup.

Hazard of the weather and calendar, we ‘ll get 2 major events simultaneously: as the same time as 2 exceptional boats will fight for the  America’s Cup in Valencia, it is likely that the coming days could provide also another exploit, and again, Sir Peter Blake is not a stranger there, since he is one of the few heroes in this story. (video here) …

I speak here of the Jules Verne Trophy, which goes into the racing legend, just like the America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup, the Chicago-Mackinac, Key West week, Bermuda Race, the week of Antigua, Route du Rhum, the Vendee Globe, Transat Jacques Vabre, the Fastnet, Cowes Week, the Gotland Runt, the Velux 5 Oceans, Kiel Week, Copa del Rey, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez , The Giraglia, the Auckland-Suva, Osaka- Melbourne, Sydney Hobart, the Transpac, the Newport-Ensenada, the Volvo-Ocean …and much more…. but also all the Olympic races and various record attempts.

Today, January 20, 2010, 2 monsters are on the starting blocks for an exceptional record attempt. Peter Blake held this record in 1995 with Enza. For sure, he will keep en eyes on those 2 events: an eye on America’s Cup, another on the Jules Verne Trophy.

The idea is very simple, and original:  The name of the award is a reference to the Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days where Phileas Fogg went around the globe in 79 days 6 hours 15 minutes and 56 seconds. The current holder is Orange II skippered by Bruno Peyron in 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and 4 seconds (Ouch!).

So far, only 6 legendary sailors succeed in this record attempt, after 21 trials (Fossett never held this record with Cheyenne):

It will be a relentless race against the clock. It could also be an incredible 1 vs 1 race around the world.
Both boats have already smashed many records, recognized by ISAF and the WSSRC, and unofficially, have already smashed the speed record of 51 knots established by the “Hydroptere” with one main difference: they did it somewhere in the middle of Atlantic north…

It is far from SL, maybe … but are you sure of that?

You can read more here :

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Verne_Trophy
• http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/press/Maxi-Trimaran-Banque-Populaire-V/
• http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en/races/programme/jules_verne_trophy/

and you can even enter this challenge here: http://www.virtualregatta.com/index_julesverne.php

See Part I here: http://slsailing.com/?p=1601

See Part II here: http://slsailing.com/?p=1674

Chapter III: Sailors, what would you like to be improved?

This is the last act, and your answers sounds like a plebiscite.  Look at this diagram !

No need for me to comment, I leave the floor, sailors, have your say:

• “Rules, and a rules commitee and proper protest system”
• “ also see with a large part of our SL sailors huge gaps in their knowledge of the racing rules. More than once I have seen incidences of fouls and the particapants not aware of what they are doing. I have even on occasion been fouled and then protested for the foul!”
• “Hmm well, I meant not so much the modding and texturing aspect, it is just that I saw it here and there that ppl have difficulties how to sail their boat well, so I have chosen that checkbox…”
• “am trying to coordinate a few folks all interested in training sailors … would love to expand this work so people in all Yacht Clubs and beyond can take advantage of the work. Happy to help out in any initiatives started in that area.”
• “All forms of teaching of Rules, Race Management and Race Rules Judging.”
• “I’d like to see more intermediate/advanced “racing” classes. I think we do a good job teaching the basics of how to sail, ROW, etc – but it’s a big jump from knowing how to sail a course and knowing how to race it.”
• “I am still not sure which windseetings I should take for different boats. A list with recommended settings (windstrenght, wavelenghts and -highs etc.) would be great.”

Hey, do you know another community in which members ask for more training, teaching of rules, more judges… ? Wooot!

So, a large majority, more than 3/4, think first to a learning program when they are asked about SL Sailing improvement. I think we can also consider that those who choose “help on boat” are also talking about learning program somehow: either to learn how to sail a specific boat, or to learn how they can personalize their favorite boat. Once again, I must confess the terms of the predefined answers were not very clear maybe.

Same as for “Calendar“, or “chart“. I don’t really know myself what is the meaning, or in which way we can improve these 2 points. Hopefully, some have completed their answer, here are some examples:

• “Maybe make a more open system of organising the racing without a strict calender. As i am aware of the system is quite strict in the clubs know. (Just people who like to organise something ocassionally in one pool.)”
• “Global sharing of race charts between clubs”

Talking about improvements, I wrote in Part I of this article, that you have a great imagination, here is a list of some other suggestions you made:

• “LOCAL WIND ETC. (ie getting non-Fizz boats WWC compatible). A lot of people I talk to say this would be a good idea … but two boat builders Ive spoken suggest there isnt the demand for it. (Actually a third did seem interested but his sailboat is rather a niche product I think and Im not sure how serious he was). Lets find out what the community really thinks! And if the demand IS there then we need to start lobbying the boat builders. (And start saving our L$, I dount this would be a free upgrade LOL).”
• “How about a monthly “What’s New in SL Sailing” feature. Either a thread on the forum (the easiest) or a mini Boat Show hosted by the yacht clubs in rotation (the most fun, IMO). The would give the creators a chance to show off their new products and give the sailing community an opportunity to keep abreast of the new products coming out.”
• “It seems to me that individual thinking prevails in the SL community, even when some team work would lead to better results. Diversity is important. But there are a few contexts where we would greatly benefit from defining standards.”
• “Some inworld technologies we use in SL sailing do not benefit from being developed by single minds. Thinking of racing systems, and wind. Why not having a few projects assigned to a team of trusted developers ? It seems to me there is some inertia that prevents this to happen. We’re still dealing with weak solutions, and that is just because they were developed in early days of SL sailing, likely by not very experienced programmers. We live with those solutions just because they are there, they’ve been integrated in many products and discussing even bits of those sounds offending to some, which makes no sense to me.”
• “Approach to racing rules enforcement is left to RDs, resulting loose and could be better coordinated: where a general agreement cannot be achieved, why not just vote on proposed solutions ? I would like to see a standard rule set (like Armchair’s list) that is acceptable to most and is enforced constantly on racing events, and ways to make it easy for beginners to learn about those rules and be accepted in races without creating discontent.”
• “With the handicap issue is it possible to measure all the boats on a measured distance on 3 points of sail in a constant breeze. A beat with wind set at 40 degrees to the bow. areach at 90 and a run at say 240 degreese. Each boat because of their scripting will sail at some optimum/ultimate speed given that this is a propertying of the particular scripting in any boat (( In reality this could be calculated )). Running over fixed single legs at various points of sail eliminate driver error/ability this is important as it is a boat performance handicap rather than a personal skill based handicap. Head for the line and sail a single leg on a single tack. minimal lag/drag or any skill based influence, well except for mayby sim crossing (( Cant help bad weather on the odd day )). I dont know if the difference in wind generators would be significant in the above scenerio but if it does then maybe as in real life there may need to be multiple measurement systems and builders then have the choice to have their boats rated under the various measurment systems that. I am writing this here because in my work I do not get much oportunity to actually log on and place comments on the forum, all kinds of restrictions…”
• I’d like to see a standard set of protocols that can be shared between boats, start lines and wind setters to ensure accountability and consistency for racing.
• “the sailing world needs more varities of boats, id like to see the common club racers, like the Cal 20′s the San juan 21′s, Ultimate 20′s, Star and Schock boats along with the performance racers like the Supermaxi’s the maxZ86′s and the older maxi’s. id also like to see more help for those trying to get said boats into the racing world also a universal rating system would be nice for several big boat races, similar to say the sydney hobart, the Volvo, the Vende globe,the velux 5, the fastnet, transpac and the pacific cup“

To be complete, also some of you (4 or 5) added a remark about the LAG…

… and that’s it!

Epilogue

Well, finally, what’s new under the sun?

• You enjoy sailing
• You like competitive spirit
• You want better training for a better sailing and racing
• You are open minded to new ideas
• You are constructive
• You have lot of good ideas
• You are great !

Not really a surprise, I am proud to be one of you. Let’s see what the volunteers, the Yacht Clubs, the boat builders, the sim owners … all the persons involved in SL Sailing development will do with that. I suggest we run this kind of survey once a year, with a much better form, on a larger scale maybe, analyzing also past success and unsuccessful ideas… (Experience is no more than cumulative errors).

For now, I know some people are already working hard in order your wished are fulfilled. All volunteers welcome!  RAISE!

See Part I here: http://slsailing.com/?p=1601

Chapter III: Competitors, what are your expectations?

As we have seen previously (Part I), 96% of sailors who answered this survey request more races, more competition, more sportive events to challenge their skill and the other sailors.

In brief, you are competitors, fighters! Ummm…what about a Pirate”s battle? Ok, just kidding…

Let’s have a look on the full graph, what did you say? :

At this point, let me apologize: the predefined list of answers were not very clear, and maybe confusing. But, thanks to your additionnal comments, here is my understanding of this graph:

• First, half of you seem to be interested in a Class-Based World Ranking, or whatever the name. Yeah ! Without revealing a big secret, I can say that you could a have good surprise soon… A group of volunteers is already working on something;  I heard about a concept easy to apply on a large scale… but shh…..! Let’s give them a couple of days before they may propose something…. (no more, promised!)
• Cups!… here again you want more. Ok, ok ok… but some caveats appear. As explained in the Part I, events such as the Fizz Cup or J-Classic, mobilize so many sailors, in a condensed period of time (2 or 3 months), with races occuring every week, and sailors practicing a lot between races, that for non-raceing sailors, it looks like the grid is invaded by the corresponding boat, and it certainly contributes to a kind of lassitude. Maybe a solution as suggested, would be to plan such events over a larger period of time, with 1 race per month instead of one per week… It could also allow to program similar events in an alternative way, especially with a wider variety of boats. Only 1/3 ask for more events based on Fizz or J-class, but 43% ask for same kind of events with other boats. Maybe the previous point, a Class Based Ranking could be a solution giving you the opportunity to compete with all boats, in a perpetual manner… By experience, and I think Jane Fosset will concur with me,  Cups are very time consuming for the organizers, and a headache to manage time slots and the fleet in a fair way. Races are less than 10% of the work in the background. But we like that!
• Then comes Team Racing with 34%. I believe there is a misunderstanding with the term here. Reading your comments, I understood that most of you confused the real “Team Racing” form of races (see definition below), with “Racing with a Team or crew”. My own fault. In fact, according to your comments, what you would like is more races in which you can share your pleasure with a crew/mate/friend (no need to go to Zindra for that…). Some “Team Racing” races had been hosted by Tim Warrhol a few months ago, could be a fun way to learn rules…
  • • Reminder of “Team Racing” definition (from Wikipedia): As opposed to fleet racing where boats are scored on an individual basis, in team racing teams consisting of 2, 3 or 4 boats compete together. As in fleet racing the low point scoring system is used. A boat is awarded points based on the place it finishes a race. For example a boat that finishes 1st earns 1 point, a boat that finishes 2nd earns 2 points, etc. In team racing the winning team is decided by adding together the places of all the boats in each team. The team with the fewest points win. Team Racing is a very tactical and technical branch of sailboat racing, combining the need for boat speed with good teamwork and communication. Knowledge of rules is a key in Team Racing.
• Match racing ladder comes at 4th position with 31%. I used the “ladder” term in reference to Hans Zinneman’s great work to promote Match Racing, with a very good tool hosted on his own web site @ http://www.zinnemann.com/ladder.asp . Unfortunately, very few use this facility. Maybe there is something to improve… I don’t know.
• Only 1/5th of you, voted for Multiclass Regattas. There is a thread about that on .ORG, in order to improve the actual system used at Madaket (Hotlaps startline).

Here are the others comments/suggestions I got on this subject, regarding “Racing”:

Introduction

This article is intended to analyse the results of the survey that has been  conducted from October 27th to November 1st, 2009.

74 responses were received, and no filter was applied. It does not appear to have been abused in responses (Alts. ..), which could distort the results.

General remarks and caveats

A few regrets however

Results: The survey

Results: Overview

To say that you love sailing is a gentle euphemism. As we shall see, you seem more drawn to spend time on your boat than on the dance floors. It seems that you expressed some inclination to go further, to see new horizons, to advance in skill, and you like to compete against your peers. Least, you are very receptive to new forms of events as we shall see.

Let’s enter into the details with next chapters, where you will find:

• a graphical overview of your answers
• your comments (in Italic)
• other ideas some of you suggested on each points (Italic)
• A few personal remarks by the author …

Chapter 1: Sailor character sketch

The community you form is pluralistic and it is great, isn’t that the proper definition of a “community”?. The graph below aims to represent a typical character sketch, with a percentage value regarding your interests  in the environment of SL Sailing.

I would summarize as follows: the sailor is a bad dancer, spending more time on his boat than at the Bar in the harbor (except maybe a few I know…)… To socialize, he/she prefers to bring a few friends on his/her boat to chat, eventually raising sails to explore unknown horizons, but only if his/her competition schedule allows him/her time … Indeed, he/she has a marked tendency to want to compete with (against ?) others … As one said “any reason to raise sails are good!“.

• More than 2/3 of you enjoy the competition.
• Half enjoy sharing the pleasure of sailing with some friends, quietly
• Only 1/3 seem attracted to the “social events” offered around.

In the free comments, suggestions and additional ideas, I noticed:

“A mix of racing and other sailing events.”

Chapter 2: Competition, what else…

More cups? A wider variety? New forms of competitions? Do you have enough? …

Exhausted by racing? Certainly not, except a few “no more cups for a while please !”… As shown in the graph below, there is an almost unanimous request for more sporting events in various forms. I also received comments such as:

• “MAYBE J classic was a little long with 8 heats. the more heats you have the more it get like a ladder.“
• “J-Class must be a wonderful boat, but why every second race is related to it?”
• “I would dearly love to see more events that are more inclusive of all the racers in SL, not just a particular class of boat. Bea no offense please and also none intended to Jane, but the past few months the J-Cup has (and yes maybe just in my perception) taken over a great deal of the racing in SL. For me Saturdays are pretty much a wash, and the racing is limited to roughly 15 sailors that have been chosen for the racing that day. Other events, weekly long ocean races etc have fallen by the wayside or have converted over to J-Cup pre-races. Not this not a criticism of the RDs (most being friends of mine) but just what has happened.”
• “Please make the progress of the event smoother. “

I believe those remarks are not related with the Trudeau’s boat neither the J-Classic event. If I had ran this survey during the World Fizz Cup, I guess I had received comments like “No more Fizz Races please”, since the Fizz fanatics invaded the grid for practice at this time. But I think this is good information for Cup’s organizers (including myself), there is a risk of “overdose”. Maybe people involved in the committee of such events could think about a new way to schedule the races.

I think we can speak of a clear trend here …Well, you like the competition … But how? Which one, which form? ….

…to be continued …

Coming next in Part II:

The next section of this paper will detail your expectations for competition, and we will also see the responses to the question “What would you like to see improved?” Many constructive suggestions were provided for these aspects. Stay tuned!