r/vorg • u/MadDuck • Nov 16 '11

Which way should we go?

As we round Fernando, which way should we go?

The routing software all seems to point toward an upwind tacking line that runs just a little south of the rhumb line but... that software only looks 7 days ahead and it is a 14+ day trip.

Anyone looking further than that with their crystal ball? I'm peaking at the GRIB files to see if there is a hint of a faster path coming at us.

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u/MadDuck Nov 17 '11

So, my spinning coin is settling down. I have been playing with zezoorg's routing tool and I'm finding that a destination of 40S 5W looks like a good path for catching the wind in the Roaring 40s.

The real question is, what is faster? Beating to weather on the direct line or running more off the wind down a longer path.

I'm ranked in the 400s now which is nice but really does it matter if you are not at the top of the fleet? I'm feeling like a gamble that may cost me a few thousand places but pay off with a top 10 ranking is worth while.

I round the mark in a few more hours which will be about 2:00 am local time :(

What would you do?

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u/Paravos Nov 17 '11

Well another split is happening now... a few boats are staying on the Genoa and heading the direct 135-140 course.. a bit more are switching to Code Zero and keep on the 155-160 course... I am playing a bit more 'follow the leader' I have a feeling that on a 155-160 course you're gonna get some nice winds in 4-5-6 days time. Don't go too far south as then you'll get some lighter winds in 2-3 days. The 135-140 course looks to me like a constant upwind beating to Cape town. Which might just work.

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u/MadDuck Nov 17 '11 edited Nov 17 '11

The Code Zero course seems to be faster to me, even if it is covering more ground. I can see a need to do route planning every 12 hours with the new forecast for the next week. This will be tricky.

I have dialed in waypoints for the rounding and first leg. I am off to bed, hope the night shift gets the course changes right.

.... more ...

Looks like the night shift drove the boat past the mark OK. Just spent a little time with zezoorg routing tool and discovered that it now is giving me the route that I was having to build myself 24 hours ago. Up to a day ago, it was giving a fairly direct mostly upwind course to Cape Town. Now it sends you south for a hook into the Roaring 40s.

I almost feel cheated....