Volvo Ocean Race - report from sailonline.org 9 Oct 2008
The Official Volvo online simulated race has just opened, but the sailonline.org one has been running for a while. There are already 463 boats registered and the leaders of the practice session are now weaving through the Canaries.
Everyone seems determined to keep going until the simulator tows (more likely teleports) us back to the start line off Alicante at 10:00 UTC on Saturday 11 Oct, an hour before the start.
Some competitors are entering both races, in fact the staff of sailonline.org have registered a team in the Official online race, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. There are significant differences between the two simulators not all of which are yet clear:
- All SoL competitors sail identically-equipped boats in a free-to-enter pure navigation race, whereas Official Race competitors are encouraged to pay about US$30 for extras which are essential for anyone competing seriously
- There is a serious prize for the winner of the Official Race - a Volvo car - but nothing for the SoL race
- The Official Race simulator includes sail changing and sail trimming functions, whereas the SoL simulator contestant is a navigator whose crew will always sail the boat at maximum speed for the prevailing course and conditions, except for a slow build-up of speed after a tack or a gybe.
As both a competitor and the Yachting Correspondent for New Freebooters, I shall be posting daily reports (and interviews with competitors whenever communications permit) from the sailonline.org race. If you are registered for the race, look out for SredniVashtar (currently having climbed to 110th place after the customary rather late start).
In the meantime, I have been practising long-forgotten arts and making friends with a cheerful and enthusiastic bunch of competitors from all over the world (even one struggling with a flaky broadband connection in Nairobi) and of all ages (the youngest one I have spoken to is 10 years old, I am 69, and some may be older still).
