New Boat 4 Sled

[Xavier]

I think it's more like Aloha's tracker doesn't always send out accurate positions.

Yikes! - hadn’t considered that.

[sleddog]

Based on the tracker and wind model overlay, Aloha’s jibes don’t make sense to me. So I assume the actual wind angles are significantly different from the model. Is that how others see it too, or am I missing something (used to that).

ALOHA's tracker is giving occasional erratic positions, as is PERPLEXITY. ALOHA has not yet jibed. The reason for tracker malfunction often has to do with location of tracker mounting, being obscured by carbon sails, solar panels, etc.

You can expect the model and actual wind angles to be pretty similar, as they are now in the "synoptic" aka "gradient" wind.

A couple of observations: the two Cal-40's, not unexpectedly, are sailing at almost identical speeds. GREEN BUFFALO is the only boat in the fleet with an extra long, carbon fiber, mast head wand for wind instrumentation. This will give more accurate readings down the road, as soon as the wind comes aft. Short, forward facing, wind instrument wands at the masthead begin to be interfered with when the wind is dead aft. Before extended length wands, for Transpacs, we'd always aim our masthead wand aft.

All WILDFLOWER, my 27 foot sloop, had at the masthead was a Windex mounted above the tricolor. The top of the tricolor was modified with a clear, 2" diameter window so light illuminated the WINDEX above it. The VHF antenna was also up there, but angled back at 45 degrees to clear the Windex. Instruments? We didn't have no stinkin' instruments. White, .5 oz, hot-knifed, custom telltales were a better indicator for downwind steering on a dark night than the delay of electronic instrumentation giving you vertigo. On PYEWACKET, on a downwind race on a dark night, I once watched a helmsman steering to the TWA( True Wind Angle) readout. He didn't realize it was not the TWA he was steering to, but the depth contour.

[sleddog]

The 2021 SHTP is about to experience "you can't get there from here" as they sail into the SE ridge (lobe) of a weakening (deflated)1025 Mb EPAC High pressure west of 130 degrees, a broad expanse of mostly northerly winds, 10 knots and less. As there will now be breaks in the mostly cloudy skies, warmer and smoother waters, puffy streaks of wind, and a full moon, light air sails will be broken out, if not already.

Initially, the boats to the north look OK. At some point the southern side will pay big time. Exiting from the SE ridge are the tradewinds, down around 27 degrees south. But getting towards there will be happening slowly, at least until Saturday, when the winds begin to slowly build as the EPAC high begins to strengthen again.

Currently, as boat speeds drop to 5 knots and less, it's ALOHA's race to lose. I expect Kyle's light air track shoes to serve him well in the next few days of sailing down the chosen slot car lanes. Can BUFFALO make the northern side work? His lead is tenuous..

Here's the 48 hour chart for Saturday night. Warning to viewers, this may be difficult to watch:

[WBChristie]

Jibeset shows PHRF ratings .... have these rating replaced the previous PCR ratings?

[sleddog]

Jibeset shows PHRF ratings .... have these rating replaced the previous PCR ratings?

Negatory. Jibeset show the SHTPR ratings (same as PCR) under the Sailing Instructions, Appendix A. PHRF ratings are what was required on your race entry to configure the SHTPR. Misleading I know. Even a member of the Race Organizers didn't know the Race is being sailed under SHTPR. Pass the word.

[WBChristie]

Jibeset most definitely shows phrf ratings on the entry list....but the estimated finish etc must be calculated using PCR. The tracker really sucks....surely having the update times the same and synchronized first ping wouldn't be that hard to accomplish.

Negatory. Jibeset show the SHTPR ratings (same as PCR) under the Sailing Instructions, Appendix A. PHRF ratings are what was required on your race entry to configure the SHTPR. Misleading I know. Even a member of the Race Organizers didn't know the Race is being sailed under SHTPR. Pass the word.

[Philpott]

Jibeset most definitely shows phrf ratings on the entry list....but the estimated finish etc must be calculated using PCR. The tracker really sucks....surely having the update times the same and synchronized first ping wouldn't be that hard to accomplish.

Dear Sir
Perhaps you would like to produce the tracker and overlays for the next SHTP? We would gladly pay you the same as we pay Ray.

[WBChristie]

Dear Sir
Perhaps you would like to produce the tracker and overlays for the next SHTP? We would gladly pay you the same as we pay Ray.

Ah! its free......ok...point taken and sorry for coming across as an ingrate. What did the yellow brick setup cost? The synchronized ping would cost nothing BTW....and improve the tracker immeasurably. That is out of the developers hands.

[sleddog]

The first SHTP, in 1978, was organized solely by George Sigler, a Navy reserve pilot, but non-racer. George did understand we needed handicaps, and the only handicap system open to all was PHRF. It was quickly determined that PHRF in a downwind race to Hawaii penalizes the heavier boats that don't surf or plane like ultralight sleds (ULDB's)

The Pacific Cup race first held in 1980, also to Kauai, had this figured out and came up with a rating system based on PHRF called the PCR, that evened things between heavy boats and light boats pretty darn well and is used to this day by both the Pacific Cup and SHTP. The formula for the PCR, and its sister the SHTPR, modifies the PHRF based on length and displacement/length ratio and can be found in Section 15.04 of the Sailing Instructions.

This explanation is simplistic, but that's it in a nutshell how the handicaps work in this race.

[BobJ]

Regarding Yellow Brick, I recall the club getting an additional $7,200 bill from YB after a SHTP. Not expected and definitely not in the budget!

If every boat used the same device it would be possible to sync up the pings. But they don't, and the skippers had to buy them so it's their call. Look at it as a chance to do some math to extrapolate the necessary positions. Maybe create a spreadsheet to automate the adjustments?

Regarding the ratings, the Fleet Assignments page on Jibeset shows the SHTPR's in the Rating column.

Skip, Pacific Cup uses NorCal PHRF's "Downwind Ratings." That's the same system that when new, shot us in the shorts in the 2011 Spinnaker Cup! Jim A has refined the numbers since then.
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