Version 2.05c/01.2- January. 19th, 2009

G A M E

The VORGame is Auto-Sufficient.

Players can achieve favorable positions by using only the Game Tools.

G A M E

3

1

5

6

2

4

OTHER BOATS

On Screen information when selected on map

Other Boat

Ranking

BS - Boat Speed Kt - Km/h

HDG - heading / boat course

DTF - Distance To Finish NM / Km

TWA - True Wind Angle

TWS - True Wind Speed Kt - Km/h

Add this boat to your friends list

Delete this boat from yourfriends list

See Friends List of this boat

Send a message to this boat

Features available for this boat

Please, clean the browser cache from time to time to avoid data show errors.

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G A M E

Changing Course

E

B

C

A

D

F

This panel will open as soon touch the Rose.

Description:

After changing the heading D on the "Rose" A you must validate it by clicking on the tick

panel

F

. Depending on the Sail chosen, the Wind Speed

B

and the Wind Direction

E

,

you will see your BS - Boat Speed

C

increase or decrease.

While choosing the new heading, the projected positions after 12 and 24 hours of sailing,

based on the current speed and new setting, will be projected on the map by two Red Dots.

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G A M E

$

This Item can be purchased in the SHOP

Auto Helm

C

A

B

D

Description:

Auto Helm will allow you to insert information for a future automatic change of heading.

Operation:

- Press the Programme buttom.

- Choose the time for the future heading change, adding the hours left to the change to

time shown on

C

. Remember that the game works with (GMT+1).

- Chose the future heading you desire the boat will follow on the stated time, using the

Rose A and shown on

B

- Confirm or cancel the order on

D

- To assure the acceptance of the order by the system, please wait for a normal refresh,

before closing the browser.

- To use this "Auto Helm" tool, users have to be careful and strictly observe all

elements involved, please, be very careful on winds (speed and direction) and land.

- This " Auto Helm" Tool is compatible with Auto-Sails, using the Basic Sails set. Will not

work well with Pro-Sails, since after the turn, the same sail will remain.

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G A M E

This Item can be purchased in the SHOP

$

Point of Sail Controler

Wind Auto-Pilot

D

A

B

C

Description:

"Point of Sail Controller" will sail the boat automatically, with regard to a fixed angle to

the wind, pre-determined by the player.

As the real boat's "Wind Auto-Pilot", this tool has some limitations. Fixing the angle

between the boat's heading and the wind direction, the boat will adjust her course

soon on entering a wind zone with a different wind direction.

If entering a zone where the wind changes to the opposite side of the boat, this will

make the boat to reverse the course to keep the fixed angle.

Operation:

- Press the Rose A to rotate to the desired course and angle C intended to keep.

- Press the "Activate" button.

- This "Angle" C will now remain constant until changed or inactivated. The Heading

E

will always change when entering a new wind zone with a different Wind Direction

D

- When entering the game, having the boat connected to the "Point of Sail Controller",

Wind-Autopilot, the Heading shown could not be the Heading that the boat is sailing.

You will need to hit the Rose, to be able to see the actual Heading of the boat, since

the first Heading shown will be the previous heading sailed.

"Point of Sail Controller" prevails over any other Pilot feature.

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G A M E

1

2

A

B

3

A

B

C

D

E

4

Please Find:

- Points of Sailings ...

- Boat Basic Sails Polar

- Boat Pro Sails Polar

- Sails Crossover and Targets

When sailing upwind, the sails, when correctly adjusted, will generate

aerodynamic lift.

When sailing downwind, the sails no longer generate aerodynamic lift and airflow

is stalled, with the wind push on the sails giving drag only.

As the boat is going downwind, the sails are not producing aerodynamic lift,

therefore limiting the downwind speed.

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- Auto Sails / Sails Repair Kit

G A M E

This Item can be purchased in the SHOP

$

Auto-Sails

A

B

C

D

E

Description:

This feature is useful if you can see that the wind direction will change and you can’t

be at your computer.

Operation:

A

)

- Click AUTO

C

- You should now have two buttons displayed in orange.

before closing the browser.

To disable "Auto-Sails", click on the orange "auto" button which will then return to

grey again.

The use of the "Pro Sails" option disables the "Automatic Sails"

Sail Damage - Sail Repair kits

This Item can be purchased in the SHOP

$

Only the Sail in use may be damaged.

Depending on Wind Angle, the Wind Speed and the Sail in use, there is a rate of

damage per hour (which is a maximum 1%/hour chance to damage the sail).

The commencement of each new Leg, "ALL" boats will start with a set of

new sails.

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G A M E

1

2

3

4

(GMT+1)

3

1

boatname

2

3

4

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G A M E

- FULL SCREEN MODE - Some features may not work in Full Screen Mode

depending on the browser in use. To return to Normal Screen Mode

press Esc.

- ZOOM MAP TOOL - Use also the mouse wheel, point on Map to zoom in

or out. Clicking on the Map and dragging allow you to move the Map image.

- WINDS ON MAP - show/hide.

- WINDS - Actual Wind Map and 12, 24 and36 Hours predictions. New Maps are

loaded twice a day at 11:00 (GMT+1) and 23:00 (GMT+1) with new predictions

for 12/24/36H. To load the Wind Chart out of default area, point the mouse

on desired area and press the Space Bar.

- FRIEND's LIST ( up to 50 friends )

- Show/Hide Friends on Map.

- Race Info on each refresh ( Moves on Ranking / Boats that add your boat to

their Friend's List / Messages received from other boats).

- Search other boats, it is imperative you inserting the correct name.

- Ranking Board - Distance Show "0" for your boat, and for others boats, the

diference between their DTF and your DTF. The Red "X" allow you to delete

boats from your Friend's List. (DTF - Distance To Finish ).

$

This Item can be purchased in the SHOP

press the bar to go to the shop page

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G A M E

Map and Wind Chart

The purpose of the interactive map is to display the track travelled by the boat, the

relative position of the boat, information about wind fields and finally projected position

after 12 and 24 hours based on current speed and a new setting. To do this the,

interactive map in the game uses a Geographical Projection, which is described at:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_Projection

Due to the characteristics of this projection, players are advised not to measure angles on

the screen or screen-shot print-outs, since doing so can produce errors, especially at

latitudes away from the equator. Players may, however, use any Nautical Chart and Great

Circle calculators, to plot their routes and apply the obtained elements on the Game with

success. Players may also read positions accurately from the map, such as turning points

in the route, or buoy markers.

The winds in the game are taken from modified NOAA charts and segmented in wind fields

spanning 1º latitude and 1º longitude and centered on the whole degrees. Each field has a

constant wind with the direction and force indicated on the map with arrows. Players can

reliably measure the wind direction with a protractor or compass directly on the screen or

a print-out. The wind speed appears in text when the mouse is placed over the wind

arrow.

The Orange dotted line on the map, is simply and indication of the recommended route to

follow. Players are free to find their own route within the constraints laid out in the leg

briefing, such as rounding buoys, land masses or exclusion zones.

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G A M E

Boats on Game

Starting Race

The Race starts Automaticaly and boats will follow the Pilotboat (system boat

running slowly on last 25% of the Fleet), until the player starts sailing the boat.

Scoring Way Points

The Scoring Way Points, are mandatory Marks or Gates, that have to be observed

in order to be able to finish the Race. Since the DTF - Distance To Finish are

calculated from Start Point to Finish Point throught the Mark/Gate Scoring Way

Point, if you do not comply with the rule, your DTF will increse and positions will

be lost. After passing the Yellow Mark correctly, it will change to Green.

Finish Point

The Finish point is a Mark/Buoy, surrounded by a dotted circle with 50NM. Boats

to finish the race have to enter the Circle dotted line and as soon they reach the

30NM distance to the finish point, system will teletransport the boats to finish,

calculating the last 30NM by the speed and direction at reaching the 30NM.

Because of this teletransportation, the ranking at the time of reaching the 30NM, is

recalculated and adjusted on next refresh

Map and Boat Data Refresh

The Game, boat position and data is actualized every 10 minutes.

Please, clean the browser cache from time to time to avoid data show errors.

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G A M E

WIND

X

B B A

B B A

A

B

B

C

B

C

C

D

E

A E D

A

E

D

A - In Irons (into the wind) — 0°

B - Close Hauled — 40-45°

C - Beam Reach — 90°

D - Broad Reach — ~135°

E - Running — 180°

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G A M E

Basic Sails

Wind Strength

in Knots

3

TWA

5

7

9

12

16

20

26

30

35 +

BS

Coloured lines

show the TWS -

Wind Speed.

Concentric strait

lines show the

TWA - Wind

Angle

Curve lines show

the BS - Boat

Speed.

Discrepancies between the diagram and the file loaded on the game

could occur. The file loaded on the game willl prevail.

experts

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G A M E

Pro Sails

Wind Strength

in Knots

3

TWA

5

7

9

12

16

20

26

30

35 +

BS

Coloured lines

show the TWS -

Wind Speed.

Concentric strait

lines show the

TWA - Wind

Angle

Curve lines show

the BS - Boat

Speed.

Discrepancies between the diagram and the file loaded on the game

could occur. The file loaded on the game will prevail.

experts

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G A M E

This table shows what sail needs to be

set to achieve the best performance

Sails Crossover

for each combination of wind angle

TWA and wind speed TWS.

TWA

TWS

Sails Description

SPI - Basic Spi

N2 - Pro Jib N2

CO - Pro Code0

HS - Pro Heavy Spi

JIB - Basic Jib

G - Pro Genoa

LS - Pro Light Spi

Targets

TWS

To obtain values for intermediate wind speeds, please use the speed

imediately bellow. IE:(To see 23.5 Kt look 23 Kt)

Original Excel file can be download here

experts

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G A M E

Wind Predictions - UGrib Files

Wind Charts introduced in the game at 10:00GMT and 22:GMT are the punctual

NOAA (US GFS global weather model) from 09:00GMT and 21:00GMT.

The Files from NOAA are being adapted to fit on the spots of the VORGame wind

charts.

UGrib use exactly the same source on its wind charts, the (US GFS global weather

model). The times of introduction of new files on the UGrib system are 05:15 GMT

and 17:15 GMT.

So if you look the punctual chart of 09:00GMT after 05:15 GMT and the punctual

chart of 21:00 GMT after 17:15 GMT, on the UGrib Viewer you will be looking the

charst that will be introduced in the game at 10:00 GMT and 21:00 GMT

respectively.

You have to register at UGrib web site to be able to download the Free Grib

Viewer:

www.grib.us

On Screen Ruler and Protractor

MBRuller, is a powerfull on screen Ruler and Protractor, that will allow to measure

the Wind Direction, as well to determine short distance Courses helping to avoid

obstacles on the chart.

The ruler is almost transparent, so you can have it on the screen, while you are

working with the applications below.

Additionally it has a screen loupe function, a RGB value window and you can place

temporary points, lines, rectangles, ellipses, polylines, texts and bitmaps as

markers on the screen.

You will find the application Free here:

www.markus-bader.de

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G A M E

Great Circle Calculators

A great circle of a sphere is a circle that runs along the surface of that sphere so as

to cut it into two equal halves. The great circle therefore has both the same

circumference and the same center as the sphere. It is the largest circle that can

be drawn on a given sphere.

Great circles serve as the analogue of "straight lines" in spherical geometry.

The great circle, is the path with the smallest curvature, and hence, an arc (or an

orthodrome) of a great circle is the shortest path between two points on the

surface. The distance between any two points on a sphere is therefore known as

the great-circle distance. The great-circle route is the shortest path between two

points on a sphere. Great Circle routes are often broken into a series of shorter

Rhumb lines which allow the use of constant headings between waypoints along the

Great Circle.

You can find a Great Circle Caltulator here:

www.marinewaypoints.com/learn/greatcircle.shtml

Sailplanners

Sailplanners is a software that combines accurate high resolution weather forecasts

with intuitive easy to use software for planning and routing.

VRTool is an Application designed to help you plan virtual regatta legs. This version

was written with the Volvo Ocean Race Game in mind. It is freeware and there is

no support.

Features:

- Track planner - Draw boat track and the VRTool will calculate times and adjust

wind forecasts as you go. Try different strategies to minimize track times.

- Great circle and rhumb lines calculator.

- Wind grid visualization options showing arrows, barbs, wind speed, and boat

polars. Wind speed color gradient. Wind rectangle boundaries.

- Optional filters to hide winds that are too weak or too strong.

- Track animation.

- Import boat routes (complete, but no time information).

- Import boat track points (one by one, as you go)

The VRToll can be downloaded here:

www.tecepe.com.br/nav/vrtool/

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G A M E

Part of understanding sailing fundamentals is learning sailing

definitions and sailing terms

The following are some terms you should know before you begin

sailing :

Stern: The back part of the boat, also called the 'aft'. The transom

is the flat or canoe shaped end of the stern. The stern quarters are

the rear corners of the boat.

Bow: The front end of the boat. The Bow Line is a mooring rope that

runs from the bow to a point ashore. The Bow Line is sometimes

called the head rope.

Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward.

Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward.

Jib: Also called the 'foresail' because it is forward of the main mast.

Some sailboats have several types of jibs that are used for different

purposes.

Mainsail: The most important sail on all boats. This sail sits behind

the mast. Most are triangular but other shapes do exist.

Boom: Is at the bottom of the mainsail, this controls the main sail

angle.

Hull: The main structure of the boat; built in a variety of materials.

Keel: The fin under the hull, which is used for stability and lateral

resistance. A Keel Boat is any boat with a Keel. Though all boats have

a main keel, but a fin is used on the racing yachts. Some even have a

lifting / retracting keel, others like the VOR70 a swing keel.

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G A M E

www.volvooceanracegame.org

This VORGame Basic Tutorial, made by players to players, has been put together with the novice in

mind so as to make a level playing field. We all had to learn at one time, so set out and enjoy the

virtual experience. Good winds and good luck to all.

Any mistake found, please inform us for correction.

All constructive critics will be welcome.

bigamist@vyatlantic.com

Credits

bigamist, BigamistVI, Jim Dandy, lady beryl

Version 2.05c/01.2

First Edition on January, 13th - 2009

January, 19th, 2009