Don't worry me & Madeira - I just wanted to swing by and grab some hot chicks from the beach for my journey

Ok - now I'm gonna go learn how to steer this bloody thing. The boat I mean.

I seem to have a similar problem, seemed ok yesterday

See earlier reply...models not appearing could be down to one of two causes...

1. When file initially loads it goes to Pool D by default and models are turned off. You need to actually select a Pool (clicking one of the Option buttons) for models to be switched on. (Think what I'll do is turn them on on initial load to get rid of this confusion)

2. Models only appear at the end of the 15th tack - so if you are playing through the animation and have stopped it at tack 6, for example, the model will not be there. This is due to file size/GE mem usage. Each boat is made up of 3 parts and for this leg there will a maximum of 75 tacks per boat - making 4500 in total and therefore if I was to put boat model at every point that would come to 13.5k models - which may be a bit heavy.

I'll look into combining the 3 parts into 1 - but that still means 4500 if they were to appear at every point. (There are already 4.5k possible line-strings and 9k placemarks in there so I'm just being careful not to have it fall flat on it's face)

I'm going to re-introduce the non-models version anyway - as I think this may be needed later on as an option for those with older machines - so may try put a model at every tack point once that is done.

If you're still not seeing the models even when you have actively selected a pool and are looking at the end of tack 15 (time-slider all the way over to the right) then it's another issue that needs investigating.

GE Link updated

Models turned on by default in the With Models link

2 Links now available for the current Leg - Simple and With Models - choose whichever best suits.

Have to say this most impressive Romyn!

Using M-boy's handy hint of land = bad, for 1 leg only, we're out in front in pool A.

Can't see the difficulty with the Azores and the Canaries, you can drive a truck through that gap, nothing can possibly go wrong, no chance whatsoever.

Completely agree with that.

Bearing (oh no - sry, no pun intended, honest!) in mind that I joined this to make up the numbers, having seen how much fun it's gonna turn out to be aswell as seeing the great interface on GE we get to play with I gotta say nice one Romyn!

It's quite wonderful, Romyn.

It is pretty cool - my boat looks fabulous and it's actually on course at the moment

Still don't understand the rules though.

Either. Are there any tactics regarding how you set up your team?

Don't worry I have no idea either. I think it's one of those bloke things like working out betting odds.

Ah right gotcha. My boat's turquoise.

I think I have the rules sorted in my head.

But just in case, I've ordered more beer than any of my crew can possibly drink and will stack any excess on the side the boat needs to turn - after we've picked up all the party gals from Madeira of course

In emergencies the gals can help toss a few things off if need be

Thanks for the comments guys and girls

While the Q&A style bit in the Rules is slightly easier to understand than the Full set - it obviously isn't quite simple enough I do intend when I get some time to take a couple of existing tacks from someone and breakdown exactly how they came to be how they are - that might help - but probably won't

As for tactics - there aren't any really as there's nothing you can really do - just get as many points as you can and hope for the best.

There is something minor that you can do to affect things that relates to your playing goalkeeper and whether you want him playing Home or Away if you are close to land - but it also has to take into account where you are in relation to your target waypoint etc so not easy to explain without going on a bit ............see lost some of you already

Got of couple of other things that I may add but need to make the time first.

(And I really really need to get myself a job or this whole thing will come to a premature end when I'm out on the street. Any IT recruitment specialists out there?)

It's more that I haven't actually tried reading them... I will though now I've got the whole Google Earth bit sorted.

That was the key thing for me - now that we've seen it in action on Google Earth after a GW on FPL, you can see what does what it makes a hell of a lot more sense.

So when I re-read the rules now, it's all so clear. However, if I suddenly start heading back towards Portsmouth you know I'm talkin balls.

Ah - that could explain it. Of course there's no reason you have to.

They do work though - Gravesy I remember made a pretty accurate plot of what he thought his route would be one week before the update was published - very impressive - no wonder he's an Incredible now

I don't know how to break this to you gently, but that's the whole point

Quality game and quality sailing by the Disciples

Ahh but not so soon

You're about to turn green instead of turquoise.

Romyn has kept ianovich's crew busy sprucing up his boat while they await his return. It was the only thing he could think of that would stop them taking potshots at any more albatrosses.

Well ok, it wasn't the ONLY thing he could think of, but after the near mutiny he settled for fresh paintwork.

Just thought i'd add some shades.




Though tbh it didn't make a blind bit of difference as I came pretty much last anyway. Even though I finished 12,00thish overall in FPL.

So it doesn't matter so much whether you get high scores or not, the key is to be consistent in each player position (and high if possible).

BTW my boat looks awesome, not sure frogs are at home on the sea but they're learning fast and doing pretty well.

As slarty has pointed out the international break, and breaks of other kinds , have led a couple of crews - those on board Ajax Hamster Jam and Halfway Up Virginia - to make some changes to their sail livery.

The Race Committee are pleased to announce that this option is open to all and a template on which you can roll-your-own will be provided to any skipper who wishes to make any changes.

There are a few restrictions (which are not too onerous) :-

1. The boat name and emblem have to remain as is - only the white space to the left and right of those fixed parts can be customised. Each face of the sail can be different.
2. Image to be kept the same size as the template provided - and to be saved as a .png file (again the same as the template)
3. Nothing rude. If you couldn't post it in-line on FISO it can't be on your sail either
4. The Race Committee has the final say on what is acceptable - no website addresses for example.

The 2 customised sails so far commissioned are Live in the Google Earth file if you want to take a look-see.

Unfortunately I do not have the time at present to be able to assist skippers with their designs if they don't know how to go about it - but hopefully a couple of graphics-minded people will step forward to help out if anyone needs it.

So if you're interested in adding a bit more colour to your boat pm me and I will send your particular template to you, or a nominated assistant, and you can build on that.

I'll be happy to help with any graphics if your plate gets full Rom. Pretty busy too, but I'll always find time to have a play.

Oh yeah, and at the risk of getting hammered for this - I haven't actually figured out how to see my boat graphic yet!

I'll persevere - but if anyone has a 3 line fix I'd be grateful

(holds cap out in hands)

Click "The Race" and "Leg 1 (with Models)"

Select your Pool

Drag the timeline slider to the end (as in the screenshot below), then zoom right in and tilt. (had to drag that out to make the three lines )

et voila, a thing of beauty


Can't spare much time this week, but I'd probably be able to help out after Saturday

Hope slarty's directions helped you out here M_M - if not ask again. (Thanks slarty)

In the meantime M_M I've sent your sail template through in case you what to mess about with it.

I'm loving this side comp Romyn, so thanks again for doing this...
It certainly helps that I am currently leading my group, come on boys (and one lady!) ...catch me if you can!

the ineveitable fall from the lead to follow

Time for some skippers to put their emergency training into action

Gameweek 8 Progress
(Week 2 of Leg 1)
Gameweek begins 10th Oct 5pm

GE Link updated - Refresh to view


Pool A
Screenshot - Standings

By the end of tack 4 Its Just Not Cricket has a slight lead over Sultan of Barnet FC and Self Cleaning Ovens but by the end of tack 6 Chester Draws has come from within the pack to share the front running. and as they approach waypoint 4 at the end of the 8th tack they are still 1 and 2 with LUFC 1963 and Isaiah Forty:31 close behind.

On passing that waypoint however crewman Zaki takes Its Just Not Cricket onto the rocks on Santo Antao in the Cape Verde Islands leaving Chester Draws on his own out front.

The Cape Verde Islands nearly claimed some more victims on the next few tacks but some good sailing by LUFC 1963, Sultan of Barnet FC and Isaiah Forty:31 saw them be more fortunate

By tack 12 Chester Draws was still in the lead with atx1303 having moved up to 2nd and Getafe King Life in 3rd - after getting very close to the African Coast.

Tack 14 and it was Zaki again who let his crew down - this time on board Donkeys Ride Again - and it was the island of Maio that claimed this boat.

On the same tack more bad luck for Its Just Not Cricket as Valencia fell over the side. The closest 2 boats to him at that time were Sultan of Barnet FC and atx1303 who both rushed to his aid. atx1303 was not best pleased with this as they were trying to catch up with the leader and had to change course and travel north instead. Neither boat got to Its Just Not Cricket in time and he therefore will begin next week still pulling Valencia from the water.

Chester Draws finished the week in 1st with clear water between him and the rest of the fleet.


Pool B
Screenshot - Standings

Tack 3 and it's A Smoked Cheese Pig with a narrow lead which he loses and regains again over the next few tacks with 8 boats all sharing the same water. Family Bereavements could have been with them but became the first victim of the Azores, which wrecked so many boats last year, when he hit the rocks of Sao Miguel at the end of tack 4.

Tack 7 and A Smoked Cheese Pig and Crazy Canucks reach waypoint 4 together - and Kelly's Heroes would have been with them had they not turned north to go to the assistance of Time for Trumpton who had lost Valencia overboard on the previous tack. The Drogs also answered the SOS but it was Kelly's Heroes who made it in time and saved Time for Trumpton the extra tack.

Tack 9 and it was now Nutstars vying for the lead with Crazy Canucks.

Tack 10 and the Cape Verde Islands claimed their next victim - this time it was SuperSlaves with an premature land-fall on Sao Tiago. He was joined there by Y'all be bad on tack 11 - a tack that saw Green Peace make a 888Nm tack due west to avoid trouble.

Some strong sailing brought A Smoked Cheese Pig back in contention by tack 12 and into the lead on tack 13 - a lead which he kept by the end of the week.

Towards the back and Valencia had gone swimming again - this time off the deck of Lukes Giants. Neither At it again or No-Eye Deer could get to him in time to prevent him spending 2 tacks in the water.

Atlético Tcf will begin next week making repairs as he to had Zaki at the wheel when he collided with Maio.


Pool C
Screenshot 1 - Screenshot 2 - Standings

By tack 4 Lythgoe's Disciples had taken up position at the front of the fleet - with Förbrytarbeteende IK, Apathetic Thistle and Hoops! the closest to him. Another half dozen boats are within striking distance - one of whom, Cow Tipping Frogs, is there thanks to some nifty sailing through the Azores.

Lythgoe's Disciples stretched his lead by tack 7 as the other contenders got hung up trying to pass waypoint 4 but Apathetic Thistle finally sorted his crew out and launched them into 1st place by the end of tack 8.

Tack 10 and Apathetic Thistle had been joined by hodol kutkut but both were heading for the north coast of South America - a course they both corrected quickly.

Navigation seemed to be a problem on board Cow Tipping Frogs - we're still unsure exactly what they were doing on tack 10 and 11 but as long as they were having fun

Tack 11 was unkind to Galatasarky as well as it saw him crash into Boa Vista in the Cape Verde group when 5th was in his sights.

Tack 13 and Apathetic Thistle had pulled away from hodol kutkut due to the latter's easterly (rather than southerly) heading - a course which saw him fall back into 6th. And by the end of the week Apathetic Thistle was on his own entering the southern Atlantic having passed the 5th waypoint.

Hoops! again ended the week in the middle of the pack having started so well by repeating his troubles from the previous week and making a real meal out of trying to pass a waypoint . This may come back to haunt him as he will start next week going backwards as he, and The Cooler King, will be using their 1st tack to go to the assistance of The Drog's Ballacks who lost a crewman overboard on the very last tack.

Pool D
Screenshot - Standings

Close racing here as LANESRA, Darlo Queens, grob's grasshoppers, Kazma United and Bullys Special Prize are all up there for the few tacks. This carries on until tack 7 by which point Kazma United has fallen back slightly and A Team of Johnsons has also joined the fray. So to has Honeyballs who is only just ahead as the fleet approach waypoint 4.

But with the wayline in sight some terrible navigation by crewman Defoe on tack 9 take Honeyballs in completely the wrong direction and it takes her a few tacks to get back on track.

Meanwhile LANESRA and Darlo Queens take back the lead and temporarily head off line towards northern Brazil and Bullys Special Prize collides with the Cape Verde Island of Santo Antao. Kazma United also had some trouble on tack 10 when crewman Rooney took them on a 600Nm detour.

But Honeyballs was not going to let the midweek problems ruin her week and after giving her crew a stern talking to she was back with the leaders by the end of tack 12 and with Darlo Queens being stationery for 2 tacks after losing Valencia over the side (neither LANESRA or Honeyballs could help) the race was as close as ever and when the week came to a close Honeyballs was back out in front. Superb racing there

At the back is Naked Pirates whose week never recovered from losing a crewman overboard on tack 4 and although Robots in Disguise, as one of the two boats to respond to his SOS (the other being Mid Table Struggler) did save him a tack he never really go going and could be lucky to make port before the claxon sounds in 3 weeks time.


3 weeks to go in this leg but it's likely that the leaders will be in port in 2. Who'll be first to claim 15 points?

Sounds about right for me - I don't know my arse from my elbow and will be starting next leg facing the wrong way! Come on, Flyman. Slow down a bit will ya!

Great work, Romyn.