eSail4VR for Virtual Regatta is available on all four stores

Cross-platform applicationeSail4VR dedicated to routing for Virtual Regatta, about I wrote a few days ago (¹), is available for download on online storesMac App Store (macOS), App Store (iOS/iPadOS), Google Play (Android), Windows Store. Just in time for the Route du Rhum!

To know everything in one click on this revolutionary application, It's on its website to install in your favorites. The application also has its FaceBook page, and its FaceBook Users Group.

eSail4VR is Synchronized on all your media whatever they are thanks to eSai4VR Cloud that you can activate in the settings (with subscription). You can perform multiple routings to different targets created to compare performance, Display followed boats and perform routing from their position to the created targets. The color of the sails on routes is derived from the colors defined in Virtual Regatta. Data labels (upper or lateral right depending on orientation) display the essential data on the running of your boat, from Virtual Regatta in real time.

Here are a preview of some tips and tricks to know well to perform quickly :

First of all Read the comparison options offered with and without subscription in the " Discover our offering " on the page cited above.

INTERFACE

The timeline (bottom ribbon) to move time forward/backward, allows you to display the progress of the boat on the routing by scrolling through the weather forecast with the boat. Theearth to enlarge/reduce (zoom +/-) and rotate the mapping.

• • Tablet and smartphone : by sliding with the fingers (clean!) either on the timeline, or the earth.
  • PC and Mac : with mouse wheel (or by sliding vertically with two fingers on the trackpad), by resting the pointer on the timeline or earth. Or by sliding with the left button pointer pressed either on the timeline, or the earth.

One can choose the wind display in the form of vectors and barbules, or animated particles, with or without color gradient.

Routing

Once routed to a target, isochrones are displayed. We disable / enable display by tapping on routing in the list on the left side drawer, tab Routings.

By moving the earth, we drag the target on each isochronous, a pivot point is displayed to restart a new routing from its location (button + or right click). The yellow line allows you to see very quickly the optimal routing to any point of any isochronous.

The isochrones steps are :

• 30 min up to 6 hours range,
• 1 h from 6 hours up to 12 hours range,
• 2 h from 12 hours up to 24 hours range
• 3 h from 24 hours up to 48 hours range
• 6 h from 48 hours up to 120 hours range,
• 12 h beyond.

When arrival is less than 12 hours range, We are back to a step of 3 h. You can also use a pivot point on the penultimate isochronous to initiate a finer routing before arrival.

Edition of orders

Once done, routing can be sent to Virtual Regatta. A tap/click on the send icon displayed to the right of the routing in the routing list (tab Routings in the left side drawer) first opens the list of orders to send :

Order types (marker 4):

• Auto = automatic selection of the best mode (Single mode without subscription)
• Wind = ("TWA") Pace regulator mode, looking for the best VMG (lock closed, ditto VR)
• Compass = (HDG) Heading tracking mode on each hop of the routing (lock opened, ditto VR)
• Mixture = mixed wind/compass mode depending on route and wind angles.
• Waypoint = mode through each point or target. Essential close to the coast or in narrow passages to avoid grounding. This is the "shave-pebbles" mode. It's not the best performer, but it allows you to go to sleep without risk !
• Skip orders tolerance : removal of redundant orders (similar successive headings) within a tolerance range (angle deviation) of x degrees to choose.
• The tacks are indicated by the arrows >> Red (Port tack) or << Green (Starboard tack).(marker 2)

Icon legend :

• Closed lock = wind mode, opened lock = compass mode, Manually editable (marker 1).
• The switch allows you to ignore an order, either automatically depending on the tolerance setting, either manually. In both cases the goal is to maximize the duration of the programming, especially for those who are not VIP (²) (marker 2).
• Posted heading : Wind angle if wind mode ("TWA"), Cap true if compass mode (Heading) (marker 3)
• Cap displayed in wind mode ("TWA") colored Green = VMG (marker 3)

Routing table

In the side drawer, the Routing tab has two icons : one to send orders to Virtual Regatta, available for ten minutes, the other to edit the complete routing table, to allow manual transfer of points for users without subscription.

Competitors, Players followed, Team

• All the information is gathered in the tab Followed from the left side drawer, accessible by the icon . We can sort the list to get an overview of the fleet (ranking, speed, name, sail).
• We display the boats followed or by team.
• The distance to the next door is displayed, except for records
• Long press (or right click) on a competitor allows you to launch a routing from its location.

And may the best win !

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(¹) eSail4VR The cross-platform revolution
(²) For the record, Virtual Regatta rules :

• • Without Full Pack, non-VIP = 2 programming points
  • With Full Pack, non-VIP = 9 programming points
  • VIP = 15 programming points (with or without options)

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