Virtual sailing is a growing aspect of sailing…

The Virtual Vendee globe and the virtual Volvo were used as promotional tools by the real races getting an opportunity to everyone to go around the world like their heroes in the comfort of an armchair. Virtual Regatta (www.virtualregatta.com) from Many players is the main provider out there gathering more than 40 000 players for each races. Forecasting, general strategy, weather and tide understanding, speed polars and routing  are the main tool  (with some time and a few euros in hand if you want to be competitive). Other websites are being developed. Each of them have their own strength. I personally like www.sailonline.org which I think propose the virtual sailing the closest to reality with dynamic wind changes and therefore can be used as a true strategy learning tool.

Virtual regatta interface ( mini transat 2009, end of leg one approaching Funchal)

Results of my various Virtual boats Virtual Regatta

Volvo Ocean race 2008-2009 : 9 legs from Alicante to Stockholm. 220 000 participants on a VOR70
Tcsailingcoachdotcom : 113th. Best leg : 189th (Cochin-Singapore)
Viviane(co-skipper my sister Morgane) : 934th. Best leg : 71st (Mastrand-Stockholm)

Vendee Globe 2008-2009 : 280 000 participants
Tcsailingcoachdotcom ( co skipper my mum) : 3849th in 94 days 23h 33min (IMOCA60)

Challenge the champions La Baule-Dakar. 4200 participants
Tcsailingcoachdotcom : 299th in 13 days 20h 02min ( Lada poch trimaran)

Istanbul Europa Race 2009 : 40 000 participants ( 3 legs)
Tcsailingcoachdotcom : 408th in 17 days 23h 40 min ( best leg 44th) (IMOCA 60)

Transat 6.50 La Rochelle-Bahia 2009 : 45 000 participants
Tcsailingcoachdotcom : 4th in 24days12h 14min (mini6.50)
La Rochelle-Funchal :17th
Funchal Bahia : 33rd

Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 ( Oseo les entrepreneurs Start : 3000 participants)
Tcsailingcoachdotcom : 10th in 16days 7h 35min ( IMOCA 60)

Jules Verne Trophy ( race against the clock around the world in a maxi trimaran)
Spirit of Tralee( co skipper Jean Luc from France) has finished 147th on the old version trimaran (no pro sails) after 47 days and a few hours of sailing around the world...

Sailonline (full results easily accessible on website)

Round white Island race ( NZ) 2009
Tcsailingcoach : 24th / 601 entries ( first 40.7)
First event. Pretty surprised I must say! slow start mid fleet but very strong final 15 hours upwind.

Maputo Durban race ( South Africa) 2010
Tcsailingcoach : 11th /567 entries ( first 40.7)
Not a bad one! two helming (pressed wrong button on autohelm) mistakes but a solid strategy

Rabat -Alicante ( Spain) 2010
Tcsailingcoach : 24th / 581 entries ( trimaran 60ft)
One missed opportunity off the coast of Cartagena (near mar Menor)

North sea open 2010
Tcsailingcoach : 143rd / 599 entries ( seacart 30)
oops... a series of poor decisions adding up!

La Rochelle-Gijon (firts leg mini pavois) 2010
Tcsailingcoach : 8th/464 entries (mini6.50)
Back to virtual racing after a good few months off and once more I am showing I like racing mini6.50 and it is only a bit of bad luck with the final weather update and an anticipation I missjudged that costed me a top 3 finish and why not the win.

Gijon-La Rochelle (second leg mini pavois) 2010
Tcsailingcoach :68th/464 entries (mini6.50)
Ouch! Was unavailable for start and left my mini under auto-pilot off the line with a delayed command... But my weather analysis was pretty much inexistant and by the time I took the helm I was too far east in no wind and I could only shoot back west in very light air to line up behind the leading bunch having dropped a good 3 hours on them. I then had a solid race regularly climbing the fleet and overtaking boats.