Tutorial: Setting up a desktop for a new regatta leg

[omar]

This tutorial shows how to set up a desktop for
a new regatta leg on a new installation of vrtool.
Some default configurations have to be changed.

1) Run vrtool. In the menu choose File > Load Vector Chart. Choose a vector chart
(use either low resolution world3.cht or download high resolution d_gshhs_h.cht from vrtoutoulz)

2) In the menu choose View > Properties panel.
This will open the panel to the right, if not already opened.

3) Select the Winds Tab. Locate Config panel and
click the button in the right side of Polars edit box.
Choose polar file (p.e. clipper_pro.csv from vrtoutoulz).

Click [Apply] button

4) Check the [x]Interpolate windspeeds checkbox. This will instruct
the polars engine to interpolate boatspeeds for windspeeds between two polar lines

5) Select the Boats tab. Check [x]Update Friends too checkbox.
This is important, even if working offline with the Firefox Cache Importer.

6) Select the Other tab.
- Set first wind update time. Use local time
- Set the New Track Start option to [x]Start at current position.
(With this option you start new designed tracks and Weather Routing
calculations at current time/position )
- Check [x]Save/Load regatta config to Nav files - This will save
the "regatta settings" in the desktop file, allowing the use of the program
in multiple races by loading different desktops.

7) In the menu select View> Boat Attitude to show the boat attitude panel.
Click the [settings] button in the top left of the Boat Attitude panel.
The settings will show in the bottom of the BA panel
- Set regatta start date/time (local time)
- Click [Point] button and point your first destination in the chart
( choose an intermediate destination, not the leg finish line )

8) In the menu select File > Save desktop as. Choose a desktop name
and save the desktop.

restart vrtool (so that all options are saved) and load the new desktop.

[Hirsutum]

Hi Omar,

I am a newbie to VRTool, while a senior sailor with some IT background. First of all I express my respect and gratitude for your excellent VRTool.
This morning I found and installed VRTool (v1.9). I reviewed the materials available and played a couple of hours with the tuning. I am succeed in loading ugrib wind charts, but I am afraid, I cannot connect to my VR screen in Firefox.

I followed your hints as outlined in this tutorial. I gave a couple of trial setups, because the Properties panel might have slightly changed. No regatta data from Tour de France a la Voile arrives in VRTools from Mozilla on my XP. I checked out: yes, I can locate more 'plugtmp' folders within my Mozilla temporary folder.

Specifically which pathname do we need entering in VRTool, so it does have correct access to the regatta data/scene browsed by Firefox?

Thank you with kind regards,
Peter

[Hirsutum]

I'v been succeed in sorting out the issue above. It was me that failed to hit at the correct path for a while .
Since I entered it, VRTool is a great tool in my hands. I appreciate it very much. Congrats and thank you for it again! Péter

[OldChapZ]

Hi Omar,
Specifically which pathname do we need entering in VRTool, so it does have correct access to the regatta data/scene browsed by Firefox?
Peter

Try %TEMP% (sic). It should work (Windows Environment Constant). It's the way VRTool (and lot of other softs) find it.
The real path depends on your OS (Seven, Vista, XP).

[Hirsutum]

Thanks OldChapZ - just now, after more days I've caught that it's you -not Omar- who provides me with this help .
I found the solution. For days I've been an active user, and appreciate VRTool in daily practice.
Have a nice day, have fair winds!
Thank you, Peter