'e-yacht' yacht racing browser and editor

If locale set in your PC is not English (United States), Please change the locale to English (United States) because 'e-yacht' is developed for US PC (English).

Outline of 'e-yacht'

'e-yacht software can display up to 50 boats on the Windows PC screen. 'e-yacht software consists of 'BROWSER' and 'EDITOR' The 'BROWSER' is the tool to only browse yacht racing scene on the PC. The 'EDITOR' is the tool to make all necessary data for the browser, such as GPS tracks, set start time, set mark position, and etc. And also it can prepare all necessary data for distribution by web-site or CD-ROM with one click. Browser will be able to be operated easily with the pop-up help showing at each button, so the followings are described on EDITOR and mainly 'How To Make Necessary data to browse yacht racing scene'

CONTENTS

Download Compressed File and UnZip Reccomended GPS and Settings of GPS Mount GPS on the Boat -- Protection from Water -- Recommendable Position on the boat Track Data Streaming from GPS to PC and Edit track Data 1. GPS Data Streaming (Download) 2. Edition of Track Data Make 'Race Administration File' ( 1 -- Edit on the EDIT screen) -- Input Boat Name, GPS File Name, Race Name and etc. -- Input Starting Time, Boat Length, etc. (After above works, yacht race scene can be seen on your PC. The other works, Settings of Mark Position, Start Line, etc., are done on the race browser's screen ) Make 'Race Administration File' ( 2 -- Edit on the Race Browser Screen) -- Display Direction --- North oriented / Windward oriented -- Settings of Mark Position, Start Line, Race Course Make 'Race Administration File' ( 3 -- Make Wind Data File on the Race Browser Screen) Contents of 'Race Administration File' ( It can be seen with NOTEPAD) Create Distribution File for WEB or CD-ROM

Download Compressed File and UnZip

SetUp Runtime Files -- Create some folder to store the compressed file. (recommended) -- Download 'Setup_Runtime.zip' (compressed file) to the folder. -- UnZip 'Setup_Runtime.zip' then new folder will be created. -- Click 'setup.exe' in the new folder to install Runtime Files necessary for 'e-yacht'. Setup e-yacht -- Create some folder to store the compressed file. (recommended) -- Download 'e-yacht.zip' (compressed file) to the folder. -- UnZip 'e-yacht.zip' then 'e-yacht_editor' folder will be created. -- Click 'e-yacht.exe' to start the software.

Recommended GPS and Settings of GPS

Recommended GPS and Track Data Format Recommended GPS: 'e-yacht' can download track data from recent GARMIN GPS, such as GEKO-201, e-trex series CAMO, wrist type FORERUNNER, etc. Required properties for GPS are - Enough memory to store the track data, Low battery consumption at least GPS can works during race, small and light weight. GEKO-201 can store 10000 track points and works more than 10 hours without battery change and weight is light(88g), in addition, under $200 is reasonable, we think. Track Data Format: Recorded track data in GPS is transferred to PC by 'e-yacht' and the data is recorded in PC. At this time 'e-yacht' creates 'DTR' format file or 'TRK' format file. These format is written in text data and the data can be seen by NOTEPAD. 'e-yacht' can read or write in both format. Default format is 'DTR' Settings of GPS -- Clear all memories -- It makes shorten the download time and easier to edit GPS data. -- Make sure that 'Recording' is 'ON' -- Set 'Interval' according to your purpose * AUTO----This mode is suitable for long time race. When go straight in the same speed, GPS does not record middle point, but course or speed is changed, GPS records this important data. So small file size can be obtained. * Every 2 Seconds----In case of details of boat action is necessary, such as match race, 2 seconds interval is recommended. Lessons from our experience. --- Batteries are to be changed before every use --- Do not believe rechargeable battery! Use reliable new battery! Failure at the big event is tragedy!

Mount GPS on the boat

1. Water Protection ----especially for dinghies----Plastic bag or water tight box Water protection is necessary to keep dry in the wet conditions. For this purpose, plastic bag or water tight box (for foods) are useful. -- Plastic Bag--- In case of OP class, there is ample space to mount GPS without careless touch. We mount GPS at lower side of mast step with plastic bag. -- Water tight Box --- In case of sloop, water tight box is recommended to protect from careless touches by spinaker and a pole, etc. 2. Mounting position----Nearer place to the center of boat -- Boat shape on PC is drawn as 'GPS position is center of yacht', so GPS should be mounted nearer to the center of the boat. But it is not so important to know these relative position if all boat mount at same position. -- Mounting position should be determined considering GPS signal conditions and/or boat layout by each classes.

Track Data Streaming from GPS to PC and Edition of track data

GPS data streaming (Download) 1. Connect GPS and PC with data cable -- GPS streams track data in the format of 'NMEA0183'. PC receives the signals through 'RS-232C Port' (serial port) with data cable. -- Usual desktop PC has a 'RS-232C Port' (serial port) connector (usually 9 pins) -- Recent Note PC does not have serial port. In this case 'USB�|RS232C conversion cable' or 'RS232C card' will be needed to connect GPS and PC. 2. Setting I/O Format of GPS: 'I/O Format is to be set as 'GARMIN' 3. Setting Serial Port Number of PC Start 'e-yacht' and select 'Edit', then click 'GPS Download' button. GPS Download page will be shown like below. To search COM port, Turn on GPS and click 'Search COM Port' 4. Download Make sure that GPS is turned on, then click 'Download' button to start downloading. If communication error occur, check GPS settings, GPS switch, Cable connection, COM port number, etc. Edition of GPS file The purpose of GPS data edition is eliminate unnecessary data such as out of race time, wrong position data, etc. Usually, edition of GPS is not needed so long as data is cleared before racing. When download is successfully completed, click 'Edit GPS track' button to show GPS track editing page (Below) 1. Eliminate out of race time data ---When Download data include old data, it can be eliminate to save file size. If GPS track data was cleared before racing, this job is not needed. Drag and drop with left button on the 'Time Bar' (red belt, bottom of above picture) to choose required time zone. Drag and drop with right button to eliminate unnecessary time zone. 2. Eliminate wrong data ----Discontinuous data can be found easily on the track chart. Move mouse to the wrong data and click with right button to eliminate it. Usually, in case of yacht, wrong data is rare because GPS signal is stable. However, unsure data should be eliminated carefully 'e-yacht' has a powerful tool to eliminate wrong data automatically. 'Filter' tool detects wrong data, ex.leaped position, by 'speed limit' filter and/or Elevation filter. 3. Smoothing Zig-Zag tracks --- Numerical resolution of GPS is not high, so the tracks shown on the screen seems like a steps. Especially, the steps is found at the data recorded in short time interval. When the data recorded in 'Interval/Time', 'Smoothing Zigzag Track Data' button is enabled. The data can be refined by this function. When All GPS files are prepared, exit this page.

Create Race Administration File (1 --- Edit on the Edit Page)

When All GPS files are prepared, the next job is 'EDIT GPS data'. Click it to go to EDIT page shown in below. All data in the green frame (below) are filled out, race scene can be seen. Other necessary data, ex. Mark positions, line, and course can be set later on the 'race screen' Input Each Boat Data 1. Start 'e-yacht' and select 'EDIT' and select 'Edit Race Admin Data. Following page will appears. (Below) 2. Input 'Title 1, 2' if it is needed. (*) mark can be ignored 3. Click 'Chose GPS file' button, then GPS files are listed in the below frame. Choose Boat Name in the list, then input Boatname. The chosen boats are listed in the right frame. 4. Input 'Starting Date/time' and 'Finishing Date/tome'. 'Date/time' format is strictly ruled by Windows. So imitate default format written in the box. (Tips) Set all watches to the right time showing on the GPS. 5. Layline angle (to the windward): default value is 45 degrees at UpWind and 160 degrees at DwonWind. 6. Time Diff: Time Difference is defined as 'Local Time - UTC'. 7. Magnetic Variation: Input Magnetic Variation in degrees. (Minus value = Westerly) 8. LOA (Length Overall): Input Length Overall in meters (Default value = 4.7m) In case of various length of boat included such as ocean racer, input average length. 9. Pre Start time: Input time period before starting to be shown in minutes. Default value is 3 minutes. In case of match racing, 4 or 5 minutes will be better to see the starting duel. All necessary data above mentioned are filled out, then click 'Save file and show race' to proceed to Race Browser Screen.

Create Race Administration File (2 --- Edit on the Race Browser Screen)

More data, Mark Position and Line Position, etc. are set on 'Race Browser Page. Orient Map / Map Direction In case of Mark Rounding Race, windward oriented map is understandable. Average Wind Direction is set for this purpose. 1. Set Average Wind Direction -- Uncheck 'Auto Trace' then all race area map appear. Select 'Windward' in 'Direction Frame' then the tips (below) is shown on thumbnail map at the top-right of the screen. Click the small map with right button following this tips, direction will be changed. 2. Set Line, Mark, Course order Terms used in this section is defined as -- Mark => To be rounded such as 'Windward Mark', 'Side Mark', 'Leeward Mark'. These are written as MK1, MK2.... -- Line => To be crossed such as 'Starting Line', 'Finishing Line', 'Gate'. These are written as L1, L2 -- Course => Order of Line to be crossed and Mark to be rounded, written in the Sailing Instructions. For example, Starting Line (L1) => Windward Mark(MK1) => Side Mark(MK2) - - - - Set Mark Position -- Uncheck 'Auto Trace',then 'Set Mark', 'Set Line', 'Set Course' buttons will be enabled. Then click 'Set Mark' to be a 'Mark Setting Mode' While 'Auto Trace' is unchecked, the map magnification can be increased with left button or decreased with right button. When you wish to set mark1, click the map with left button where mark1 will be set. When map is appropriate size, set mark with 'shift + left button'. Then Mark 1 will be set. Mark 2 and Mark 3 can be set by this way. If setting is failure, the mark can be canceled with 'Shift + right button'. Set Lines -- Uncheck 'Auto Trace' to enable 'Set Line' button, then click this button to be a 'Line Setting Mode' Set lines in the same way as the mark setting. In case of settings of starting line, stop boat moving at starting time, all boat will be near to the starting line as shown below. Assumed starting line will be set easily. Seeing these boat position, considering PMS boat information and all boats can cross the line, determine 2 points to set the starting line. Finishing line can be set in the same way as starting line. Confirm all boats cross the line. If fail to set line, 'Shift + click' to delete it. Set Course -- Uncheck 'Auto Trace' to enable 'Set course' button, then click this button to be a 'Course Setting Mode' Then click line and mark following the course order written int the sailing instruction. (see below) Click 'Set Course' button again to escape from course setting mode.

Create Race Administration File (3 --- Create Wind Direction Data)

Click 'Graph' in the 'Page' frame at the right side of the screen, then the Wind Direction / Boat Speed graph will appear.(shown below) Wind direction data is useful to know wind shift and lay line on the map, etc. and it gives a great help to study the course strategy. Make Wind Direction Data -- Start 'e-yacht' and select 'Edit' to be a 'Edit Mode'. Then click 'Graph' to show the Wind graph. Then Wind Graph screen (above) will appear. And 'Edit Wind Data' button will appears at the top left of this screen. Click the button to be a 'Make Wind Data Mode' and the button color will change to yellow. -- Left graph 'BCO / TWD' (BCO = Boat Course, TWD = True Wind Direction) shows all boat course. Usually, boat sail to windward mark in Starboard tack or Port tack. Wind direction will be a center of the boat course. When at the 'Make Wind Data Mode' (button color is yellow), click the center of the boat course assuming True Wind Direction, from starting point to the end point. And also at the down wind, wind axis can be estimated by the boat course. This time, the cursor shows Starboard course, Port course and wind axis as shown below. After making data is finished, click 'Make Wind Data' button again. Then the data is saved automatically and exit from 'Make Wind Data' mode.

Contents of 'Race Administration File

All edited data is recorded in 'RaceAdmin' folder and it can be read by NOTEPAD and also can be changed by NOTEPAD or the same kind of text file editor. NOTE 1. All suffix ( WF, LG, ST etc.) are to be Upper Case. 2. Format of Date and time is strictly ruled. Be careful on the format.

Create Distribution Files -- (For Web Site and CD-ROM)--

'e-yacht' can create distribution files for WEB site or CD-ROM. All necessary files are copied to the specified folder. CD-ROM file includes 'AUTORUN' info. These data are consist of several kind of files and it is so complicate to compile necessary data with no mistake. However, 'e-yacht' can compile them easily with simple job. Start 'e-yacht' and click 'Edit' to be a 'Edit Mode', then select 'Create Distribution File' button to show 'Create Distribution File' page as shown right. -- Folder Name must be filled out. -- Select race file name to be distributed listed in the list box. -- Select race file name to be shown at the starting up the 'e-yacht'. -- Choose the media you are going to distribute, WEB or CD-ROM. -- If you want to attach coast lines, check 'Attach map' ( Available only Japanese map. Sorry.) All works above mentioned are completed, click 'Create Distribution File', then all necessary files are recorded in the folder you created. In case of WEB, compress the folder (Zip) and upload the compressed file, and it can be attached to the mail. In case of CD-ROM, copy all files and folders recorded in specified file to CD-ROM. Race scene will be showed automatically when it is inserted.