FAQ

Is it possible to play with the same boat on two different computers?

Yes, it is possible to play on two different computers so long as you don't try to play at the same time. Remember to logout on your first computer and login on the second computer. Everything should then work as normal.

How can a boat that just joined the race sail in front of me?

Late starters in the leg are placed in the last 20% of the yachts. This is done so it still makes sense for people to join. There are over 100,000 boats in the race and they are very close to each other (especially at the start). As many new people join at the start of a Leg it can happen that a boat starts 2000 places in front of you while they are only 2 miles ahead of you in the water.

How do Auto Sails work?

When you activate this option, the boat will automatically choose to use the jib or the spinnaker. It is useful if you can see that the wind direction will change and you can’t be at your computer. You can only use the auto sail function with the standard sails (as opposed to the Pro Sails) so they will be slower if used for a long period of time. You need to ensure you have your Standard Sails selected before you to enable the automatic sails.

Step by step.
1. Choose the best sail for your current wind conditions (either jib or spinnaker)
2. Click AUTO
3. You should now have two buttons displayed in orange.
To disable auto sails, click on the orange auto button and it should go grey again.

Always press Ctrl and f5 (at the same time) on your keyboard to force a refresh before you leave your computer, to check that your instructions have been accepted. Alternatively, wait for a 10 minute update to confirm this.

What time is used in the Web Site and Programmable Pilot Option?

The time in use in the Web Site and Game is always GMT+2, unless clearly stated different.

00:00 GMT+2    =     00:00 (GMT+2)   =   00:00 CEST

I.E.( 12:00 GMT + 2    =   10:00 GMT )

The time shown is always the correct time and the GMT+2 is always the time description, not a Math Equation for people to make calculations.

Programmable Pilot Option also use GMT+2, so use the Game Clock, on top of the Game Map to make your calculations.

Why has my boat stopped?

There are two reasons why your boat might stop The stop sign shows on the boat on the water. It’s red and says STOP:
- You hit land (continent or an island). Always zoom your map in to see if there are any obstacles that you might hit. Some of the islands are very small.
- You have chosen the wrong sail for the wind. You have to choose the right sail and boat course for the wind speed/direction.

Can I change the colour of my boat?

You only can set the colouring of your yacht and sails when you initially registered and set up the boat.

Can I change the name of my boat?

No you can't. It's bad luck and not allowed in this game. You're free to drop in another boat if you wish.
The only time we can change a boat name is if it has been called an inappropriate name. In that case, we will change a boat name and it will be “renamedXX” (where XX is a number). Please refer to the terms and condition for more information about boat names. If you see one which is inappropriate please contact the helpdesk.

Why can't I see any wind in the game in some areas?

You need to zoom in a little bit to actually see the winds. If they're still not there hit the spacebar to reveal them. There is a limit to how many wind squares you can display.

You can also remove the wind from your display by clickingon this symbol. Click it again to show the winds once more.

There is wind over the land that is "in play" the same way wind over the sea is in play. Make sure you check out the land wind when you are near the coast as they may be very light. 

When are the wind charts updated?

The charts will update twice a day on 08:00 CEST ( 06:00 GMT) and 20:00 CEST (18:00 GMT). Be aware that Website timezone is GMT+2.

Is the world flat?

All yacht positions are calculated using spherical trigonometry formulas.
So the world is round.

How do I finish the leg?

To finish the leg properly you have to sail your yacht into the red circle that is marked around the finishing buoy. When you will reach the 30NM distance from the Finish Mark, the system will transport your boat to the finish point. You will know you have finished if a large FINISHED SCREEN appears over the area where your compass is. If your boat does not finish, it may mean that you have not sailed the correct course.

Does the game include currents? or tides?

No. This game does not include currents nor tides.

Are the orange lines the shortest way to finish?

The orange lines are just an indication how you should go. It may not be the fastest route.

When will each leg finish?

Each leg finishes a couple of days before the next leg starts. You will be teleported to the new start position and you will have the finishing rank you were in at that moment.

Why is a nearby boat going faster than me?

There are several reasons why a nearby boat may appear to be going faster than you.

1. The boat might be in a different "wind box" to you. The wind boxes centre around each arrow. The faster the wind, the faster the boat speed.

2. The boat near you may have a different sail up. Using the correct sail can make a huge difference to boat speed.

3. The server takes a snapshot of the game position once every 10 minutes. Although every action you take is represented on your screen in real time, the picture you are seeing of other boats around you is a one second snapshot within a 10 minute time frame. It can be as much as 19 minutes before you see an accurate picture (your 10 minutes and their 10 minutes )- and of course, if the nearby boat does something else in that time, the picture will change again. So, if the boat has moved from one wind area into another, or changed sail, it is quite possible that the boat can appear to be in different wind or travelling at different speeds.

This is most obvious at the time of wind changes when it can seem like the boats near you are still using the old wind and you are moving in the new wind. 

Where can I change my flag?

You can change your flag at your My Account page by changing your country.

My browser won't load the game

There could be lots of reasons why the game is not loading. Listed below are some of the things that might help

• Empty you temporary internet files
• Try using a different browser (for example, firefox, safari, google chrome or opera)
• Some users have had problems with AOL.
• Make sure you have the most up to date version of flash installed. You can get it here.
• Make sure you close down the game on one computer before opening it up on another one.
• Check you haven't reached the limit of your broadband connection (throttling)
• Make sure you have activated your account.

Please update your Flash Player by downloading it here.

I've asked for my activation-code several times, but I've never received it.

Leave a message in the Helpdesk, and we will activate your account manually.

Please make sure each boat has its own email address. If you use the same email address for two boats then the server may not be able to differentiate between the two boats and you may lose control of your first boat.

My boat track doesn't look like the route I took. Why?

The track you see behind your boat and other boats is "smoothed out" by the server. They are built with one marker every two hours.

The track is created by joining these marks together. So, sometimes, it can make it look like the track is coming out of the side of your boat.

This is why it can sometimes look like a boat has managed to go straight over a small island or avoided hitting land. 

Many sailors have said "I followed the exact track that XXX boat took and I ran aground but they didn't."

Always remember that the track is a representation and following one exactly could lead you into trouble. 

I’m asked to install flash player 10 and can’t play the game, what should I do?

 You are prompted to install flash 10 by default as it is the latest version, however flash 9 will still be sufficient. To solve the issue re-install flash 9 by going to your control panel and add/remove programs. Click Flash player (should be version 9.0.124.0) and then "Click here for support information". Then click "Repair".

Redress

We are unable to offer redress in any circumstances to individuals or groups of sailors.

How to download the Certificate ?

First you need to have installed the Adobe Acrobat Reader, is free and you will find it at Adobe.com web page.

Then you have to access the web site by the English page ( English Flag on top right of the web site).

Is not working if you try to download via French or Spanish page.