Virtual Volvo Ocean Race

The VVOR is all about your routing which is down to the skill / luck of choosing which direction to go in for the given forecast pattern.  yes the weather patterns could be done to a greater accuracy (which is why it shows boats on the smae heading and wind speeds going at different hull speeds), but that would require more server space. 

as for all the additional electronic aids, yes it was wrong of volvo to add them as a pay as you go option, but like all yacht racing it is sometimes about the cheque book. that said i have seen a none aided boat in the top 5 consistently .  whether you loose 5 or 5000 places at this point in time is meaningless.  its all about the finish, currently ive got a friend in the top 200 but he is two days sail NE of my position and im in more wind so hopefully i'll overtake.

personally i wont use the aids, but ive also gone from top 2000 to 13000 (when there was only 20000) and back again. so its not about time online or the electronic aids you buy, its about the route YOU choose.  everyone has the same forecasts to go on.

its down to the individual to either put in massive hours and hope they get the breaks as and when they happen, or just use long sighted judgement and luck to get to the top of the fleet.

if you ask me thats what real sailing is about too!   so quiting would be pointless as its a best of 6 out of 9 legs (so a long way to go yet) and its also a nice distraction from work. plus you could win a car.

just my view.