New Android App for PY calculation
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10847
Printed Date: 15 Jul 25 at 3:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New Android App for PY calculation
Posted By: Johnwin
Subject: New Android App for PY calculation
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 2:24pm
|
Hi I recently noticed that a member of our local club was using an app on his iPhone to calculate the race results and so I tried to find one on Android that I could use. There wasn't one(!) so I decided to produce one myself. I've now finished it and it is available for free on the Google Play Store for anyone with an Android phone. Please search under 'sailing race calc' to find it. I would love to hear your thoughts on the app and any way that I can improve it. The latest version has the complete list of RYA PY Numbers so that you can simply select your boat and then the PY is automatically entered into the calculation. Thanks John |
Replies:
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 3:31pm
One for IRC would be great too 
|
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 3:48pm
|
Hi laser193713 That would probably be fairly straightforward to do, although maybe without the look-up feature since there seems to be over 4000 IRC numbers. Do you think that would be popular with people? Mathematically, the calculation is just the same without the 1000x element so I could probably do that quite quickly. What do you think? Thanks John |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:00pm
| If you could import a spreadsheet of your fleet with their IRC numbers into it then it would certainly be popular! |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:05pm
|
Hmmm, interesting! How big are the fleets normally? Sorry for the questions but I am a simple dinghy sailor! I looked at the IRC list of 4000+ boats and thought - perhaps not built in like the PY numbers (77 boat types). Thanks John |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:08pm
| Depends what race/series... potentially 50 boat fleets would be a good start? That would cover most sub divisions of IRC in round the island race etc, or at least your main rivals anyway! |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:26pm
|
That could be possible. I'll have a look next week and see what I can sort out. At first I may just produce a simple one that lets you calculate the result from the time and the IRC and then provide a later release with data importing. Thanks for your input. John |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:42pm
Here's a few screenshots of the App in use: |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:43pm
|
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:44pm
|
Posted By: Oli
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:48pm
|
dont have an android but good work. i would like to see a race app that allows you to have the entrants listed with there py and just a finish button next to them, enter a start time at top so you can just hit finish as they do. export via excel for upload would be good. irc version too. ------------- https://skiff-media.teemill.com/" rel="nofollow - T-SHIRTS https://www.photo4me.com/profile/23908/" rel="nofollow - PRINTS |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 4:52pm
|
Hi slop_idol Thanks for your comments. I think the IRC version will be my next project, although I have been thinking about the automatic timer version that you mentioned. That may be delayed now while I sort out IRC. Thanks again John |
Posted By: Oli
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 5:07pm
|
would be great to see a true race officer app (i dont have the skills to do it myself). ------------- https://skiff-media.teemill.com/" rel="nofollow - T-SHIRTS https://www.photo4me.com/profile/23908/" rel="nofollow - PRINTS |
Posted By: Contender443
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 5:11pm
|
Is the android app available to download? I have just found one for my i-phone . Oh and does anyone know one which will let you put in locally adjusted handicaps or personal handicaps? ------------- Bonnie Lass Contender 1764 |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 6:00pm
|
Hi slop_idol - my plan is to go forwards with something more comprehensive so watch this space. Contender443 - the android one is available on Google Play Store - just search for 'sailing race calc' - the App is called SailCalc and has a picture of my Albacore as the icon. The next version of SailCalc will allow locally adjusted handicaps and personal handicaps, but I might work on that one after I complete the first IRC version. So just download the current version of SailCalc now and then watch out for the next update. The i-phone one is what prompted me to write the Android App because I felt left out! Interestingly, the i-phone app is a little bit free-spirited when it comes to rounding the results of fractions of a second. The i-phone app always rounds fractions of a second down after the calculation, whereas the RYA state that up to 0.5 seconds the result should be rounded down and above 0.5s should be rounded up. I have made sure that my app does exactly that. I know it's pedantic, but if people are relying on my App for race results then I want to be sure that it complies with the rules. Thanks John |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 6:07pm
|
Oh, sorry, Contender443, one more thing. In the current version you can still enter any PY number that you want to, you don't have to use the RYA numbers. However it won't store them yet. The next version will allow you to build your own database of PY numbers for local boats or personal handicaps. For people that use the standard RYA numbers, then they can be looked up and inserted automatically in the current version. In the meantime, you can simply type in the local PY numbers and calculate the result. Thanks John |
Posted By: LASERNUT
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 6:44pm
|
Any chance of a full race entry - such as put everyone who has signed in into the race and then let the app run the 5-4-1-0 and time it? Then as someone comes round for a lap, you just tap their boat on the screen to log it at that time and same with the finish times. Then it can do the results instantly! ------------- Sailmakers https://morgan-sails.com/ |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 7:03pm
|
Hi Lasernut That's the plan for the version after the next one. The next version will have custom PY numbers and a local database, then after that I am looking at the complete race package. Not sure how long that will take to release, but it is certainly my plan. In the meantime, the IRC version will be next, then on from that one. If you download the current version, then as the new ones become available you should be notified. Thanks for your input. John |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 29 Apr 13 at 9:47am
|
Hi I just want to thank everyone for their input, and the ideas you have given me. I am now working on the IRC version, and I will put a notice here and begin a new thread when I launch that one. Thanks again John |
Posted By: marke
Date Posted: 29 Apr 13 at 10:59am
|
Hi John Our race management software has browser sign on for events defined in the club programme, then automatic timing from a baseline set by just synching the system once with the first flag/light signal. OOD just needs to record the finish of each boat by clicking the entry as they cross the line. Once the race is complete the OOD publishes the result by clicking one button - the system calculates the race results and automatically updates the series results and posts them on the website. Final results are usually available on the website a few minutes after the last boat finishes. Supports multiple starts, multiple fleets per start, personal/local/RYA handicaps, shorten course, submission to PYS, personal performance analysis, and even pursuit races with multiple finish lines (particularly tricky). Its taken about 8 years to develop from first version and I'm still working on some tweaks for the next version. It has been used for almost 800 races with a pool of about 50 different OODs with a wide range of IT experience. It currently works on any browser and users a local database to maintain state. Its not an app, but you are welcome to use any ideas in developing your app. Mark |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 29 Apr 13 at 4:13pm
|
Mark That's great - thanks. If you don't mind, I'll PM you once I begin the OOD App project. In the meantime I am just preparing to launch the IRC version. Thanks again John |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 03 May 13 at 11:19am
|
Hi Guys As you may have noticed, I have now adapted the App to work for IRC numbers too. However, at the moment, on download figures, the PY App is the most popular, so the next update will be to this one. I am now working on the local database option to allow you to enter your own PY numbers either to amend the RYA figures for boats, or to build a database of personal handicaps. I'll let you know when it is ready for you to download. Thanks John |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 03 May 13 at 12:17pm
|
John,
Can you upload the app to the amazon app store. Cheers Paul |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 03 May 13 at 12:49pm
|
Hi Paul I certainly can. I am just opening an account with Amazon to do this so hopefully I will get that done this afternoon. The App then has to be verified by them so not sure how long that will take. If you spot it before me, then please let me know. Thanks John |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 07 May 13 at 7:55am
|
Hi Paul That's both Apps now available on the Amazon App store (still both are free). Amazon take a while approving the Apps before releasing them, but that is all done now. Thanks John |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 08 May 13 at 8:24pm
|
John,
Got the app and it works well. Only query is, would you be able to put start time and finish time in, rather than elapsed time? Cheers Paul |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 02 Jul 13 at 11:31am
|
Hi Guys - sorry I've been away for a while, real work took over! Just finishing off the latest update to the PY Calc App. This version allows you to build your own database of PY numbers so it is ideal for clubs that operate a personal handicap scheme or modify the basic RYA PY numbers to take account of local conditions. The database allows you to import RYA numbers and modify them, or to build your own data from scratch. Everything is editable, so it can be a totally personal database of boats and numbers. I am just checking for bugs, but it should be ready to download in about a week. I'll keep you posted. Thanks John |
Posted By: Hector
Date Posted: 02 Jul 13 at 10:24pm
|
Sounds excellent - will look out for it. Some questions:
Does anyone have experience of suitable devices for taking afloat - ideally BIG screen and touch capable, but definately waterproof as our 16' Committee boat gets quite wet in a breeze - even under the cuddy. Is the Race Officer package referred to earlier available to other clubs? again - what device is suitable to run it? thanks. ------------- Keith 29er 661 (with my daughters / nephew) 49er 688 (with Phil P) RS200 968 Vortex (occasionally) Laser 2049XX |
Posted By: Johnwin
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 8:16am
|
Hi Hector To find the App just search for Sail Race Calc on Google Play store. At the moment it needs you to enter the elapsed time, I haven't yet implemented a start/finish timer but I am looking at that next. Again, at the moment it does not export the results. It is designed to simplify the calculation process and the new version will store a complete database of custom PY numbers if your club uses personal handicaps or modified PY numbers. The race officer package is my next big project but it is difficult to promise a date because it does depend on my free time. It will be as soon as possible though! The Sony Experia Tablet Z is supposed to be fully waterproof but I haven't used one. It does get excellent reviews and has a 10 inch screen so sounds ideal for your needs, it is also a standard Android device so my App should run on it with no problem. I think the race officer package that was referred to earlier is a PC based system and so is different from my App. Thanks for your interest. John |
Posted By: Hector
Date Posted: 10 Oct 13 at 5:58pm
|
Any progress? ------------- Keith 29er 661 (with my daughters / nephew) 49er 688 (with Phil P) RS200 968 Vortex (occasionally) Laser 2049XX |