Features of Rak24u

RAK is a software program for the sail regattade, the 24 hours sailregatta of the Vereeniging van Kustzeilers in the Netherlands. The program determines the longest path within the maximum time limit.

Also it is possible during the regatta to recalculate the longest path for the remaining time. In a new situation new decisions must be made, like change of wind, or arriving later (or earlier) at a next buoy.

In addition constant monitoring of the actual position, and displaying this on the sea map is possible, together with  all information like actual speed, distance and bearing to the next buoy , VMG (Velocity Made Good), XTE (Cross Track Error) en ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) etc etc.

But RAK is able of even more functionality…

The prediction of the wind is available in many types of GRIB-files can be imported. Most GRIB files contain data with a “delta” van 3 hours. That means that wind predictions for a large number of locations (positions) are available with 3 hours in-between successive timestamps.  And that is pretty good for a regatta or a day-off sailing at sea.

RAK displays bitmap sea charts, which actually are an electronic copy of a paper chart in pixels. Such a bitmap is also called a raster map, which is just like a picture. On a monitor it will look like an original paper chart, and if you zoom in too much, it will become “grained”.

On top of a map the buoys, legs, wind barbs and GPS track will be drawn, based on data from the tables in RAK. So it is possible to draw a buoy of a bitmap chart in which that buoy is already present. If both coincide, the lat-long position of that buoy will probably be trustworthy. If there is a distance between them one is probably faulty and you are warned.

Bitmap charts can be made by yourself in RAK and calibrated (some points on the chart will be fixed with  Lat/Long posities)  or imported from eg. OziExplorer.

Next to bitmap charts RAK also is able to display GoogleMaps-like charts, with zoom-in and zoom-possibilities. And of course it is again possible to display the buoys, legs, GPS-track and the actual boat position.