FAQ

DSRC - Dinghy Sailing Race Control is a free Android app for

Race Start Sequences, Lap and Race Timing and Instant results.

Designed to be

• As Simple and Intuitive as possible to use by the Race Team (Who often only do duties one or twice a year 😀 )

• But still Flexible to meet most Sailings Clubs needs and compatible with existing race management processes.

• Reduce the workload on the hero who does the club results
  (Users in UK, Holland, Australia, USA, and Mexico that we know of)
  

Features...

- Stores and manages competitor information, including: Fleet name, Helm name, Boat class, Sail number, and PYN (rating)

- Has built in Ratings system, that can be updated manually to add club specifics, and 'on mass' when new PYNs are released (overwrite or merge)

- Can built a list for single fleet or multi-fleet, multi-start racing. Either:

- From imported competitor information (overwrite or merge)

- Fleets manually defined

- 'Restart Sailing' changes made to competitor import from web based sign-on Sail Event

- Manages single fleet main start sequence (5, 4, 1, Go, 3, 2, 1, Go, Custom, or RC Countdown), provides flag reminders (optionally custom), optional 'horn' reminders, and optional voice or beeps at 10s, 5s ,4s, 2s, 1s prior to next horn/flag

- Optional pre-start countdowns (0, 10s, 30s, 1m, 2m, 5m, or custom) prior to main start sequence

- Manages multi-fleet rolling starts sequences based on fleet/start sequences defined by user

- Manages starts for pursuit races, including both advance and delayed starts

- Pursuit start interval can be either 60 or 30 seconds

- Manages RC single fleet races, with reduced single class info displayed

- Includes single fleet race abort to reset starting sequence e.g. general recall, followed by full restart when ready

- Includes multi-fleet race abort, individual recall, general recall of each fleet, and termination of rolling starts i.e. 'All Clear' after last planned start

- Optional 'Pause' between planned starts for All, or GR only

- Captures and displays individual boat last lap times (up to 10), plus number of laps completed (adjusted to fleet start for multi-fleet)

- Uses differing colours for each increasing lap to aid identification of whose have not yet crossed the timing line

- Includes search by Sail No and Helm name, and now in race mode, allows lap capture and new competitor additions (restart sailing)

- Allows for incorrect lap timing via long press, which reduces lap count by one and reversion to previous lap time

- Optionally allow the 'instant undo' of the last timings capture by pressing the same entry a second time

- Allows assignment of race code (RET, DSQ, etc.) to individual competitor

- Allows corrections to be made during or post race, including adding competitors

- Applies PYN handicaps in real time to calculate corrected times, and from these, finishing positions

- Optionally displays elapsed and corrected times in mm:ss or seconds

- Can automatically or manually save race results for post race or later review, and file management

- Multi-fleet results are displayed by fleet, and the final position with each fleet (Coded competitors are listed last)

- Preliminary Series results (appendix A)

- Allows race number to be defined, displayed at race time, and used as part of results filename

- Can optionally, export results in:

Postscript .pdf

Sailwave and Top Yhact compatible .csv (including series) - Customisable Sailwave headers for slick import.

HAL compatible .xls

- Displays previous race results, which can also be shared externally (pdf viewer, email, drive, etc). And with Lollipop upwards, display pdf results internally

- Custom Class and Fleet flags

- Via the settings screen, options can be set as required

- Settings saved at Exit, and restored when next used

- Contains help text on operation and options

- Contains 'hint' popup on initial use to get you started (can be turned On/Off)

- Has Help/Results text zooming to aid readability on smaller devices

- Has competitor import via .txt or .csv file, so you can 'swap' fleets if required

- Includes 'experimental' use of Bluetooth or WiFi remote relay module as 'slave' of sound

- Also (via WiFi) control of signal lights and NeoPixel style timer displays

Note Wifi modules requires specific code installed (see FB group)

WARNING - THIS APP IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT, SO PLEASE DON'T RELY TOTALLY ON IT FOR RACE TIMINGS AND RESULTS CALCULATIONS,

If you haven't already... please take a look at our group on Facebook. Dinghy Sailing Race Control group

If you don't have a facebook account please feel free to contact: dsrc.racecontrol@gmail.com

This website, Video Quick Guides and Hints and Tips. Hints /Tips and Docs

If you would like to install DSRC, here a link to the Google Play store: Get the App Here

A Very comprehensive Help built into the app.

DSRC will run on any nearly all Android Devices as only requires 4.6 or above. Recommended 5 for full functionality PDF's and Bluetooth.

Android devices are relatively cheap, so more clubs would be able to try (and hopefully use) the app without a large initial outlay ) you can pick up a 7” 10” and water proof 5” device sub £100 that's less than a good main sheet block.

I have a few Android devices of different sizes and OS versions which allow for a limited amount of physical testing.

Runs well on a Phone but a dedicated device with a larger screen helps with clarity and finger trouble.

An incoming phone call during a busy finish is not going to help😉

Robbie chose Android as the platform for DSRC, because:

I'm retired and can't afford to keep paying Apple every year :o( (although I do use an iMac to develop and maintain the code )

Android devices are relatively cheap, so more clubs would be able to try (and hopefully use) the app without a large initial outlay ) you can pick up a 7” 10” and water proof 5” device sub £100 that's less than a good main sheet block.

I have a few Android devices of different sizes and OS versions which allow for a limited amount of physical testing.

DSRC - Has been designed to allow for integration predominantly with Sailwave but these features allow imports

From

A CSV File

Sailwave export from SWClist (Sailwave Standard program)

Sailevent

SignOn - Google form base race registration Demo and instructions here

Columns in CSV can have heading used in the above programmes

Additional Columns are ignored

Column Order irrelevant

Full Details / Instructions can be found in the Integrations .

DSRC - Has been designed to allow for integration with predominantly Sailwave but these feature allow imports in to Hal and Top Yacht. Options For CSV files or individual results, or a set of Races in one file.

Customisable Headers to Suit the interface required.

Full Details / Instructions can be found in the Integrations .

If you wish to DSRC to sound the actual Race signals the options are.

Connect to exiting PA system of Amplified Speaker. (Note You need a powerful amp,)

Bluetooth Single Relay Module - Horn

Wifi Single Relay Module - Horn (Can connect to existing WIFI network or act as its own Hotspot)

Wifi Quad Relay Module - Horn and 3 Lights Class A (Odd), Class B (Even) , Prep

Arduino module - Horn and 3 Lights Class A (Odd), Class B (Even) , Prep Large external Clock (experimental) Firmware available.

For more info on all external module click here

This is best achieved with the Android feature call "Screen Pinning" Disables the buttons ◁ ⭘ ▢ Back Home, and App overview from exits.

Full Details / Instructions can be found in the Advanced Faq & Hints Document .

• As of V2.4 DSRC - Now as Race Recovery, so if the Tablet or App crashes, just restart and enter race mode and continue taking race times.

• You can also enable a Battery indicator in Settings as a coloured bar at bottom of DSRC.

• Tapping on the Start screen will also provide the list of race start times, (especialy useful if Pausing between starts)

• Make sure you are fully charged of have an exteral charging option available.

As with all Android app is simple to control from inside google play. https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/113412?hl=en-GB