Manual mode: drawing your orders on the map

The essentials

In the order editor, the “Manual” type empties the list and lets you draw the route by hand. The boat starts from its position; each click on the map places the next point.

Three kinds of line, chosen with the selector under the summary:

• “TWA”: the order is a constant wind angle, held until the boat reaches the clicked point;
• “COG”: the order is a constant heading, held until the clicked point;
• “WPT”: the click adds a waypoint, followed in a straight line on the great circle.

Each leg starts from the end of the previous one. When you are satisfied, press “Send”.

Shortcuts (computer): the Space key switches from TWA to COG then WPT; Backspace removes the last point. The “Undo last point” button does the same.

Manual mode: TWA, COG, WPT selector and Undo last point button

Going further

On a touch screen. There is no pointer: an aiming cross appears at the center of the map, and the “Add point” button places the point under the cross. Move the map under the cross, then press.

Orders or waypoints. The game takes either orders or waypoints. Switching from “TWA” or “COG” to “WPT” (or the reverse) with points already placed asks: “Switch to waypoints? The game takes either orders or waypoints: the orders put are removed.” (or “Switch to orders? … the waypoints put are removed.”), with “Cancel” and “Switch”.

The times. The time of an order is the moment the boat reaches the previous point, rounded up to the next minute, as the game applies a programmed order. The first order leaves at the next minute.

The limits. VR enforces its programming points limit on what you send (see Programming points). If a leg crosses land, ice or an exclusion zone, the editor flags it (“Warning: a leg (…) crosses land, ice or an exclusion zone”) but sending stays allowed: the route is yours.

On leaving. Closing the editor leaves Manual mode. On reopening, the editor shows the routing’s orders again, with the type chosen before.