Basic Rules www.gps-speedsurfing.com.
Version 8.0 - 01-01-2009

1.      GPS Track

This verification of tracks is the basis of the site! Therefore a GPS track needs to be available for verification by a (Regional) Time Keeper (RTK) at all times.

 

Even after a year or more the RTK’s could still ask to send the track, so always make backups of the files. Always save the original tracklog file and when you have deleted spikes save this file with a different name (add cleaned to the file name).

 

A rider can also send the track to a special e-mail address: tracks(at)gps-speedsurfing(dot)com  Please also mark the box in the session screen when you have send the track.

 

When a RTK does a request for a track, it will need to be sent within 5 days to the RTK.

If a rider does not comply to this rule the session will be set to inactive. It is also possible to  set the profile to inactive when a rider does not cooperate at all or there have been multiple problems with following any of the rules.

 

2. GPS Device List

Not every GPS is suited for use with www.gps-speedsurfing.com. Therefore these are the different gps that can be used:

- Recommended device: Navi GT-11 / GT-31

- Allowed devices: Garmin Edge, Geko 201/301, Foretrex 101/201, Forerunner and Etrex (Legend and Vista)

 

3. GPS used

In the Rider profile it is possible to select the type of GPS mainly used. In the session it is also necessary to select the GPS which is used for the session (when different from the one in the profile).

 

4. Doppler postings

Everyone posting with a Doppler device has to post speeds in Doppler. So far the only recommended Doppler device is the Navi GT-11 / GT-31

Once a session is posted with a Doppler device it is not allowed to use a non-doppler device anymore.

 

7. Track format
A track must be delivered at the discretion of the RTK in the next name format: YYYYMMDD Rider Location.gpx or the Navi generated filename is also ok. Please make sure you have your Username set correctly in the Navi.

 

When you have deleted spikes in a copy of the original file than add ‘cleaned’ to the file name. (example: 061205 John Doe The Spot Cleaned.gpx).

It is requested to not clear the Datalogger in your Navi as this functions as a backup. It can also be asked by a RTK to send the full SBP file of your GPS for verification purposes. If you can not do that, then your posted session could be deleted.

 

Only tracks in GPX or SBN/SBP format with minimum of 6 digits precision are allowed.

8. Software allowed
For analysis of a track the following software is allowed:

-          GPS Action Replay

-          GPS Results

-          Realspeed

The software developers will update the software regularly so check their sites or watch the announcements on www.gps-speedsurfing.com.for new releases.

 

The following software (for Windows) is allowed to download data from the GPS or convert tracks to another format:

-          G7towin (http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/)

-          MacGPSBabel (MAC)

-          Gartrip

 

Any sessions posted with results NOT calculated via these tools can be invalidated if it is not possible to easily check the results via the allowed software. If it is possible to change the format of the trackfiles used and the differences are very small (to the judgement of the RTK) then a session could be allowed.

9. GPS Track Setup: 1 or 2 seconds
Interval: The interval is set to 1 or 2 seconds depending on the brand and type of GPS you are using:

- 1 second: Navi GT11/31 and Garmin Edge

- 2 second: all other Garmin’s like FT201, Geko, etc.

 

Doppler settings:

When a Doppler device is used, it is obligatory to use it in that mode.

 

Not allowed settings:

-          Distance: This setting is not allowed, because it can give too much variation in the track and we want to have one single setting so there can be no discussion about the speeds.

-          AUTO: Never use the AUTO function or save a track in your GPS. This way you will loose valuable track data.

-          WAAS: Also do not use the WAAS function. In some areas of the world this has caused problems with the tracks.

Any posted session that is based on a track that has been at AUTO setting, has too much variation and/or spikes can be discarded by a RTK. If you are not sure about a track then first contact your RTK before posting a session.

 

10. Run
A run is when you sail in one direction and per run you can score only one speed. A new run begins after a turn (gybe or tack) or when you have stopped. The only exceptions are the Nautical Mile and one Hour speeds where turns are allowed.

A valid run has no spikes and no strange accelerations. If a spike occurs at the end of a run (because of a crash) the spike may be deleted and the run can count as a valid run.

 

For Doppler devices in the GPS analysis software the following settings are necessary:

-          max. Accel. [3 m/s²]

-          max. HDoP (5)

-          min. Sats (5)

11. Rankings
The main ranking for www.gps-speedsurfing.com is the Average over 5 runs of 10 seconds.

 

Although we look at the statistics for the other rankings seriously, they have been added for more fun rankings and can only be interpreted and used as such.

The Year and Month rankings are only for Doppler sessions. Other rankings can be made Doppler rankings at the choice of the webmasters.

12. Session data
When calculating the session statistics it is important to comply to the following rules:

-          One best per run

-          Linear Speed. (Linear speed means that you calculate the speed over the exact positions a rider has sailed)

-          No interpolation of distance speeds

A session consists of:

-          Max GPS - Highest speed seen on the display of the GPS

-          Max Software - Software calculated highest speed

-          10 sec run - Software calculated average speed over 10 seconds

(the AVG for the ranking is calculated over the 5x 10 sec runs)

-          100m - Software calculated average speed over ‘one’ run of minimal 100 meters

-          250m - Software calculated average speed over ‘one’ run of minimal 250 meters

-          500m - Software calculated average speed over ‘one’ run of minimal 500 meters

-          1852m - Software calculated average speed over ‘one’ run of minimal 1852 meters (Nautical Mile), turn allowed*

-          Alpha racing – Software calculated speed over ‘one’ run of 500 meters with a gybe and a proximity at the startpoint of 50 meters.

-          3600s - Software calculated average speed over 3600 seconds

-          Distance - Distance sailed during a session

 

Please send the data via the automatic upload function in the software. This prevents making mistakes. Do not forget to fill in the Max GPS as this is used by the Timekeepers to check against the software calculated speeds.

 

When you post a -normal- session you select the spot, board, sail etc. combo with which you think you have reached the highest max or the best average. So it is allowed to use different boards, sails, etc. on one day.

Besides the NM and hour speeds , all other measurements must be filled in when posting a session. If one or more speeds have not been filled in, the session can be discarded.

Please also add some remarks or a story of the day. This is very nice to read for the other members of the site.

13. Multiple sessions

Multiple sessions per day are allowed

-          when they are on different locations and this can be clearly seen on the track

-          for multiple boards when they have been sailed after each other and it can be seen from the track or there are witnesses

14. Posting a session within 7 days
When posting a session this must be within 7 days when the session has been sailed. When you are not able to do that you can post the session but it is set to invalid. Please contact  your RTK via e-mail with an explanation (f.i. holiday) so it can be validated. When there is no good argument, the session may be deleted from the database.

15. Location
Always fill in the correct location where you have been speedsurfing. It is allowed to give a new spot a name when it is not yet marked at a map or known in the region. Secret spots are not allowed.

16. Speed material used
Only windsurfers are allowed to post on the site. Kitesurfers can post their speeds on www.gps-kitesurfing.com. Other windpowered crafts like landsailers -/surfers or iceboarders are not allowed. Other websites will be developed for these groups, f.i. www.gps-icesailing.com.

 

17. Once posted sessions

It is possible to delete a session when f.i. there have been two sessions posted by accident. (In the database the session is not physically deleted, but it is invalidated. Only the webmaster can delete a session.)

 

It is not allowed to repost a once posted session to f.i. change the speeds. This is only possible after contact with a RTK when it is clear that there has been a mistake. Small changes because of f.i. new software are not allowed.

 

It is however possible to change the non-speed fields in a session like board, spot etc.