How to track your competitors during a race?

What is Race Tracking?

Race Tracking allows you to follow offshore sailing races in real-time directly on the NavimetriX chart. You can import race definitions, download position reports automatically or manually, and view rankings based on distance to finish.

What file formats are supported?

Race Tracking supports the Adrena format, which is the standard used by most offshore race organizers:

  • .dcc files - Race definition with competitor list, classes, IRC ratings, and download configuration
  • POSADRENA files - Position reports with boat coordinates and timestamps

What is a .dcc file?

A .dcc file (Adrena competitor description) contains all the race information:

  • Race name and date
  • List of competitors with their boat name, class, skipper, and IRC rating (TCC)
  • Display colors for each boat
  • FTP or HTTP server configuration for automatic position downloads

Example entry for KORNOG2, a Pogo 12.50 racing in IRC Two class:

KORNOG2;IRC Two;1;3;1;;;8;;1.170;O;Gilles Colubi & Yvan Osselin;;;

Race organizers typically provide .dcc files on their website or via email before the race start.

What is the POSADRENA position format?

POSADRENA is the standard format for position reports. Each file contains the latest positions for all competitors:

POSADRENA
  1;8;25.1873N;19.0716W;01/13/26 14:00:01

The fields are: race ID; boat ID; latitude; longitude; timestamp.

Important: Coordinates use the Adrena format (degrees.minutes), not decimal degrees. For example, 25.1873N means 25° 18.73' N (not 25.1873°).

How do I import a race?

To import a race:

  1. Go to Settings → Race Tracking
  2. Tap Import Race (.dcc)
  3. Select the .dcc file from your device
  4. The race and all competitors will be imported

How do I download position reports?

There are three ways to get position updates:

1. Automatic download (FTP/HTTP)

If the .dcc file contains server configuration, enable Auto-download and set the polling interval. NavimetriX will automatically fetch new positions.

2. Direct URL download

Some tracking systems (like YB Tracking) provide a direct URL that always contains the latest positions. Enter this URL in the connection settings and tap Download Now. NavimetriX will fetch the file and filter out positions already in the database.

Example URL format: https://yb.tl/racename-adrena.txt

3. Manual import

Tap Import Positions and select one or more POSADRENA files from your device. You can select multiple files at once to import a full position history.

How do I view competitors on the chart?

Once positions are imported:

  1. Open the Race List from the Race Tracking menu
  2. Toggle visibility for individual boats or use Show All / Hide All
  3. Competitors appear on the chart with their track history
  4. Tap a boat icon to see details (position, speed, course)

How are rankings calculated?

Rankings are based on Distance To Finish (DTF):

  • Select a route that represents the race course
  • DTF is calculated as the distance from each boat's current position to the finish, following the remaining waypoints
  • Boats are ranked by ascending DTF (lowest distance = leading)

To enable rankings:

  1. Create a route matching the race course (or import the official route)
  2. In Race Settings, select the route name
  3. Enter the race start date and time (UTC)
  4. Rankings become available in the Race List

How does IRC corrected time work?

IRC (International Rating Certificate) uses a Time Correction Coefficient (TCC) to handicap boats of different performance levels. This allows boats of different sizes and types to compete fairly.

The formula is: Corrected Time = Elapsed Time × TCC

For example, KORNOG2 has a TCC of 1.170. If the boat finishes in 10 days (240 hours):

  • Elapsed time: 240 hours
  • Corrected time: 240 × 1.170 = 280.8 hours

A TCC greater than 1 means the boat is "fast" and gets penalized. A TCC less than 1 means the boat is "slow" and gets a time bonus.

For boats still racing, NavimetriX estimates the corrected time based on current VMC (Velocity Made good on Course) to project the finish time.

Why don't I see any boats on the chart?

Check the following:

  • Make sure you have imported position reports (not just the .dcc file)
  • Check that boat visibility is enabled in the Race List
  • Zoom and pan the chart to the race area (boats may be far from your current view)
  • Verify the positions were imported successfully (check the position count in Race List)

Why are speeds showing as unrealistic values?

Speed is calculated from position history. Unrealistic values usually indicate:

  • Wrong start date/time: Check that the race start datetime in settings matches the actual race start (UTC timezone)
  • Insufficient positions: At least 2 positions are needed to calculate speed
  • Position errors: Occasionally, tracking systems report erroneous positions

Can I edit competitor information?

Yes, tap on a competitor in the Race List to edit:

  • Boat name, class, and skipper
  • IRC rating (TCC)
  • Display color
  • Arrival status and time
  • Retirement status

Changes are saved to the database. You can also export a modified .dcc file to share with others.

← Back to FAQ