Ollie Timer - 2011

We have been working on learning VBA to help use Excel and Word at work.  It has overflowed into my sailing workbooks in Excel for Portsmouth fleet results.  A scoring workbook was completed this Fall and it has helped score the last two regatta dates with grand success.  On one, the workbook found a scoring error completed by hand and on the last regatta date the scoring was completed in about 10 minutes or less - at least before anyone had their boat packed away.

Now what could a workbook be used for on RC duty - this is thinking outside the box and assuming a Laptop is on-board.  What about an Ollie timer of 'ol?  Warren Rosen and I have been working on this topic for two years.  A sort of Ollie timer could help RC with signal flags and audible signals.  Real Ollie's actually make horn sounds and can even hoist flags!

This BLOG will show the development of a workbook for RC duty.  At this time the posted file has the feature of POSTPONING a race.  Check it out, SAVE the workbook to your computer (file will not run on the website), open EXCEL and the file you saved, click on 'Signal Functions," and press 'Postpone (AP)' in the dialog box.  If it works on your computer you should see the flag and messages appear to delay a race.

New flags - Cancel races in progress, cancel races for the day and Recall a Race.  Both use signal flags to delay a race like the AP flag.  Added graphics to dialog box for flags.  Aim to make it similar to a course card layout.

Step 3 - Add a class start with General Recall

Oct 20th - The popup box is taking shape.  We have added text and graphics to help setup a class start.  Multiple starts can be set, up to 3.  The trick here was to make the radio button interact.  We also added more signal flags for informational guides.  Some signals use one or two sounds, while some use multiple sounds - check out the NSC course card and verifiy against teh graphics in the Ollie workbook.

The functions and subroutinues are in place to complete a class start.

Step 4 - Finish a class start with General Recall

Enjoy .........._/)