The interactive, Google Map-based Boat Mapper is a new, easy to use interface to track the race. Please be patient while the vessel data load onto the map. It is important to note that if you are using a slow network connection, you may want to use the Quick View section of the site. Also, once the Boat Mapper is open, it is wise to follow the directions that automatically pop up.

• Zoom Tool
  Using the tool bar on the left hand side of the page, the end-user can zoom in and out of the mapper throughout the race.

• Map/Satellite/Hybrid/Terrain
  The end-user has the ability to view the race using the traditional Google Map interface, a satellite view, a combination satellite/road map view, and a topographic view.
• Clicking on a boat icon
  By clicking on a boat's icon, the end user can view an array of information about the boat and her current status. Some of the data available in the pop-up bubble include: time of last position, distance to finish, heading, skipper name, class, and a photo of the boat (if provided by the skipper).

• Weather/Chart/Grid Overlays
  In the upper right hand corner of the screen, an end-user can view modeled weather for the current location, a nautical chart (if in US waters), and a latitude/longitude grid overlay.

• Map Time
  Underneath the weather/chart/grid check boxes, an end user can go back in time and view the location of the fleet (or an individual boat) at a certain point during the race.

• Auto Refresh
  By keeping the Auto-Refresh button "ON", an end-user can leave the screen up and view an automatically refreshed page every 15 minutes.

• MY BOATS
  This tool is essential in viewing the entire race, a specific class, or a handful of chosen boats, or a single boat during the race. By clicking on the help button next to MY BOATS, a pop-up bubble will appear and guide the user in navigating through the MY BOATS section.

The Quick View section of the race website is a low bandwidth download of all boat data mapped into one "quick" snapshot of the race. Here the end-user has only the following options:

• View by location of the race (Start Line, Leg 1, Leg 2, Finish Line).

• View only a specific class/section (filters out an individual class from entire fleet).

• Weather Overlays -- quick snapshot of current sea surface temperatures or Surface Winds (similar to Boat Mapper overlays).

• Movie Mode -- by clicking ENTER under movie mode, the race will replay from the start line through the most recent position as an animated .gif file.

The Progress Board section of the race website is an area where each boat's data is ranked into a "distance to finish" list. This list can be viewed by boat name, class position, or overall position. It is important to note that the rankings are unofficial and solely based upon each boat's position and the distance to the finish line. Each section of the Progress Board is explained below:

• Boat -- Here, if an end-user "scrolls over" a particular boat name, the vessel's information pops up along with a photo. The end-user can then click on the boat name and an individual track-map along with raw data will open up in a new browser page. Raw data is also available for download in this screen by clicking the link at the top labeled "Follow this link to download complete data". The raw data will then be shown in a .txt format.

• Division (or class/section) -- Shows which class or section each boat belongs to.

• Class -- (or section) Shows which class or section each boat belongs to.

• Last Reading...Time/Position...Speed/Dist. To Finish -- Contains information regarding each boat's last recorded signal, the time of that signal, the Lat/Long position of that signal, their interpolated speed, and their estimated distance to the finish line. Please note that all of this information is based on the most recent signal that the tracker sent.

• Progress Bar -- The Progress Bar is a visual representation of the percentage of the race completed by each boat (based on distance to finish).

This section of the race website contains fleet information as well as each vessel's photo (provided by each racer). By clicking on the photo of a particular vessel, a larger image of the vessel will open up in another browser page.

This section of the website allows an end-user to sign up (using a username and password) for posting discussion topics pertaining to the race.

• Q : Where are the Wind and Sea Surface Temperature overlays obtained from?
• A : All overlays are downloaded from NOAA.

• Q : What do the trackers look like?
• A : Our self-contained, battery-operated trackers measure approximately 9" x 6" x 1". Each tracker resembles the size of a small notebook.