Version History

SailFast 2010 Version 4.0.2
Release March 27, 2010

Reported Problems:
-Some install problems have been reported .. more....

Bug Fixes:
-Resolved problem with PC that have date or number formats other than English-US.
-Install now checks for required resources: .NET 3.5 and SQL Compact 3.5. If not present they are installed automatically before SailFast is installed. The install zip file contains copies of the required resources. The install zip is now ~250 Mb.

SailFast 2010 Version 4.0.1
Release March 2010

New Features:
-Added support for sea surface temperature and accumulated rain. All parameters
can now be displayed with color gradients and contour lines, and with fading effects.
-Wind and Current vector arrows can now be displayed in 3 styles.
-Added option to disable NMEA input during optimum routing simulation. This can
reduce conflicts caused by fast NMEA updates from multiple instruments.
-Can now delete all boundary line waypoints at same time as the boundary line.
-Waypoints of a disabled boindary line are now automatically hidden.
-New option for line width and color of chart coastline; line width of boundary lines and optimum track

Reported Problems:
-Program crash with XP PC with German date and number formatting of client PC.
-During install required resources on client PC not checked or installed, causing failure of install. This version requires .NET 3.5 and SQL Compact 3.5 on the client PC.

Bug Fixes:
-Prevented a waypoint being dragged to a new position from affecting other waypoints dragged over.
-Reduced time required to process very large Grib files and reduced the memory required. Some older PCs could crash from out of memory error.
-Resolved problem with some Grib files produced by Sailflow.com could not be read due to non-standard leading or trailing bytes.

SailFast 2009 Version 3.0.5.1
Release June 9, 2009

Reported Problems:
- Some Gribs supplied from Sailflow.com are not compatible with SailFast. An "out of range index error" occurs. (This will be resolved in the next release.), June '09
- Very large Grib files may result in "out of memory" error. Reported with Windows XP, 1.5 GB memory and 18 MB Grib file. (Changes to reduce memory required will be in the next release.), Dec '09

Bug Fixes:
-Fixed a program activation issue found with an XP Professional PC. Failed to provide a computer code and program crashed.

SailFast 2009 Version 3.0.5
Release May 17, 2009

New Features:
- Added present vessel position lat lon to screen data area. Requires NMEA GPS connection.
- Added support for NMEA RMC and GLL sentences which comply to the older NMEA 2.X versions.
-Added user selection in Tools/Options/NMEA dialog to write NMEA data to a log file. This is useful for capturing NMEA data sent to SailFast and debugging NMEA instruments and multiplexers. File size is limited to 1 Mbyte.

Reported Problems:
- None

Bug Fixes:
-Fixed potential problem when NMEA data was no longer being sent to your PC, and the Tools/Options dialog was opened and closed. This could cause SailFast to crash.

SailFast 2009 Version 3.0.3
Release March 29, 2009

New Features:
- Improved Grib file read time by up to 85% for large files.
- Via Grib file forecasts, the display of mean sea level pressure is now supported, in addition to 10 meter wind and surface current supported previously.
-Added a Grib viewing capability independent from running an optimum routing solution. This makes it much easier to evaluate weather forecasts, both future and historic.
-Displayed wind, current or pressure are now interpolated by time and position. Previously interpolation was only performed as part of optimum routing. This lets you visualize exactly how weather is expected to change between the fixed Grib forecast times.
-Wind and Current is now displayed whenever the What-If setting is set to extend the forecast and the display time is after the last available forecast. Warning indications are provided in the bottom status bar since the forecast may be out of date.
-Six sample polars are now included. These are A35, Farr40, First 36.7, Catalina 22, J109 and the Sabre 38.
-Numerous enhancements made to the user interface. New Pan/Center control eliminates inadvertant panning.

Reported Problems:
- Globalsat BU-353 USB GPS not working with SailFast. (Fixed with version 3.0.5 with added support for older NMEA 2.X version sentences.)

Bug Fixes:
-Corrected out of memory problems when reading very large Grib files.
-Corrected rare problem in properly determining the size of a Grib file. Could cause failure to read the file.
- Fixed bug that could hang the program when the polar diagram dialog was opened and all 5 polar folders were designated in the Options/Polars dialog.

SailFast 2008 Version 2.1.1
Release Nov 7, 2008

New Features:
- The View / Grib Data dialog now includes buttons to delete or archive listed Grib files.

Reported Problems:
- None

Bug Fixes:
-Corrected problem with the View / NMEA Data dialog which hid the display of NMEA sentences.
-Eliminated display of error message
"Grib file syntax not supported. PDS Octet21 Table 5 =...." for Grib files with an accumulated time parameter such as accumulated rain. Found in Grib downloaded from GRIB.US (www.grib.us/).
- Fixed problem with Grib files using forecast time units other than hours. This was observed with Gribs from www.PredictWind.com.

SailFast 2008 Version 2.0.5
Release May 18, 2008

Bug Fixes:
-Fixed problem when operating system default date format was other than mm/dd/yyyy format.

SailFast 2008 Version 2.0.4
Release May 6, 2008

New Features:
- Added support Grib files with surface current forecasts. Used by Newport-Bermuda race competitors.
- User customized display of wind and current arrows.
- Faster wind and current interpolation and routing simulations.

SailFast 2008 Version 1.0.3
Release Jan 27, 2008

New Features:
- New worldwide basemaps.
- Improved long distance Range-Bearing display.

SailFast 2007 Version 1.0.1
Release May 26, 2007
Major upgrade to SailFast 2005 using Visual Studio and .Net framework.