UKPA Puzzle Cruise (2-3 July 2011)

[PuzzleScot]

Contest Page: http://www.ukpuzzles.org/contests.php?contestid=8
Author: Tawan Sunathvanichkul

This first post will be updated to note any changes/clarifications for the duration of the contest.
You should check it one final time before you start the contest. Newer information will appear at the top.

Addendum (30/6/11 15:25). Puzzle #13 (Digital Futoshiki): It appears there is more than one correct answer for this puzzle. All answer keys for this will be checked manually. Any that are part of a valid solution will of course receive full credit.

Clarification (30/6/11 14:10). Puzzle #8 (Lifesavers): Arrows indicate the direction you must be travelling if you visit that cell. You do not have to visit all arrows.

Amendum (30/6/11 20:15). Puzzle #7 (Pearls): It was felt the solution key arrows could be confused with the clue arrows, especially on a monochrome printer. Instead of the answer key indicators being blue arrows, they are now much smaller, but clearly marked by a letter in a circle. Obviously care should still be taken. Therefore the answer key instructions has had one word changed to reflect this: "Write the number of pearls pointed by the blue lettered arrows, starting with the arrow marked A and then B, C and D"

Contest Notes: (Updated 30 June 2011 16:45)
1) All answers with multiple part keys should be entered separated by commas, with no spaces. You will still get credit (eventually) if you have spaces - it just makes the judges' lives, and your provisional score calculation, easier!
2) Marks for #11 will be allocated afterwards, as the automated scoring isn't clever enough! So don't panic when you're told it's wrong.
3) Since the author has imposed a -5 points score on all incorrect answers, these will be applied at the end of the contest (see (3)!)
4) If you wish to withdraw an answer you think might be wrong, enter a space/spaces in the answer key field, and click Submit.
5) Double-check your answer keys!! Especially make sure if there are multiple parts, that they are all included!
6) If the judges determine 'beyond reasonable doubt' that a puzzle was solved correctly, but a single typo exists in the answer key, 2/3 marks will be given. We will publish all answer keys with verdict and explanation after the contest has finished.
7) If an incorrect row/col is entered as the answer key, and the judges determine 'beyond reasonable doubt' that the puzzle was solved correctly, 1/2 marks will be given. If you accidentally quote a row/col that is revealed early in a standard solve, you will get the -5 penalty for a wrong answer.
8) Please take special care on #7 (Pearls) that you do not mistake a solution key arrow with a clue arrow!
9) Also on #6 (Masyu) and #10 (Yajilin), please ensure you include ALL the letters you visited. The clue letters are in a clear geometric pattern, so please double-check.
10) Use the comments box on your results page to tell us anything you like. Do NOT post appeals or comments on the puzzles in this, or any other, forum until the contest has finished.

Addendum. Puzzle #11 (Giant Octopus): Sample answer key format: "A1-B2,C3-D4,E5-F6".

Clarification. #15 (Ship Sudoku): Regarding rotation/reflection rule:

a given 4-cell long ship is marked 1234, it can appear as 1234 or 4321 (horizontally or vertically). But not, 4231, 1324.... etc.

Known Errata from the original IB: (Instruction Booklet) fixed in revised version:
4. 4+5+2=11 (not 13)
8. ADEC is also a valid solution.
14. Solution key should be -NNN-,NN---
15. Other solutions exist for '16' and '3' ships, unless ship clues are given.
16. Another solution exists. (1362/3256/2635/6524)
19. 30 at top of 2nd column should say 35.

With a lack of news regarding the traditional Father's Day Weekend (18-19 June 2011) USA Puzzle Championship (USPC),
[Update: USPC will be on Sat 27 August.]
Tawan Sunathvanichkul has stepped in with his first puzzle contest, very much in the style of the USPC.
This is an excellent set of puzzles - most of the styles will be familiar to past USPC participants. Instruction Book is now available for download.

[dickoon]

Oh, this looks very cool. Thanks, Tawan!

[ronald]

Looks fun, but surely these dates will clash with a crucial UKPA qualifying tournament?

Can I ask that this be moved back so that UK competitors are not overloaded with more-than-weekly puzzle contests?
Thanks

[PuzzleScot]

No worries Ronald - The USPC was expected to be the 18-19 June, but all is quiet from the other side of the pond.
As implicated, this was only put in this slot to fill the gap left.
If the USPC reappears, this will quickly be deferred to a later date.
If anyone has any news on that, post it here as a new contest thread...

[ronald]

Perhaps you know otherwise, but I'd have thought the LMI sudoku would also very likely fall on this weekend.

[nickdeller]

I think the monthly LMI Sudokus are normally pitched to include the final Sunday of the month, aren't they? If so, 18-19 June looks like a safe bet for the Puzzle Cruise - and, of course, it can always be deferred if a high priority contest does end up being held that weekend.

[sf2l]

had just a quick look at the booklet, it seems to contain some typos. For example:
puzzle n. 4: 4+5+2 =13 ??
puzzle n.8: anything wrong with the other solution ADEC ?
stefano

[PuzzleScot]

Re scheduling: Be reassured, this is all under control. Puzzle Cruise will be bumped to a later date if anything else of high importance requires this slot.

Re instruction booklet errors: Thanks - we know. There are 3 of us proof testing the main puzzles, which is our highest priority at the moment.

IB errata will be posted later.

[PuzzleScot]

As promised, known IB errata:

4. 4+5+2=11 (not 13)
8. ADEC is also a valid solution.
14. Solution key should be -NNN-,NN---
15. Other solutions exist for '16' and '3' ships, unless ship clues are given.
16. Another solution exists. (1362/3256/2635/6524)
19. 30 at top of 2nd column should say 35.

That said, given the intensive testing taking place, it is extremely unlikely that there will be any errors in the final puzzle book.

[PuzzleScot]

LMI June Sudoku test will be taking place on 18-19 June, so, as previously discussed, I have postponed the Puzzle Cruise until a later date.

I should know within the next few days when this can be rescheduled for.

[sf2l]

No worries Ronald - The USPC was expected to be the 18-19 June, but all is quiet from the other side of the pond.

Any ideas/info/rumors from friends on the other side of the pond about the USPC?
Stefano

[PuzzleScot]

No worries Ronald - The USPC was expected to be the 18-19 June, but all is quiet from the other side of the pond.

Any ideas/info/rumors from friends on the other side of the pond about the USPC?
Stefano

USPC is rumoured to be on either 20th or 27th August. Nothing confirmed yet. Announcement should appear here soon...

[PuzzleScot]

Just completing all relevant updates to the puzzle calendar, forum messages, and UK mail shot...

Deb and I have completed the schedule for the rest of June and July now. Puzzle Cruise slots in nicely on the weekend 2-3 July, so this is back on.
All details can be found in this forum, and summarised in the mail shot sent to UK forum members.

This contest, like the Tom's one hosted on LMI the following weekend, are purely for fun - they do not count towards any qualification systems

[drsteve]

Isn't Toms one the fourth qualifier for the Puzzle Ratings?

[PuzzleScot]

Isn't Toms one the fourth qualifier for the Puzzle Ratings?

No. There are two puzzle contests at LMI in July. We will be using the 2nd for our ratings, for various reasons.

[sf2l]

I have noticed that some of the typos found previously have been fixed. However my quest for questions (?!?) is relentless. Now here are some

#15 - Ship SUdoku. The addition of some clues now makes the solution unique. However the waves are printed in such a faint colour that they are barely visible, please make sure that the quality of the competition bookelt is superior.
On the same puzzle, could somebody explain me the meaning of the sentence " Ships can be rotated but not reflected" ? Example: the ship 16 can be read as 91 and not as 61?? Bear in mind that rotated ships can sink

can you also explain if there will be a time extension (with penalty for time in excess) or not.

[tamz29]

In #15 Ship Sudoku -

Say a given 4-cell long ship is marked 1234, it can appear as 1234 or 4321 (horizontally or vertically). But not, 4231, 1324.... etc.
To be honest I can't imagine how you can actually reflect a ship, it was entirely on instinct typing "... but not reflected" right after "...can be rotated."
But yea, numbers like a 6 don't magically turn into a 9 or anything along those lines.

The penalty rule is being discussed. Although, I don't think there's a way to take advantage of the beefy 10-point per minute penalty.

More questions welcomed!

[GarethMoore]

In #15 Ship Sudoku -

Say a given 4-cell long ship is marked 1234, it can appear as 1234 or 4321 (horizontally or vertically).

Which would, I think, be fairly called reflecting it. So reflection is allowed.

[PuzzleScot]

Post #1 updated with summary info and rules.

[david mcneill]

The solution to a Giant Octopus example is given as an addendum in the first post on this thread. However, no example appears on my print-out of the instruction booklet. Is this a fault with my pdf file or an omission from the instruction booklet?

[PuzzleScot]

The solution to a Giant Octopus example is given as an addendum in the first post on this thread. However, no example appears on my print-out of the instruction booklet. Is this a fault with my pdf file or an omission from the instruction booklet?

Nothing is missing from your copy - Tawan did not provide an example for the IB.

I merely noted that no guidance had been given on the ultimate answer key format for this puzzle, and felt it should have been. The example answer key shown in post #1 does not relate to any puzzle - it is merely an illustration of how the key should be formatted.

I plan trying to improve the automated scoring between now and Monday, so a consistent answer key format would be useful for that.

[GaS]

Hi all, in puzzle 8 I can’t understand the following statement: “Arrows represent tides that must be followed correspondingly.”

Some help?

Thanks very much,
Gabriele

[PuzzleScot]

Hi all, in puzzle 8 I can’t understand the following statement: “Arrows represent tides that must be followed correspondingly.”

Think of it as a one-way street. If you use that particular cell as part of your path, you can only travel in the stated direction.

[GarethMoore]

Hi all, in puzzle 8 I can’t understand the following statement: “Arrows represent tides that must be followed correspondingly.”

Think of it as a one-way street. If you use that particular cell as part of your path, you can only travel in the stated direction.

A possible confusion here is that you need to specify which is the start and which is the end lifesaver for this to make sense. The instructions and example are mildly confusing. The important point is that if you follow along the line from one end to the other, all of the arrows must point the same way relative to your direction of movement along the line.

The instructions also strongly imply that you MUST use each wave. This is wrong, I presume, since the example does not follow this rule.

[PuzzleScot]

Part of the puzzle is for you to deduce the start, middle and end 'lifesavers'!

The last line of the instructions says: "Arrows represent tides that must be followed correspondingly"
The way the test-solvers interpreted this, and as represented in the example, is that if you visit a cell with a 'tide direction', you must obey it. Perhaps it could be worded better, but none of us had any problem interpreting the way it is put, so had no urge to change it/