Is virtual sailing in SL ready for reality? Some people say no, arguing that SL is technically not good enough. Some people feel the rules are too complicated. They regard Virtual Sailing as a separate and distinct discipline somewhere between bumperboats and real sailing. Some say it is close, and it will get better. I say, have a look at the photos.
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| 15 seconds after start... |
I can see the fun in trying something different, such as bumperboats. However, I believe Virtual Sailing in SL is able to provide a fantastic opportunity for "dry-training". Beginners will be able to get started, learning the basics of sailing, trimming and right of way. That is good, but to me the fun really starts, when we add topics such as rules, starting, optimizing VMG, windshifts and currents. Again, have a look...
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| Rounding the top mark, Smiley in front... |
Sometimes it is true, that Virtual Sailing in SL is not perfect; For instance the oceans have edges. End of world problems (aka EOW) aren't worth discussing. The rules handle EOW just fine. Besides, the RD is responsible for choosing a suitable course with no unworldly anomalies. Lag will make us see different things in a few seconds. Some people believe this disqualifies SL as being a Virtual Sailing Simulator. To me it makes little difference. In the real world we have something else, humans minds, to create a lag-like effect. I mean, if everyone agrees what happened, then there wouldn't be a protest, right?
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| Choose the right side of the course, because else... |
The rules are quite clear. They have been tuned for years and years to handle the situations commonly found in a yacht race. People just see things differently. Everytime there is a protest, two or more boats feel like they've experienced one single situation in different ways. It's all about perception. That is why, there is a protest. If they agreed what happened, there would not be a protest, and one boat could just do a 360.
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| ... someone else gets there first! |
How about the truth? There is no truth! Not even in RL. By interviewing the involved skippers and wittnesses, the jury establishes what they think happened. Thats pretty much as it is in SL. You see different things; You meet and talk, someone establishes what they believe is the facts, and they rule from that. That's the game. After the ruling we all sit down and have a beer, have fun handracing and discussing the details.
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| Smiley got back on top to finish first. |
Some of us have been there in RL, right? Look again. Ask yourself, what is the redhead doing up there? That's the beauty of SL. No, I don't mean the RD is always pretty. In SL Virtual Sailing the Race Director can fly around the track and see situations as they happen. A coach can too. Thats really great for dry training.
Are you with me so far? Check my page called
RSSL.
Noodle,
