Teaching virtual sailing

So standing at the pier at Tradewinds, this guy was splashing around in a Baby Sloop II. Yes, splashing around. It really looked as if he could need som help. I watched the "fight" for a while, and then I asked... knowing from experience that it takes a grown man to say yes... To my joy I was invited on board.

The Baby Sloop II

The introduction went pretty smooth. I said "Hi, I'm Noodle". He answered "Hi, I'm Rich", and I swiftly responded "and I can cook". I don't think he got it - being so immersed in the sailing challenge and all, so I just smiled and started talking bout the boat.

The arrows are the sheets!

Turns out my new friend knew sailing from way back sometime, but he wasn't really used to the virtual sailboats. It's usually rudder on the horizontal arrows, sheets on the vertical arrows and off you go. Unless you are in one of those silly "boats" that are really driven like cars. Now, there is a special challenge with virtual sailing and that is: You can't feel the wind! So where is it coming from?

Looking for clues

There's really no indication of wind direction anywhere. Many boats come with their own wind system built right in, so there's no looking around for clues. The BWind engine usually starts with an easterly wind, and that's why Rich was having trouble at Tradewinds. He was pushed into the Marina, and there was quite a few boats there, so it was kinda hard to beat out from there.

That's more like it

He is excused. Absolutely. The boat whispers the wind directions once when you sit down on it. From there on there's only a few few clues. The mast-top wind-vane does not indicate wind direction. It flaps a bit but nothing useful. Somehow Rich had managed to switch off the hud. It is ugly but it is very handy on a boat like this. In fact there was only one clue left... the sails... if they luff the sheets are too loose. Those reefing lines in the sail also works like telltales. It's a bit weird, so I can understand why it's overlooked.

Smooth sailing

With the hud back on it was easy. It changes colours with the trim, so keep it in the green and the boat moves. I don't like the hud much. It's an unnatural solution to an unnatural problem: The unfelt wind. Besides, it's green text floating mid air. Talk about breaking the bubble. You can do without it, once you get the hang of it. Then it's a nice sailboat, and it does come with the BWind II engine, which is much more immersive than the version 1. Incidentaly, the recently freebied Ten comes with that same sail engine. Go get one and get out there...

In case you are interested, here's more on the BWind sail engine, and here's more on the Baby Sloop. Wanna see the latest BWind engine in action? Get the Ten from Manul. Scroll down to see it or click here.

Bwind Launch

The long awaited next version of Beccas sailboat-engine was finally launched this last friday. The BWind 2.0 is much improved in so many ways, that I won't even try and list all the details. Instead, I recommend you get the free Babysloop, and try it out for yourself.

The babysloop with BWind 2.0

Ofcourse Tradewinds YC had put on quite a show for the launch. A huge Blimp in TYC colours floating above us all, live music, intro by Tasha, speech by Becca and then a testsail all the way to Triumphal. Here's a shot of the crowd.

Live performance, speech, blimps

And here's Harbourmaster Ahab and me listening to Becca... I am wearing flats. It's Ahab not being very tall...

Listening

After the speech, everybody got a free Babysloop, and then we all set sails and sailed off to TRYC in the lovely weather.

Sail away

Now, I've tested the Babysloop a bit beforehand, so I kinda knew it worked. Sailing from Dex to Triumphal is quite a long trip, but what I heard from the sailors was that it worked great. Low lag, easy sim crossing, fantastic feel. In short, the BWind 2.0 sets a new standard. Thanx Becca and Tradewinds YC for giving us this.

Here's a few shots of me testing the Baby Sloop, and here's a couple of shots of version 1.

Testing 1, 2, 3

After flying comes sailing. That's the order of nature. Eventually, you run out of fuel, and chances are you will land on water...

Ahh, back on water

So here we are; Steavano and me, off the coast of Pslande. Tradewinds YC up ahead north. Ahh... these waters are so enchanting.

Steering clear of those reefs

Anyway, we're testing this boat. Yes, it might seem familiar, and sure enough, - it is somewhat similar to Becca's Baby Sloop. With a few enhancements. Yes, it looks different, but the really interesting stuff is on the inside. Hidden in the scripts that make it sail.

Tradewinds up ahead

We had a wonderful time sailing this, and it's an absolutely worthy update. Super low lag, fantastic sim crossing, easy to sail, plus more which I am not allowed to reveal. Yet. However, it is very interesting. Boatbuilders will absolutely want this. The future of virtual sailing looks so bright you better wear shades.

Becca's Baby Sloop

I've been meaning to post something about this boat for a while. Becca's Baby Sloop. It was not the first  sailing boat I came across in SL. I already knew the Shelly and the Fizz. However, the Baby Sloop was my first boat using Becca's BWind system, and it sorta started a wave of new and exciting sailing boats in SL. So it is a historic boat in some way.

Me and Xanadusu in the Baby Sloop.

I logged in to say hi to friends and maybe sail a little, and this guy - Xanadusu was in bad need of a sailing course. I had one in my backpack, but he insisted that practice is needed too. So we set sail, and went for a training session. Normally, I'd prefer the Shelly Fizz, because it has telltales and a really good windvane, i.e. it is more realistic. But, - Xanadusu just got the Baby Sloop, and it is simpler. Fewer things to worry about. By the way, Ivie was there too, eagerly motoring about in a Trudeau boat of sorts. It's the boat in the background.

South of Tradewinds; North of Schiffsratten.

We sailed around, - ehm... it took a few minutes to get out of the marina, because well... easterly winds. I talked and explained about trimming, and how you cannot sail directly upwind, and after a few minutes Xanadusu actually was sailing. Well done. The Baby Sloop worked perfectly for a training session; Rudder on left / right and sheets on up down. Capiche? Oh, and smooth simcrossing, low lag and no crashes. The trademarks of the BWind.

Tradewinds ahead.

After a few more minutes, Xanadusu spotted the island up ahead on starboard side, and we moored there, to see the sights. Sand, seagulls and a hut. Quite nice actually. I went on about the hundreds if not thousands of islands just waiting to be explored in and around the Blake Sea, Fruit Islands and more, and I think Xanadusu was bitten by the bug, - the sailing explorer bug. The BWind? It is being improved, stabilized and enhanced in many ways, and rumours has it, that a new and exciting version is coming up.

Looking forward to the new version

Did I mention the Baby Sloop is available for free at Tradewinds Yacht Club?