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?

Skipjack launched

I was lucky to login right before the launch of the the latest release from ReneMarine, the Skipjack. The Skipjack is not a fancy modern race boat, and that is why it deserves a little attention. In RL everybody gathers around the latest and greatest speedmonsters. In SL there is room for other boat types too, and that's really beautiful.

People admiring the Skipjack. Jake preparing the music.

Above you see us admiring the Skipjack, whilst Jake is preparing the music for the party. Jakes record collection is fantastic, but today he played something rather weird. It had a familiar sound or something, but I could not quite place it. Sounded like a cross between that Convoy Rubber-duck title song and Cotton-eyed-Joe or something... very strange... until they went "We don't need no eduction". Some cover-version :-D

Taking a closer look

Here we are, taking a closer look; Jet in the grey sweater is the proud presenter of the boat. It comes with a cooler for beers, room for four to six people cruising and fishing, an engine for motoring around, and it has the beautiful RM8 sailing engine; Probably one of the most dynamic sailing engines in SL. It is very responsive, and the boat reacts very swiftly to both your steering and trimming as well as windshifts and gusts.

About to set sail south of Tradewinds.

Jet promised us a testride, so here we are motoring around south of Tradewinds. You'll reckognize the lighthouse in the back. After a while we returned to the Marina, where Jake spun some of those old Disco Inferno things... there was no escape. I ended up dancing the night away. I will have to get a boat with that RM8 Sailing engine. It is soo..... alive.

Many more detailed photos from the event at Tradewinds, see link to the right side; Much more on the Skipjack including beautiful sailing shots at ReneMarine, - again link on the right side.