Virtual sailing

[Bergalia]

Here's a thought. There are a multitude of computer games/programmes offering 'virtual' life-like and real-time situations: Flight simulators - Big game hunting and fishing games. Has anyone thought of producing a 'virtual' sailing programme (for the winter evening armchair sailer) which would include varying weather/sea conditions; sail settings; navigation etc. Or am I so far behind the times that I've missed them.

[rayk]

Bergalia, why dont you advertise yourself as a weather routing service, and play for real.
You could get live feeds from the boat too.

[marshmat]

Surely by now you've heard of Vstep's ShipSimulator http://www.shipsim-secure.com/ .
That only has power craft though. Would be really cool to have a sailing yacht version.

[Bergalia]

Thanks Marshmat. Hadn't heard until your reply. Shows what a sheltered world I live in. Will give it a whirl.

[hansp77]

Bergalia
Read about these on sailinganarchy recently.
Yes someone(s) have already thought of that.
Looks like fun, and if I was on a PC I would even consider getting one. Never a substitute for the real thing, but might be worth wasting a little time on that compared to watching the idiot box or internet.

http://www.tacticat.com/index.php (meant to be good for actual sailing tactics- ie simulation)
http://www.sailsimulator.com/
http://www.virtualskipper-game.com/index_vsk4.htm
http://www.virtualskipper-game.com/en/ (flashy graphics and more of a game- the latest of the games, 1,2,3,4&5))

and probably a few more.

if you have broadband, here is a trailer for 'virtual skipper 5'

and if you don't have broadband then the size of this picture is going to piss you off

[Bergalia]

Thanks Hansp 77.
I have a dreadful confession (keep it to yourself...I'd hate it to leak out in the forum) but my daughter has a PC (strictly for homework of course...) So I may give these sites view once she gets off You-Tube etc etc etc.
Broadband. Pah - would you believe that I live in possibly the only settlement on the Far South Coast of NSW which does NOT have broadband access. Draw a ten kilomtre circle around Bergalia and outside that circle there is more braodband than you can wave a thinggy at. Inside the cirlce - nowt. Telstra tells us (pop 73) there are not enough users to warrent a BB link.

[marshmat]

That's where you buy a WiFi router, 20-watt amplifier and a massive directional antenna, put it in an area that does have access, and point it at your house. Just be careful not to walk too close to the transmitter, WiFi uses a frequency very close to what a microwave oven does.

[safewalrus]

Does that mean it can cook your supper too? I want one of those! imagine insult a few people then get a good meal all for the same price! Normally the only way I can do that is shout at them and they through pies at me! Trouble is the buggers are to tight down here (or maybe they know what I'm after!)

Trouble is with this virtual sailing whos going to rush in evry ten minutes and chuck a bucket of water over you (for the realism!!)

[Tim B]

That is a very impressive piccy. Soon we won't bother racing in the water, we'll just do it on computer.

Tim B.

[safewalrus]

Tim how bigs your computer screen? mine would only fit the bouy never mind the boat!!

[lazeyjack]

berg, you could race against the volvo fleet and the AA, lots did , it, it was quite a skilled test you had to route the boat thru weather patterns the whole bit
Me I just ignore the bloody weather, batten down and breather thru the mast
thats why I dont go down to the sea in tupperware boats. just the thought of belting a submerged container scares the hell outta me

[safewalrus]

But better to ram a 'virtual' container eh Lase!

[lazeyjack]

yes or a whale of which there are bloody thousands out there

[Mychael]

Tried The pc game on my machine.. Could not get it to run properly but I suspect it was my older video card not being up to the job.

Mychael

[Trevlyns]

Safewalrus and Mychael (and anyone else interested) – why not go to http://www.opera.com/ and download their FREE browser. There’s a really neat button called “fit to width” which instantly sorts out these bugg**s who post huge Jpeg’s. And you can configure it to eliminate the popup crap you usually get with Internet Explorer to boot!