Hello! - General wonderings...

[JTF]

Cybr,
Like Keith, I would like to welcome you to VSK3. I saw you in the ITBYC chat on Monday, sorry we did not connect. I, like many others in NA, am not finding much time for VSK3 this summer, but will be around for a race or two. I hope you enjoy learning the game and keep coming back for our public nights whenever you can.

Sail fast, Drink beer

[CybrSlydr]

Thanks for the links folks!

JTF - I was AFK when you came in. Unfortunately I wasn't back until you'd left. So, Hello back at ya! :blues:

[Skiffie]

Welcome Cybr!

I'll try and dig up a basic "ten commandments" of racing that a US sailing umpire uses when teaching beginners... Harald has already covered some in his list above. Keep your eyes peeled here.

Now, I am a "real life" sailor, so I know boats :laugh:... but I took a few months doing the Solo Challenges and Time Trials etc to get to know the basic controls of the various craft. After I was confident I then hit the online racing.

Good luck and hope to see you online some time!

[Skiffie]

The Ten Commandments

1. Port keeps clear of Starboard (rule 10)
2. Windward keeps clear of leeward (rule 11)
3. The boat astern keeps clear of the boat ahead (rule 12)
4. A boat tacking or gybing keeps clear of one that is not (rule 13)
5. Avoid collisions - rules are defensive to prevent collisions not offensive racing tactics (rule 14) ???
6. Give your competitors room to manoeuvre once you gain right of way (rule 15 & 16)
7. Room at a mark - inside boat has right of way within the two boat zone (rule 18)
8. A boat that is backing up or not racing must keep clear (rules 20 & 22)
9. If you have violated a rule, take a penalty (rule 44)
10. It is better to give way than to spend hours in a protest room.

These Ten Commandments were devised by Don Becker, Senior Judge with U.S. Sailing and International Judge and Umpire.

Of course, these are for real yachting... commandments 9 and 10 don't really apply in VSK world, and if you are not racing, you're a "ghost" while it's almost impossible to sail sdrawkcab.

But commandments 1 to 7 and the associated rules certainly apply, and especially note commandment 5. Virtual boats don't get damaged but it's still not nice to t-bone someone.

[Aquabat]

Talking to Don the other day... he mentioned that he had added rule 11. He said that whilest he was on the golf course a few days back at the 18th hole .. he noticed his mistake .. he remember that after hole 18 .. there is in fact the 19th hole, the club house bar !

So rule 11 is

11. If you do mess up say - sorry and make sure you buy the other guy or guys a pint or pints in the club house and all will be OK !

[CybrSlydr]

lolol Great set of rules fellas - thanks.

I tell ya.... This sim is quite difficult.... Just trying to make forward progress towards a bouy (damnit, can't spell that word... argh) in a headwind is near impossible. I find myself quite often stalling the boat. Argh...

Aside from the challenges offered with the game and racing online... Any other good ways to get familiar with the operation of a ship?

[admiral 1]

only one way really: get out on the water

[Oobie]

I tell ya.... This sim is quite difficult.... Just trying to make forward progress towards a bouy (damnit, can't spell that word... argh) in a headwind is near impossible. I find myself quite often stalling the boat. Argh..

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you're actually trying to sail directly into the wind. That's not a good idea as you've probably found.

A sail is like an aerofoil, it needs wind passing over both sides of it to make it produce lift and work effectively. To achieve this, you need wind pressure on the windward side to fill the sail, therefore creating the aerofoil shape and also, wind passing, and preferably adhering to the leeward side of the sail to produce the lift.

So.... in order to get to a mark directly upwind from where you are, you need to zig zag your way there, sailing at an angle of around 35 - 45 degrees to the wind (depending on which class of boat you're sailing). Your TWA readout on your instrument panel will tell you this angle.

Here is a diagram of what I'm talking about:



If you knew this already and I'm on the wrong track, I'm really sorry!

[CybrSlydr]

Ha! Great diagram! That's definately a help! Thanks!

Indeed, prior to getting this sim, I hadn't a clue that the sails created pressure differentials - I thought it was just throw up the sail, get infront of the wind and go.

As a big flight simmer, I totally understand the airfoil/aerofoil (depending on where you're from - hehe) concept.

Again, many thanks folks!