Virtual Skipper

kempersolid · mousse Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

Does anyone recommend this game as a good training tool? I wouldn't mind playing it to just race around, but I'm curious about the utility of the game as one who is trying to accelerate my own learning process. Can somebody explain how one might use this to better learn sailing?

David_Number1 · Matelot Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 92

If you already know how to sail, and you are looking to improve your tactics in racing then it is a good tool you can use because it throws up so many situations.

If you don't want to learn racing tactics, then it won't really be much help to you at all...

kiwi_bardy · Posted: 24 Sep 2008 0:41 Post subject:

I agree with David. It's major benfit is in getting better at tactical situations, in particular mark roundings and starts. The reason it is good is it allows you to do more starts, more mark roundings, and more tactical situations in a shorter period of time than being out on the real water.

On a real day sailing you might do 2 or maybe 3 starts, 2 or maybe 3 first top mark roundings etc. In virtual skipper you can do that in an hour. The repetition and volume of situations exposes you to a body of rules and tactical decisions more quickly than real sailing, which allows you to learn and improve this aspect of sailing more quickly.

It's not going to help you become a better trimmer or improve your rig tuning though...