Play a game of tactics, sailing upwind.
Bored at work? Wish you were out sailing? Try this technical sailing game from the guys who made the Sail Racer Phone App. It’s frustrating, but fun!
As you probably know, sailing is a game of tactics. He (or she) who tacks at the right moment will win the race, or at least the upwind leg. By looking at the wind direction as it shifts back and forth, the ideal tack can be exploited for that critical one degree upwind.
On a real boat, it’s a little more difficult than this little game, because you usually don’t have exact wind direction measurements, and tacking takes time and slows the boatspeed down. So before you tack, a decision must be made whether the wind shift is worth it or not. In the game, tacking has no penalty, so tack, tack and tack again!!!
This game uses live wind readings from an ‘ultrasonic weather station’ in the British Virgin Islands, it’s apparently incredibly accurate to 1 degree!
Check it out, but don’t let the boss see! And if you beat that little black boat, let us know - because we can’t!
Wamberal, NSW
