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Latest News
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The Tide Comes to VS-SailSim
Jonathan Binns, Friday, 13 November 2009
After searching the web and looking at all options we managed to find some excellent high definition open source Sydney Tide data, see http://www.tidetech.org/. They've produced some fantastic high resolution tide prediction data, for example the image to the right has been produced using the data plotted superimposed on an image of Sydney Harbour (using Lantsat7 data). The data is for an incoming tide. The colours show the magnitude of the velocity (red is high velocity) and the vector arrows show the direction (the length of the arrows is also proportional to the velocity magnitude).
So that's the data, next getting it into the simulator, realistically. After some research into the effects of tide, we were able to model the hydro and aero dynamic effects of tide (both are important for a sailing yacht). Then we needed to access the tide data efficiently within the confines of low computing resources. We've achieved this by combining efficient search algorithms with careful code timing. the result is, tide is modelled with little or no noticable change in computing resource requirements.
The full tide release is being rolled out now.
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SimTect09
Jonathan Binns, Monday, 17 August 2009Virtual Sailing, Australian Maritime College and University of Melbourne present at SimTect 2009 Virtual Sailing, the Australian Maritime College and the University of Melbourne presented two papers to this year's SimTect 2009 Simulation Conference. The papers detailed research and development and the ever expanding uses of Virtual Sailing simulators. The conference details can be viewed at http://www.siaa.asn.au/simtect/2009/2009.htm .
I presented both of the papers to this leading international conference in June in Adelaide. The conference deals with all aspects of simulation from the human factors involved with maximising the benefits of simulation training to the possible hardware and software elements. It is certainly a very interesting conference to attend and it was extremely important to learn that the VS-Trainer approach to simulation is up to date with the latest thinking on the role of passive versus active learning and on the degree of user immersion and usefulness of simulation in a training environment. The price of the VS-Trainer also stands out as the least expensive fully fuctional trainer available. Our copies of the two papers presented have been uploaded below
 
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Frank Kleinitz sailing hard for a good result
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Virtual Sailing tribute to the Paralympics
John Mooney, Monday, 22 September 2008One of the many core uses of the VSail-Access Simulator is rehabilitaion. Virtual Sailing issued a challenge to three rehabilitation centres to enter a 'Virtual Regatta' as a tribute to the Paralympics. Virtual Sailing invited three rehabilitation centres, who use VSail-Access simulators in their rehabilitation programs to participate in a "Virtual Regatta" as a tribute to the Paralympics. Much fuss is often made of our elite able bodied training and honing their skills on the VSail-Trainers but publicity is hard to come by for the VSail-Access sailors. "So we decided to hold a Regatta"says Virtual Sailing director Norman Saunders.
A set of Sailing Instructions was drawn up and the challenge issued to
Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital (Melbourne, Australia)
Royal Rehabilitation Hospital (Sydney, Australia)
SALM (Miami, United States of America)
Although it is possible to run the regatta live by linking the VSail simulators together on-line, it was decided to allow a two week window for each institution to enter their best times. The regatta was sailed around a trapezoid course in Liberty Motor Sailor boats with 14 knots of wind. Each sailor is able to sail the course three times and register their best time. The best time overall wins the trophy for their institution.
Royal Rehabilitation (Sydney) were the first to submit their race times by their sailors Dale Williams a Sydney Sailability sailor and Phil Thompson a well known Sydney offshore sailor. The times were competitive but not good enough to stave off Royal Talbot represented by Frank Kleintz, who had previously sailed a Hobie 16 on the Gippsland Lakes before his accident 5 months ago. Frank had a faster time and he took the lead. At Virtual Sailing we nervously awaited the American entry from SALM. It did not go un-noticed that this month is the 25th anniversary of the historic Australian victory in the America's Cup. However, as with on water sailing the weather played havoc with SALM and they battened down the hatches for a hurricane and were unable to submit a race result within the time limit. They have promised to mount an America's Cup style challenge for our next international Rehabilitation challenge.
In the meantime congratulations to Frank and the support team at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital.
Click here to see Frank's winning style | |
Phil Thompson racing the VSail-Access in the Paralympic Tribute Regatta |
Dale Williams shows her skills in the VSail-Access |
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Sarah Blanck and the young sailors from Laverton Plains Primary School pose in front of the VSail-Trainer at the Boat Shed
Photograph:John Mooney
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Sarah the Sailor visits Virtual Sailing
John Mooney, Tuesday, 9 September 2008Sarah Blanck recently returned from the 2008 Olympic Games called into Virtual Sailing to say hello to some primary school children doing simulator lessons. Recently Virtual Sailing conducted a trial using the VSail-Trainer simulator to teach primary school children to sail by using simulator alone and then transferring to the water to assess by how much the simulator had acelerated their learning. Unfortunately there was a long delay between the simulator lessons and the first time going afloat. To add to the frustration when the first available sailing day finally came the weather was not playing the game. It was definitely too windy for first timers to take to the water, even though the children had learnt to hike in the simulator. The Virtual Sailing coaching team decided to switch boats from Optimists to Pacers crewed with a coach to ensure their first experience of "actual sailing" was a pleasant experience. Given that the conditions were quite cold and the wind extremely gusty it was a tall order. "Children having fun whilst learning to sail is paramount and we certainly ticked that box" quipped Virtual Sailing coach John Mooney. To add to the children's fun they had a visit from Sarah Blanck, recently returned from the 2008 Olympic Games. It was fantastic to see a two time Olympian, three time World Champion sitting on the floor and chatting with a few lucky primary school children.
The coaches from Virtual Sailing and Altona Yacht Club which conducted the trial agreed that the long delay between simulator learning and on water application was too long for any definitive results to be claimed this time. Certainly a lot of simulator learning was retained and the feeling was positive, "but to be sure, to be sure we will just have to do it again " said Ray Allen from Altona. As the weather warms up Altona Yacht Club will be conducting more learn to sail programmes with schools in the area, and will be using the simulator as a basis for teaching. We look forward to monitoring their results.
Click here to see Sarah Blanck with the school children and sailing the VSail-Trainer
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Sarah the Sailor talks to young sailors at Virtual sailing |
Sarah demonstrating to the youngsters on the VSail-Trainer |
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