It's been a peacefull while since last time I spotted a warship off the Tradewinds coast. Yesterday it happened again.Another destroyerLotsa details, so even though I really don't like these grey shadows, I must admit they're well made.Quiz timeThis one is kinda different from the other destroyer. They are flying the same colours, and they ar [...]
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Another Destroyer
It's been a peacefull while since last time I spotted a warship off the Tradewinds coast. Yesterday it happened again.Another destroyerLotsa details, so even though I really don't like these grey shadows, I must admit they're well made.Quiz timeThis one is kinda different from the other destroyer. They are flying the same colours, and they ar [...]
Talk about scale
Here's just a few shots of Dutch and me having a boattalk... In front you see the Flying Fizz, - known for it's fantastic sailing simulation. Behind us you see the VO70. And what's the connection, you might ask? Well, the VO70 is really just a scaled up version of a modern dinghy.Little sisterThe VO70 has the same sails, - main, jib and [...]
A Dragon talk
Here's a few shots of a beautiful - but still unfinished - piece of work... the Dragon. This version has a FizzKit sail engine inside. Now, what kind of sense does that make to the average virtual sailor? It is all about getting that sailing experience close to the real thing.A Dragon-like DragonFirst, it means the Dragon can be made to sail [...]
What’s your style
So much to see around Tradewinds these days. I am not much into powerboats, but hey... gotta try something new from time to time...Classic ISo here's Charlotte... A little too small to be a true liveaboard, but big enough for a weekend cruise or perhaps a few days more. There is a nice bedroom in the forepeak... Lamps, clocks, books and drawe [...]
A giant cat
Been wandering around Tradewinds Boatbuilder Show to see if there's any new stuff around. Yesterday I found this giant cat. Luckily it has no teeth, so I dared to get a few closeups. I've seen it before somewhere... dunno if it was in RL or in SL.A giant catIt could be a live aboard. Clearly it is big enough, but it appears to be more of a pa [...]
A few new boats
The Tradewinds Boat Builders Show is still running. More and more boats appear by the day. Here's a few shots - just to give u an impression of it.Boats everywhereAbove you see Motor Loons latest... It's the fat one in the center. Amazing what they can stuff into a 30-footer these days. The Ktaba to the left is almost the same length, but it [...]
What’s in a Windex?
I always thought a Windex was a plastic wind indicator at the top of the mast, guaranteed to break once a year when you set the mast. It still is, and we still miss it on so many virtual boats. I will get back to that in another post.WoohoooHowever, - googling for a windex I just learned two new things. The first one is really not that intere [...]
A Q2m feel-good race
This is just a feel good post about the beautiful Virtual 2m from Qyv, aka the Q-2m. Not only is it cute, - it sails so great you simply gotta love both the boat and the virtual sailing.A little prestart trimmingSo here we are, "noodling" around in the hectic prestart, trying to figure optimum trim for this weather. It's Victor Cruiser at the [...]
Ktaba platinum
It's not really a Ktaba 20 Platinum, but it is a Ktaba with a few improvements over the last edition. Last time, the Spinnaker had autotrim. It still does autotrim, but now I can tweak it. Here's me watching the spin as Craig trims it.Trimmable autotrimming spinnaker !?Trimmable autotrim spinnaker? Sounds a bit weird, but it seems to work pre [...]
Boat builders show
There is a boat builder show at Tradewinds. That means all kinds of boats are moored there. It's the perfect activity for a weekend, so get your docksides on and get going... This is the view from the boatshed:The view from the boatshedThere's quite a few boats to check out, and I'd expect to see even more next week, once builders learn there [...]
Ktaba-time
The Ktaba 20 continues to evolve in the hands of its builder, Craig Ktaba. Last time I wrote about it, it wasn't quite ready for primetime; Now it's getting close. Let's see what's new...RelaxingThere is a new and improved spinnaker pole. The spinnaker itself is also much improved, and it now has autotrim. I am sure some people like that [...]
Oceanic
Lately, I have posted pictures of an early prototype, a rusty version and a couple of weird pictures of this boat in strange positions. It is only fair to post a few of the more charming pictures of that particular boat. After all it is a lovely ship. Not a racer, but a beautiful cruiser. It's the Oceanic from Motor Loon.The OceanicSo here it [...]
The Dragon shapes up
The Dragon begins to fly. It is very exciting to follow the work with the Dragon. It looks more and more like a real Dragon. Have a look at the previous version, before you see these shots here.A much improved DragonHowever, looks isn't everything. A sailboat is safe in the marina, but it wasn't meant to be there. Meaning? The Dragon has to s [...]
Busy day at Tradewinds
I've mentioned it before. There's never a boring day at Tradewinds. There can be a party, a product launch, a boatbuilder class, a race, an exhibition, a busload of italian turists or something entirely different. Busy day with boats...This is just a shot from a busy day with boats and planes all over. There's also a trimaran taking off, an d [...]
What’s this?
For the sail-geeks... here's a shot of me sailing. It's a truly gorgeous sailing day in a very well made replica of a real boat. So SL sailors might have an advantage, but true RL sailgeeks should have a chance too.A nice day at seaThe questions are:1) What am I sailing?2) Where am I?3) What is the RL name of that structure straight ahead?... [...]
A Spark Ignites
By sheer luck I happened to be a Tradewinds at the time of a fun race. Not a big thing. There are lots of fun races at Tradewinds, but this one was different. There was a whole bunch of people, and they talked and talked about this new boat, the brand new and refreshing little single seater dinghy, Becca's Spark. Still in alpha test.Sparks Ig [...]
Bad day in the office
If I was Harbourmaster - or perhaps working in the coastguard, these shots here would represent a really bad day in the office. What do you think? Physical anomaly? Bad attempt at time travel? Teleport error?Is that one or two boats?Who cares about the boat(s), but what about the people? It's only a few hundred meters south of the Tradewinds [...]
Rust for the ice cream man
Back in february I posted a few shots of a beautiful, sleek, wooden ten meter, the Ten by Manul. Just the type of boat, many sailors dream of. I hate to admit it, but usually it is the female part of a relationship that goes, where's the walk in closet. After a few years the man can't take it any more, and he swaps the racer for a " [...]
Ultimate oldies
So what was Easter like? Mostly I took a break from SL. After all there is an RL or FL as some people call it. Easter lunch with family and friends is a big thing here. I really didn't have much schnapps, but I had lotsa raw heering. We love that in Scandinavia. One thing did happen in SL though. I raced again...The virtual optimist [...]
Sailing Haiku
Maybe I had a little too much schnapps at the Easter Lunch today, but this little sailing Haiku kept messing with my mind. Inspired by a poet friend I suppose. Here it is:The RacerSeaspray and sunshineGusts, shifts and currents in mindI tack on laylineThere... Not much, but I just had to get it out of my head. Right after I typed it, these tw [...]
Real virtual sailing
Easter is a great time to sail. The calendar is virtually littered with Easter regattas. That goes for the virtual sailing calendar too, and thank you for that. Where I live we still scrape ice off the car every morning.MmmmhmmmSo, my Easter is about virtual sailing, and I chose to sail the virtual 2.4mR Norlin MK III. Here's a shot [...]
Is it real?
That 2.4mR continues to amaze me. It was just launched, and yet there are already races being held on a regular basis.Hey look...No wonder. Not only does it look like a boat from the outside. The details are all in place. Even on the inside.It's a real boat!See... Allmost nothing is left out, and there's even a really comfy seat. I am telling [...]
The waiting is over…
Yesterday, Quest Marine finally released a long awaited and absolutely cute and beauuutiful little single seater raceboat.Testing the prototypeIt is of course the lovely 2.4mR in the form and shape of the Norlin Mark III Olympic Class.More testingIt's adorable, right? And here it is, the release version with the prototype alongside.Finally... [...]
Moored and explored
I was out sailing, and I passed this place. I simply had to moor and explore, go see what's up there. It is a perfect example of a number nine: Approaching a new island, - being excited about what will be there.What's up there?I've sailed past this island a hundred times. Always on my way to some exotic destination far away. Kinda like in RL. [...]
