I’m Learning (Virtually) to Sail a Meta Quest 3 Sailboat.
This may be the most “white” thing I’ve ever written, but I’ve become fascinated with sailing. A friend recently took me on a yacht cruise around Santa Barbara, and I finally understood what Christopher Cross meant when he sang, “Sailcloth can do wonders. Just wait and see.”
I just don’t know how to do it . So I just sat there, not doing any sailing . Personally, I find the feeling of uselessness on the aft deck annoying (it’s called the “aft deck,” right?), so I downloaded MarineVerse Sailing Club for Meta Quest 3, and it became my ” Upgrade of the Week .”
How I Learned to Sail the (Virtual) Seas with MarineVerse Sailing Club
The next time I set sail (hopefully soon, right, Doug?), I’ll be armed with all the seamanship skills that can be acquired in virtual reality. MarineVerse Sailing Club lets you steer five different vessels, from dinghies to yachts, and race in exotic virtual locations around the world, like a fake Sydney and a fake Rio. But more importantly for me, it’s a way to learn the basics of sailing: things like the names of boat parts, as well as more complex aspects like tacks, laybacks, and priority rules. The game includes a series of simple lessons that are much more engaging and exciting than simply reading about sailing, and you can apply what you’ve learned to compete against others in multiplayer races or simply sail the virtual seas.
I haven’t delved too deeply into the community aspect yet, but Sailing Club has an active user base numbering in the thousands of enthusiasts, many of whom are real sailors who participate in organized racing leagues and discuss nautical topics on Discord, just like a real sailing club. It’s a kind of niche community that thrives in the virtual space .
The focus is on realism over thrills, and the graphics look dated, so I’m not sure I’d recommend Sailing Club solely as a game , but as a learning tool or inexpensive entertainment when you’re away from the marina, it’s worth the $29.99 price tag. Even with the cost of Meta Quest 3 , it’s a fraction of the $10,000 you’d pay for a cheap sailboat.
Obviously, VR simulations only scratch the surface of sailing, and the best VR sailing experiences are about two degrees cooler than real ocean sailing. But if, like me, you don’t want to be a complete sailing novice, it’s a very exciting first step. Hey, go for it!