Virtual Sailing VSail Simulator Coaching Manual INTRODUCTION The Virtual Sailing VSail-Trainer and the VSail-Access simulators are the latest state of the art interactive sailing simulators. The simulators reflect actual sailing so faithfully that they are suitable as a "learn to sail" tool through to an elite sailing training vehicle. Sailing has been traditionally one of the most difficult of sports to teach and indeed to coach sailors. The simulator resolves these issues and revolutionises how people will learn sailing in the future. Traditionally sailing has been taught by limited instruction ashore and then sending the sailor afloat to fend for themselves with limited knowledge, a baffling environment and a foreign language barked at them by an instructor. Virtual Sailing has developed a program that allows the sailor to learn one step at a time. The sailor masters an initial skill such as steering, progresses to tacking and gibing and then sail settings are introduced, followed by hiking and so forth, until the sailor has gained sufficient skills to understand what will occur on the water. Once afloat the beginner sailor is already aware of what to do and has confidence in their ability. TECHNICAL OUTLINE OF THE SAILING SIMULATOR The VSail-Trainer sailing simulator consists of a custom designed cockpit powered by a pneumatic ram to give roll movements (Figures 1 and 2). The simulator is controlled by proprietary software belonging to Virtual Sailing. The sailor is physically on the simulator and observes a 3-dimensional graphical display of boat motions from a skipper’s eye point. The sailor can move his/her weight to counteract the pneumatic ram pressure maintaining heel angle; change the angle of the rudder through a tiller; and change the mainsail position by pulling in or letting out a rope (mainsheet). All of these actions are as would normally occur on a sailing dinghy. Figure 1: Schematic layout of the V-Sail Simulator which comprises a generic fibreglass cockpit suspended in a metal alloy frame. The cockpit is rolled side to side by a pneumatic ram attached to the back end of the cockpit. Cockpit roll, tiller and mainsheet movements are detected by sensors mounted under the cockpit and relayed via a PLC unit mounted in the forward support pillar to the computer control. 2 Figure 2 & 3. Forward support pillar (left) housing the electronics & power supply module and Aft support pillar (right) housing the pneumatic control module. SAFETY As with all sports training sailing a simulator is not without risk of injury if correct safety procedures are not followed. The instructor must ensure that the area allocated is sufficient for the simulator to be operated safely. Also ensure that the floor area is clear of debris which could cause people moving about to trip. Prior to commencing a lesson the instructor should demonstrate the safety features of the simulator such as the emergency stop buttons, inform onlookers where it is safe to stand (people should not stand within the radius of the tiller extension ), ensure that the safety cushions are in place, and check that the hiking strap is secure.. Following these simple steps will ensure safe operation of the simulator Figure 4 &5 Emergency Stop Button (left) and Safety Mat in position (right) 3 Figure 6 & 7 Hiking Strap (above) and showing adjustment mechanism (left) SETTINGS & PRELIMINARIES The Virtual Sailing program has a number of settings and options that are important for instructors to understand fully so they can utilise the simulator to it's full potential . The drop down menu settings in the task bar are as follows. Figure 8 Menu task bar 4 Each of the drop downs has sub categories and these are addressed as follows Control Figure 9 Control drop down menu Start/Stop can be activated with the mouse or use hotkey "s" Reset as above or use hotkey "r" Use Joystick This must be activated once the joystick has been connected to the computer via the USB port. Note Joystick controls are Forward and Back for mainsheet control, and Left and Right for steering Save Last Sail This will save a sail which can then be used to add as a competitor or up loaded to the Virtual Sailing Analysis Program. It is prudent to partition the Saved Sails folder into differing classes, wind strengths and further into identical courses, etc etc Note A sail is from when the Start is activated till Pause or Stop. It does not need to be a race Replay Last Sail Simply replays the last sail without saving. This gives the coach/instructor the opportunity to review the sail with the sailor Create Network Sail Sets up a network sail and advertises it on the local network. Join Network Sail Looks on the local network for any available sails and allows the user to join the network sail. Exit Use this function when closing down the V-Sail Program 5 BOAT Figure 10 Boat drop down menu The Virtual Sailing Simulator Program currently has 9 different boats within the program. We believe that this covers the majority of styles of monohulls currently sailed around the globe. Additional classes can be added if required however there would be a cost associated with the development of the graphics and software. The classes are as follows Megabyte Byte Suitable weight 50-60 kgs Optimist Suitable weight 35-50 kgs Laser 4.7 Suitable weight 40-55 kgs Laser Radial Suitable weight 55-70 kgs Laser Standard Suitable weight 70 + kgs Liberty Suitable for Disabled Liberty Motor Sailor * With added boat speed 29er** Ideal for planing hull simulation It is important that the sailor is matched to a class that they would be best suited on the water. The main reason for this is if the weight of the sailor is not sufficient to sail the boat effectively it can lead to poor posture hiking and the possibility of injury. The instructor should not dampen the enthusiasm of a young sailor to want to try a boat much faster than they are used to sailing. Every young Optimist sailor wants to try their hand at a 29er. This can be used as a reward for a young sailor. The instructor can assist and sit on the weather gunnel with the sailor and instruct as they sail together. 6 * Liberty Motor Sailor. This boat has added constant boat speed. In other words, the boat is always moving slowly forwards irrespective of whether the sails are correctly set or not. It is particularly helpful for some disabled sailors in acquiring the skills of sailing. ** 29er. This very popular skiff class is equipped with a spinnaker which is activated and de activated by pressing the black button located on the deck next to the emergency stop button. This program is particularly useful for teaching apparent wind sailing. Figure 10 Spinnaker button (black) located just aft of Emergency Stop button raises and lowers the spinnaker (right image). Add a Competitor This function will add a competitor from the Saved Sails folder.The competitor boats will be displayed as green and the sailor is always red. If the object is to compare results then care must be taken to ensure the comparison is true. IE same class, course, wind strength etc. Remove all Competitors This function will remove competitor sailors from the screen and return the screen to single a sailor. Show Competitor This function adds the graphics to the screen. It is possible Sailors to add up to 12 competitors THE SAILOR Mass This drop down is to give the program the weight to calculate the immersion of the hull in the water. It comes in either Imperial or Metric measure. 7 Expert This feature makes the simulator more sensitive to heel angle by amplifying the heel angle by a factor of 2.0.This requires sailor to hike harder to level the boat and reduce hull drag. Sailors can record their times in normal mode and then compete against themselves in Expert mode. LOCATION Figure 11 Rocks or no rocks This feature basically offers the location with rocks or without. Rocks can be an aid when teaching young sailors to steer. It gives them something to aim for. Also (in programs that include lighthouses) the lighthouse creates an attraction for sailors to aim for. The lighthouses have been positioned in the close hauled position from the start line. Figure 12 Shows a rock off the starboard bow in 3D view and rocks a plenty on overhead view. 8 BUOYS Figure 13 Buoys drop down menu None Generally only used when the initial steering lesson is used and therefore no distractions to the novice sailor. Crosswind Good for beginners once they have mastered steering. It will automatically generate a tack and a gybe. It is also useful for doing figure of eight exercises. Up/Downwind This configuration is good for hairpin turns at the top and bottom marks. This course is also best for establishing VMG angles and settings for upwind and downwind sailing Triangular This course is good for practicing 90 degree gybes. Trapezoidal Trapezoidal is the common course of a majority of classes sailed globally. Top mark bear away to reaching course is good to practice, including body weight movement as is reach to square run Big Course This is used when a longer course is required. The Macro screen remains the same and the simulator is sailed in the normal manner. The birds eye view on the screen has been slowed and allows for longer legs. This is particularly useful when dealing with tactics, gusts and shifts, giving the sailors more time to deal with these distractions.