Multiple applications of sailing simulation

The world's only ride-on sailing simulator has been produced by the Australian company Virtual Sailing (VS) for 10 years. Over this period significant research and development has occurred. On-going R&D is incorporated into new and retro-fitted to old simulators. During this time a number of users have owned and operated the VS-Laser, VSail-Trainer, VSail-Access and VSail-Researcher simulators showing the way for a variety of uses. The initial intention of the VSail-Trainer was for fitness training and physiological evaluation of elite athletes. This has shown promise with four sailors at the recent Olympics using and praising the simulator as a useful tool for fitness training and tactics and strategy development. The VSail-Researcher has been integrated into the undergraduate engineering course at the AMC to demonstrate the basic principles of sailing and simulation. As a rehabilitation tool the VSail-Access simulator has been used to introduce disabled people to sailing and reintroduce sailors post accident (in Melbourne, Sydney, Miami and Auckland). A recent virtual regatta was organised by VS with participants from Australia and the USA. The area showing the greatest numbers of participants is in learning to sail. Programs have been started within Australia for pre-teenagers through to university age students to learn to sail for the first time, adding simulation to the more traditional learning methodologies. The use of simulation in this area shows great promise for increasing participation and retention rates for the sailing industry as a whole.