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Virtual Regatta

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Virtual Regatta is an online sailing race simulator that is played in real time.[1] The game consists of participating in an offshore sailing race on a virtual boat on a map representing the race course. The player has to choose the best route and sails most adapted to the weather conditions and points of sail of the boat. With this in mind, the game mimics the experience of a real skipper (sail choices, tactics, tacking, jibing and weather routing). Boats advance according to a system of repeatedly updating the position of the boat. The player has to handle their boat in real-time from a computer or a smartphone (Android and IOS)[2] Virtual Regatta organizes approximately 15 races per year, and 70,000 to 480,000 people participate in each race.[3]

History

Virtual Regatta was created in France by Philippe Guigné for the 2006 edition of the Route du Rhum[4]. The first edition of the game had approximately 50,000 players.[5] It became well-known during the 2008-09 edition of the Vendée Globe (solo round the world race) and in the 2012-13 edition where over 485,000 virtual skippers participated. The skippers played with the same weather conditions and rules as the real skippers over an 80 day period[6].

The Virtual Regatta website is used as a reference in online regatta games[7] The game allows participants to follow the experiences of racing skippers, in particular the job of routing and understand part of the decision-making involved in difficult weather conditions when experiencing extreme fatigue, sea storms, polar temperatures, danger, and isolation

Game play

The boat is chosen by the player. Colour and design are customizable. The course in the game is the same as a particular real race, and it starts online at the same time as the real race departure.[8] The player handles his or her boat alone. Starting with the 2013 Transat Jacques Vabre (double-handed race), a “duo” mode will allow players to handle their boats in tandem, to simulate the real conditions of the race.

The weather conditions are the same as what the real skippers experience at sea. They are updated daily at 8:00 and 20:00 (UTC/GMT +1h) from a new wind map. Sails are interchangeable between a Solent and a spinnaker. Five additional types of sails are available in the paid version. There is an automatic pilot which allows a fixed point of sail despite wind changes or to program a route over the average of waypoints (paid version).

The game lasts three to 90 days, depending on the length of real races which happen simultaneously. In general, the first virtual skippers arrive at the same time as the first real skippers. The basic game is free, but there are extra options in the paid version. The rankings are established by the order in which players arrive in real-time. The winner receives a prize.[9]

Virtual Regatta Inshore

Virtual Regatta Inshore in an online regatta simulator between two buoys. Races are between 5 and 10 minutes in length. Players have to helm their boats while respecting the official rules of the races. Weather conditions and downwind agitation (wind shadow) are realistic. The rules of the races are the same as ISAF: International Sailing Federation. The performance and behaviour of the boats are taken from the real polar charts from racing boat constructors.

Virtual Régatta News

Every night at 20:00 during a race, participants were able to tune into a 10-minute news show, “Virtual Regatta News”, about the virtual regatta with weather information and routing advice. During one race this video-blog had over 40 million views [10] during the 80 days of the race. The presenter was the pro sailor Sébastien Destremeau [11].

A prologue was organized prior to the race for Virtual Regatta players to have the opportunity to play against real skippers in a virtual “run” across the Atlantic. The race left from Les Sables d’Olonnes, the equator was the finishing line.

In literature

The game inspired 200 page the novel Sur la vague virtuelle du vendée written by author Patrice Baluc-Rittener and published in 2008. The story is the autobiographical recount of the author’s personal adventure on board his virtual boat, “MacAII” on Virtual Regatta during the 2008-09 Vendée Globe. “MacAII” finished the race in 88 days, 11 hours and 15 minutes.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Lilian, 45 ans, remporte le Vendée Globe... virtuel". le Vendée Globe (in French). virtuel, LeParisien.fr. January 24, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  2. ^ "Virtual Regatta. Après 74 jours, le premier skipper "virtuel" a coupé la ligne". Le Telegramme (in French). January 24, 2013. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/07/07/winning-the-volvo-ocean-race-virtual-regatta/ "Winning the Volvo Ocean Race Virtual "]. Sailing Scuttlebut, on July 7th, 2015
  4. ^ "Courez votre propre Route de Rhum, Bretagne Info Nautisme" (in French). Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Virtual Regatta, le jeu en ligne qui met les voiles, Erwan Cario, Le Liberation" (in French). December 20, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "Pourquoi un demi-million de navigateurs jouent-ils à Virtual Regatta ? Telerama" (in French). January 1, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "Virtual regatta. L'autre régate autour du monde". Le Telegramme (in French). November 16, 2012. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ^ "Virtual Regatta. De leur salon, ils affrontent l'océan". 13 juin 2015 / Élisabeth Mafart Le Télégramme
  9. ^ Vendée Globe. L'autre vainqueur, Telegramme Magazine http://www.letelegramme.fr/complements/2013/01/23/1981244_der.pdf
  10. ^ "Virtual Winner to Arrive Today! XS Sailing". January 24, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  11. ^ Pourquoi un demi-million de navigateurs jouent-ils à Virtual Regatta ? Telerama, January 1 2013. http://www.telerama.fr/medias/pourquoi-un-demi-million-de-navigateurs-jouent-ils-a-virtual-regatta,91883.php
  12. ^ Baluc-Rittener, Patrice (2008). "Sur la vague virtuelle du vendée" (in French). Retrieved May 19, 2015.


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