This update has a number of small enhancements including improvements to multiplayer races.
There is now a 15 minute timeout when you are in a race. This means if you pause or go to the menus for longer than this time you will be removed from the race and the multiplayer 'world'. You may still be able to re-enter but only by going to the main multiplayer Challenges menu. This change is to stop users accidentally blocking others from entering.
We expect to be able to allow more users into races now, so hopefully re-entering a race after a timeout should not be a problem in most cases.
Settings/Enable Controller is now OFF by default. This will only affect new users.
Fixed an issue where using key controls 1-4 could cause a lock up when crew moving between winches.
Fixed missing characters on the navigation lights panel. (Turkish).
Added missing speech files in MOB Power.
Added Local Time option to challenges screen.
Enabled eSail to work when there is no internet connection (as was the case in V1).
Fixed Settings issues when pausing.
Improved sail shapes of other players' boats.
Thank you to everyone who helped with reporting and fixing these bugs!
NEW eSail Sailing Simulator V2 released!
eSail V2 represents over a year's development work and introduces a whole new virtual sailing experience. Here is a full list of major new features:
Multiplayer. Now users can interact with each other in multiplayer Live Sailing. As before you are subject to the ever changing Shearwater weather, but now you can 'VHF' chat to other eSailors and take part in races against other boats. VHF chat is similar to real VHF in that it is possible to talk over other radio users, so you need to follow some protocols (which are explained in the simulator).
New languages added by our amazing community translators - Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Dutch (existing languages are English, French, Russian and German). All languages are subject to constant update and improvement, so please contact us if have feedback or can add anything.
Live Sailing Courses. Here you can create your own courses including race courses and passages. Once you have a course you can set up private races by simply sending friends or other boats an access code.
Multiplayer races. Join in with regular eSail multiplayer races. These will be added depending on demand so just let us know the best times and we will do our best to create challenges for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBiIxNUtQd0
eSail Server. You can now get information about the status of the Shearwater world including the weather/forecast and the location of other boats, race results etc. by going straight to our server web page: https://esail-server-ui.herokuapp.com/
Asymmetric spinnaker. This sail is great for everything from a beam reach to running downwind. The 'asy' is deployed in a snuffer, and when released tends to lift the bow giving higher boat speeds (in the right wind). Using the asymmetric you can exceed hull speed and plane. See the Advanced Tutorial for details on how to deploy and handle the sail.
Sandbox. This is a fantastic way of getting the best from your eSail boat. You can set wind direction & strength and wave height, then adjust your sails to match. If you note down the best trim this can give a real advantage when racing!
New Settings options:
Detailed sky giving more realistic atmospheric effects such as 'god rays'.
Prop walk so you can set how the propeller affects how the stern is kicked sideways in reverse. This is really useful when practising mooring.
Physics priority. This helps tune eSail to match the capabilities of your machine.
Multiplayer mode, including the option to set time to +12 hours (so you don't have to sail in the dark!)
New music and option to turn music off.
Other enhancements include:
Better boat detailing, including new textures on the sail bag and hull.
Deck and cabin lights making night sailing easier.
Better modelling of heel, so it is actually possible to broach or capsize under extreme conditions.
F11 to toggle user interface on and off.
eSail version 2 has been extensively Beta tested, but it is just the start of the V2 development roadmap, so please report any issues experienced. We will fix these as quickly as possible in future updates as well as adding more exciting new features!
Update 2.1.001
2.1.001 Fixed alert where after showing the racing rules the text was squashed on a subsequent alert. Fixed problem with Advanced Tutorials not showing when Man Overboard is not installed. Changed multiplayer so that all players are in the 2 main multiplayer modes/worlds, including players in challenges. This is subject change - in times of high demand challenges may be moved to separate worlds.
Saturday Live Sailing Race Series
This new Live Sailing multiplayer race will be running every Saturday in eSail V2 from 10th July until the end of August. The first one is at 14.00 UTC.
We are currently giving points for all races completed by users which can be seen on the global leaderboard here: eSail server
To participate navigate a boat to the Shearwater Bay area. Note: you can easily add boats and sail them to different areas so you are ready for challenges.
Inside eSail go to Live Sailing Challenges.
Get practising now - we will soon be offering prizes!
NOTES:
You will need to register for multiplayer by editing your main (first) user inside eSail.
Further races will be organised depending on demand. To request a race for a specific date/time just get in touch on the Steam 'Multiplayer challenges' discussion.
eSail V2 Beta launched
(Jun 8th 2021) eSail Ltd. has today released a new Beta of eSail Sailing Simulator V2. This new version is available to all eSail V1 users at no extra charge and you can start trying it out now.
New features include:
Asymmetric spinnaker which can be used from a beam reach to running downwind.
Multiplayer mode including a simulated VHF radio with 19 channels for chatting with other sailors.
Multiplayer challenges including races and ‘passages’.
You can also create your own courses and challenges and share them with friends.
We have also improved the boat detailing and added numerous other small features such as making it easier to see the status of your lines and prop walk.
We are adding a number of new languages, but please note that new features are not fully translated, so it is best to keep the Beta in English for now.
To get these new features simply purchase eSail. Once you have installed you can switch to the V2 Beta if you want to try it out.
To swap to the V2 Beta:
1. Right click on eSail in your Steam client.
2. On the drop down menu click 'Properties'
3. Click on the BETAS tab.
4. Select the v2_Beta from the drop down list.
Please provide your feedback in the Beta Forum.
NOTES: Languages are still a work in progress. There may be gaps in any language apart from English which should be complete.
You will need to register for multiplayer by editing your main (first) user inside eSail.
2.0.957 Development Version
2.0.957 is the latest open 'Development' version. Before using this make sure you back up your data folder.
NOTE: this version has wind shadowing so you can use this tactically in races to slow other boats !(multiplayer)
You can also now add your own races to share with friends using an Access Code.
Windows: C:\Users\Your name\AppData\LocalLow\VRActive\eSail NOTE: The AppData folder may be hidden in Windows. To unhide check the 'Hidden items' box under View in Windows Explorer.
MacOS: Library/Application Support/VR Active/eSail OR Library/Application Support/unity.VRActive.eSail
This version has multiplayer challenges. At the moment you can also create your own courses. However you will not be able to make challenges out of these courses (yet). We will just see how things go before starting to make that available.
It is possible that challenges and leaderboard data might be removed, but we will try to avoid this now.
We have also added an asymmetric sail. See the new tutorial under Quick Start/Advanced.
To swap to the Development version:
1. Right click on eSail in your Steam client.
2. On the drop down menu click 'Properties'
3. Click on the BETAS tab.
4. Select the Development beta from the drop down list.
Please provide your feedback in the Development Forum.
NOTES:
Languages are still a work in progress. There may be gaps in any language apart from English which should be complete.
All multiplayer challenges should be in UTC. Please do not use UTC+12 when running multiplayer challenges. This will come later.
You will need to register by editing your main user inside eSail. NOTE: your additional users can also be registered at the moment (using different email addresses) but these users may be removed later.
Update 1.7.44
This minor update fixes these problems:
1. NPC boat engines fixed missing sound 2. Changed position of bow spray on large ship 3. Fixed issue where description of steering controls was reversed 4. Changed 'Controller enabled' to off in Settings as this seems to be the major cause of any steering issues.
eSail 1.7.42 - minor update
This small update fixes these issues:
1) Steering. Some users have experienced steering problems, normally when returning to eSail after a break. We have addressed at least one cause of this, but it is very hard to test as the issue is so infrequent. Please let us know if you experience this problem.
2) We have improved the restored state of the reefed sails. This includes problems with the sail material and also telltales which were left hanging in the air.
3) Fixed a bug where Man Overboard would leave a long elastic line joining the MOB to the boat.
4) Fixed terrain textures in the Northern Islands. The terrain had far too much contrast and is more balanced now.
5) We have added a link to the description of the 'Nature Research Station'. This link points to some satellite imagery which may make it (slightly!) easier to navigate in and out of the marshes.
eSail Sailing Simulator German version released
The eSail German version is here at last! After several months of work by 7 translators and reviewers eSail is now much more accessible to German speakers. As well as translating the main tutorials, challenges and the interface we have also used Google speech synthesis, so you don't need to read as you are sailing - our virtual narrator will talk to you.
Thank you to all the fantastic contributors who took part in this project.
eSail is a great way of improving your sailing skills. It has numerous tutorials, sailing, mooring and anchoring modes, sailing challenges, races, Live Sailing mode, ‘Learn yachting with eSail’ training course and more.
Use eSail to practise your skills before skippering or crewing a real world boat. Or keep your sailing in the virtual world – it’s up to you!
German Flag Vectors by Vecteezy
eSail German Beta / eSail Segelsimulator Deutsche Beta
In this new beta eSail now has German language support provided by our amazing community translators.
Please have a look and let us know what you think. In particular have a listen to the speech in the first tutorial 'Einstieg'. We have tried a female and a male voice from Google 'Text To Speech'. Let us know which you prefer!
Thank you to all the community translators, testers and reviewers for your contributions.
