Written by Ilan Pappini, it allows you to sail many type of boats in many areas of the world.
It is not something I stare at, rather it just runs and I peek in now and then as I read a book or play my guitar - things I have done on boats while in the midst of a longer ride.
Then I found The VSF Boat Shop run by one Steve Sharp.
Steve has meticulously recreated a nice array of boats. From 34 foot day boats to 160 foot schooners.
I have purchased from Steve in the past, but the level of detail has been ratcheted up significantly.
I got a nice schooner, built in 1905 and refitted 2003 - 2006.
(If I had the $18,000,000 the owners are asking...)
A crew of 5 with 6 guests, a luxurious floating Victorian age hotel - I have not found one television screen, yet.
It's been almost two days and I am close to 500 nautical miles from the port of departure, Bellingham Washington, in a hailstorm...yeah a hail storm.
The attention to detail goes well beyond the visuals. Another schooner that was built as racing boat will heel 25 degrees or more in the 30 knot winds outside of Seattle while this boat sits almost upright with a heel angle of 5 degrees in 28 knots of wind and hail that is more than impeding our forward progress.
We had been averaging 12.5 knots for the first 30 hours. But now in the middle of this weather, I am torn - should I reef to avoid damage to the sails...and thereby slow down even more?
There is just something satisfying in having this ride going on as my background noise. Much better than having the drone of the television.
This will be one really fun ride.
