Sail boat simulation
Learning and science
physics simulation
SHOW HN2014
229points
83comments
#72of 2,272 in 2014
Top 4%of 2014 by points
How HN took it
DebatedReal support and real criticism
13 positive, 12 neutral or asking, 7 mixed, 14 critical, out of 46 comments about the project. Thread score +0.05.
Idea: 6 for, 11 againstPerformance: 2 for, 1 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 againstDesign: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Helps visualise and teach how sailing works
From 3 comments
Nice one, I love little programs like this that teach visitors something.
jacquesm on HNVery neat. I was able to confirm and visualize my intuition on how sailboats work. It reminds me of a car parking simulator [1] I made a while ago. [1]…
shurcooL on HNMore info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sail#Close_hauled Thanks for making this. As a teenager I used to sail competitively and this brings good memories. Sailing…
Stately on HN
Fun and nicely made
From 3 comments
Very nice! A feature idea: would be cool to have a level with "increased difficulty/realism" with just one degree of freedom - the sail. In real world you can not turn the vessel…
ay on HNAbsolutely awesome. Makes me want to look into real sailing. Sadly season for sailing has pretty much ended -- will look into it next year then. Thanks for sharing, would love to…
selmnoo on HNThat's sweet! Kinda hard to tack tho.
adolph on HN
Objections
Physics is too simplistic and not realistic
From 4 comments
Fun little sim, although a bit simplistic. Before I started sailing in real life, I used this Android app to build an understanding of sailing physics (which is quite difficult…
bicx on HNThis is a good start, but the physics of sailing is much more complex than presented in your app. For instance, a sailboat is not powered by the wind pushing on the sail. It…
joshuaheard on HNI agree ... this simulation defies "sailor's intuition" and the explanation you reference doesn't help at all - it doesn't feel anything like sailing a real boat. I've got a…
smoyer on HNNice mechanics. However, it seems that you only take the drift into account where the physics behind sailing in these situation is the lift apply to the sail (which behaves like…
matthieurouif on HN
Controls do not match a real sailboat
From 3 comments
This would be more compelling and educational if the controls mapped closer to how the controls you have available on a traditional sailboat work: * Rudder position controls rate…
tomkarlo on HNtook me quite a while to work out how to tack, with controls being so different to an actual sailing boat (mast pivot at centre rather than leading edge, and spinning the whole…
tehwalrus on HNA little improvement in the graphics would make this much more intuitive. #1) Which is the front end of the boat? Not that hard to have a pointed end and a not pointy end. #2)…
krschultz on HN
Boat does not move at some sail and boat angles
From 1 comment
This seems wrong. The boat never moves when Sail Angle is 0. Boat Angles of 40 and 90 should cause motion with a Sail Angle of 0, but they don't.
adamtj on HN
Requests
Show keel or centerboard forces
From 3 comments
Cool, but it's odd that the sail rotates around its own center point. Probably would be more realistic to have it rotate around a mast at the leading edge. I'd also love to see…
drblast on HNSail: 200 Boat: 130 beating to windward while close hauled wish I could see the keel forces pretty cool!
bane on HNA little improvement in the graphics would make this much more intuitive. #1) Which is the front end of the boat? Not that hard to have a pointed end and a not pointy end. #2)…
krschultz on HN
Make the sail rotate around the mast
From 2 comments
Cool, but it's odd that the sail rotates around its own center point. Probably would be more realistic to have it rotate around a mast at the leading edge. I'd also love to see…
drblast on HNI vote for the following UI improvement: a clear indication of where the mast is---and sail pivoting around it. Bonus points for curved sail graphic ;)
ivan_ah on HN
Add keyboard controls
From 1 comment
I think keyboard controls would make this easier to tack/navigate. Left and right to rotate boat and up down for sail. I could see this being a cool racing game with obstacles…
millzlane on HN
Add a rudder and realistic heeling
From 2 comments
I agree ... this simulation defies "sailor's intuition" and the explanation you reference doesn't help at all - it doesn't feel anything like sailing a real boat. I've got a…
smoyer on HNNot realistic enough. Didn't capsize.
nzealand on HN
Questions
How does a sailboat move upwind if wind only pushes the sail
From 3 comments
This is a good start, but the physics of sailing is much more complex than presented in your app. For instance, a sailboat is not powered by the wind pushing on the sail. It…
joshuaheard on HNLike an airplane wing, a sail generates most of its lift from deflection of air (air is accelerated towards "aft"), not the Bernoulli effect (pressure difference).…
arnarbi on HNThanks, I stand corrected! I was hoping for an actual fluid dynamics person to comment (I'm just a sailor), and your comment above is excellent. Your explanation of the keels…
arnarbi on HN
Alternatives named
thepirateking sail simulator
From 1 comment
For those of you stating you'd like something a bit more realistic, try: http://www.thepirateking.com/ships/sail_simulator.htm @imakesnowflake, great work btw.
tiffanyh on HN
Sailor Android app
From 1 comment
Fun little sim, although a bit simplistic. Before I started sailing in real life, I used this Android app to build an understanding of sailing physics (which is quite difficult…
bicx on HN
American Challenge sailing game
From 1 comment
Woah, a little trip down memory lane... This post made me think of this: http://www.mobygames.com/game/american-challenge-a-sailing-simulation This was actually quite a…
demallien on HN