So with the new wind feature in SP 1.6 it's possible to make sailboats that are powered by the wind. Sailboats that are simply pushed by the wind work fine, but real sailboats have the ability to sail close to the direction of the wind. Their sails work like wings, creating a low pressure in front of the sail and a high pressure behind it. This pushes the boat along the water.
My first prototype sailboat was a large catamaran, it used the new gyroscope to steer. It could only sail 90 degrees towards the wind. Not good enough.
After about 15 minutes of messing around with single hull boats (they were better at sailing upwind), I decided to use the new giros to stabilize the boat. This worked wonders on the sailing characteristics of the boat. It could now sail faster than the wind! (With the effect of 'apparent wind').
After balancing out the placement of the sail and rudder, the boat can now sail 45 degrees into the wind! With an average speed of 50 mph in 35 mph winds.
This new update is awesome!
Here's a link to a video of the boat
EDIT = Video link died
Try out the boat your self! link
The little yellow triangle at the bottom of the screen is the wind direction.
I’m building a sail boat. And it tips to the right and sinks. when there is no wind. So I changed the weight of the boat and it tipped to the left and sunk. How do I make it balanced and stable.
If you like this stuff you could look at my profile (I know how that sounds)
Cool
Video?
@MK82 You could also use these moded wings under water. I used them on my America's cup boat.
@MK82 Unfortunately Simpleplanes doesn't have very realistic water physics. I get my boats to sail up wind with oversized daggerboards and rudders, it doesn't look to good but it gets the job done.
hey i'm here too! look at my catamaran. ps: still i can't make any upwind sailing boats. any help? is there apparent wind in this game?
I have also been having fun with sailing
Video of speedy catamaran
I'm glad someone else is too!
@LimitedShelf568 tacking os also possible. You might just need a better boat. With my surfboard prototype I've already managed it.
@PilotOfFuture It is. I was talking about tacking
@Rcb1235 you have to make more of these!
@Rcb1235 yesssss! Finally your back!
I was trying the wind out with my old boats, but I couldn't even get 90° without being pushed directly sideways...
@LimitedShelf568 i managed to go up to about 25°, that's actually pretty realistic
@LimitedShelf568 Yup
@Rcb1235 You can go up to 45 degrees into the wind and sail directly using tacking
@LimitedShelf568 Real boats can't sail directly into the wind anyway, they usually can only go about 30 degrees into the wind.
The reason you can't sail directly into the wind is because simple planes simuates forces, not actual air pressure