eSail Sailing Simulator News

eSail V3 BETA (3.0.x) is an exciting new update that brings new features to the eSail community. As always, our updates are free for all eSail users. V3 is based on Unity 6 which itself is in Beta. As well as adding new features, a lot of work has been done on compatibility with Unity 6. Although this doesn't add anything for users short term, it means we are on the right platform going forward, which should speed up development.

NOTE 1: Before running the Beta backup your data folder. See the Technical Support discussion for this folder's location.
NOTE 2: Challenges are excluded from the beta. This is because the boat handling has changed slightly. We will probably have new leaderboards once V3 is fully released.
NOTE 3: All new text is in English only. Translations will be added once the Beta is completed. At that stage will will also add speech in languages as required.
NOTE 4: Users on the beta will be in a different 'world' to those on V2.

NEW FEATURES

• Better graphics. All terrain textures have been improved. There is also now more use of the 'Detailed World' setting which adds more objects including rocks, trees, roads and harbour details. Even the seaweed has been replaced with something a bit more appealing (although remember performance considerations do limit the detail!) Many buildings have been given window lights. This can help when night sailing.
  
• Wind variability (Live Sailing). Now the wind responds to the shape of nearby land causing wind shifts. Anabatic and katabatic breezes cause patches on the water surface which the observant sailor can use to maximise speed! For more information see https://www.esailyachtsimulator.com/the-world-of-esail/wind/
• New 'Trade Islands' added. These islands are slightly tidal so you have to be aware of tidal heights. There are published tide tables for the islands.
  
• New chart for the Trade Islands. This is available once you have collected all the POIs for Navaronne etc. This level is now classified as 'Atlantic Explorer'. The new level for the Trade Islands is 'Tidal Explorer'.
  
• Reference section and notebook. On the menu there is a new button for 'Reference'. Here you can look up any term or function featured in eSail. There is also a simple notebook for making - you guessed it - notes.
  
• Boat detailing. We have started an ongoing process of adding more graphical detail to the boat. This includes a new masthead wind indicator.
  
• Reciprocal button on the chart plotter. This enables you to quickly read a line from the opposite bearing.
  
• The depth sounder now reads depth taking into account wave and tide height.
  
• Hands and wheel centre adjustable brightness.
  
• Each chart now is saved with zoom and position.
  
• Added an ‘all lines delete’ button to charts.
  
• Run in Background option. See the first section of Settings.
  
• Added Settings to modify keyboard steering and throttle.
  
• Plan view - you can now plot the courses of boats, with boat names now visible on the plan. So before racing this can be turned on. In the event of possible foul play, take a screenshot so that we can see how the action has unfolded. Click on the chart plotter behind the compass, then the orange button.
  
• Glance view added to Smart Button. Drag left or right on the button so see at 90 degrees. See the tooltip for keyboard shortcuts.
  

eSail Pro

• Fixed bug where autopilot was always setting to apparent wind (in Wind Mode).
  
• Tidal Curve tool. This interactive tool can be found in the chart drawer.
  
• Tidal heights tutorials.
  
• Added tack mode to autopilot. While using the autopilot hit the button to steer the boat onto the opposite tack.
  

Thank you for your suggestions which have been incorporated here. Please add feedback to the new V3 discussion. All feedback is very welcome!


To swap to the V3 Beta:

First back up your data!

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 'eSail_V3' branch. The password is: eSailEmerald

This update provides an agreement checkbox, so that the user needs to accept that eSail is not a replacement for professional training by a qualified instructor. In addition we point out limitations - we cannot simulate the physical and mental demands of real world sailing. Also we highlight that no simulator can always replicate real world physics, especially as all boats behave differently. The agreement only needs to be accepted once by each user/boat.

This wording is in preparation for eSail V3. We will be adding tidal height information so it is really important that users realize the limitations of eSail. We do not want users grounding their real life boats! But the wording applies to V2 as well and builds on the current licence agreement and warnings we have placed across all marketing materials.

We have also changed some wording in Settings. We now have a 'Detailed world' checkbox. The text states that this provides more detailed sky and terrain. Actually the increased terrain details in V2 are barely noticeable. But in V3 we will have some nice eye candy, and this option will become more important so users can conserve resources if their machine is struggling with the new detail.

This small update fixes an issue in the Mooring Sandbox (eSail Pro). There were hidden boats which caused some very strange effects when trying to moor. Apologies to anyone who had problems mooring before this was identified!

This new update is designed to help novice sailors, as well as fix a few bugs.

1. Added a Points of Sail diagram. This can be accessed from the 'Adjusting the Mainsail' tutorial. (In V3 all learning resources will be accessible from a central location.)

2. Previously it was easy to accidentally click on the sail bag in the cabin and deploy the asymmetric without even knowing it. So we have now added a confirmation alert.

3. We have added a note in first tutorial about how the tutorials are saved and how to access other tutorials / challenges.

4. We have modified the starting boat positions of the basic tutorials to help novice sailors avoid crashing into the training buoys or land.

5. Fixed bug - when changing line (radial left) hands hotspot was disappearing.

6. Fixed bug - where medals would appear on changing the time between local/UTC on the Multiplayer Challenges screen.

7. Fixed bug - page 3737 wave file (English only) as this referred to travellers not being in eSail which is no longer the case.

8. Changed visibility of boat name on stern so that it can be seen at a greater distance.

9. Improvement to multiplayer to avoid to avoid boats appearing on top of one another.

10. German language fixes. Thank you to Tjabo for pointing these out!

11. Improvements in mooring to reduce errors with disappearing/misaligned mooring lines. Thank you Peter for all your testing of these issues.

12. Fixed bug where dragging on screen to look around or orbit could lock up.

To force an update, sign out of Steam (user your user top right), then sign back in again. Otherwise Steam will automatically update your eSail in due course.

We have a new test release which is designed to help novice sailors, as well as fix a few bugs.

1. Added a Points of Sail diagram. This can be accessed from the 'Adjusting the Mainsail' tutorial. (In V3 all learning resources will be accessible from a central location.)

2. Previously it was easy to accidentally click on the sail bag in the cabin and deploy the asymmetric without even knowing it. So we have now added a confirmation alert.

3. We have added a note in first tutorial about how the tutorials are saved and how to access other tutorials / challenges.

4. We have modified the starting boat positions of the basic tutorials to help novice sailors avoid crashing into the training buoys or land.

5. Fixed bug - when changing line (radial left) hands hotspot was disappearing.

6. Fixed bug - where medals would appear on changing the time between local/UTC on the Multiplayer Challenges screen.

7. Fixed bug - page 3737 wave file (English only) as this referred to travellers not being in eSail which is no longer the case.

8. Changed visibility of boat name on stern so that it can be seen at a greater distance.

9. Improvement to multiplayer to avoid to avoid boats appearing on top of one another.

10. German language fixes. Thank you to Tjabo for pointing these out!


To swap to the Test 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 'Test - Windows & Mac' branch.

All feedback welcome! Please provide your feedback under this announcement.