“It’s just like taking an ocean cruise, only there’s no boat and you don’t actually go anywhere.”
When Mad Ave Advertising executive Bill the Frog said that line in The Muppets Take Manhattan, he was referring to Ocean Breeze soap.
But Bill’s line accurately describes a new virtual reality-based educational platform designed to teach sailing.
Today, sailing training company NauticEd and VR sailing simulation developers MarineVerse announced a partnership to offer the first virtual reality sailing course.
According to the companies, the course fully-incorporates VR gaming with sailing training techniques and programs.
The two companies say they co-developed the initial course, Self Mastery, to provide training that balances authenticity and entertainment in a fully immersive, virtual sailing experience.
NauticEd Founder Grant Headifen says VR is the answer to making sailing less intimidating, open to more sailors, and helping sailors continue learning even when they can’t get to the water.
Headifen believes VR will be revolutionary for sailing education.
“As experienced sailors have known for thousands of years, competence requires theory knowledge, practical skills, and lots of experience,” says Headifen. “VR combines all aspects into a fluid, immersive, and fun experience that pushes the boundaries of a user’s imagination in a safe and non-intimidating training environment.”
The new training course teaches helmsmanship, sail trimming, managing boat speed, and navigation with a sailing yacht model.
NauticEd and MarineVerse say the player’s vessel will react to wind conditions and every decision they make, giving them instant feedback on decisions and how they affect boat behavior.
The companies are developing more complex training segments involving docking, maneuvering in a marina, night sailing, and heavy weather.
The Self Mastery training module is accessible at the NauticEd website and through the MarineVerse Cup app on Meta Quest.
“Sailing has always been about community for me, says MarineVerse Founder Greg Dziemidowicz. “With NauticEd, we will make sailing instruction more affordable and accessible while inspiring, educating, and entertaining a fast-growing community of sailors.”