Couple of quick thoughts for you. Full disclosure, I have been playing Sailwind for a little under 1 week so far, and I am far from expert with it. However, I do have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of sailing so I'm learning a lot by watching this continuing series, particularly about handling the Sanbuq. So here's a tip or two in general principles which might prove handy to you in the near future! First, there's a reason why storms, high winds, and heavy seas require the mainsails to be reefed and that is because they can do more harm than good. In other words, there's a Maximum "safe" wind speed and if the ship is under full sail in wind which are higher the tendency to heel can only be corrected by relaxing the sheets and then the full sail area will still be causing drag, sliding the boat downwind without necessarily turning her. So as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest you consider reducing the amount of sail to 67-75% at the very least, and probably to between 33-50% while sleeping. The Second Tip is even more important though. Running with the winds on your Beam in winds which are too heavy will almost certainly cause the ship to start taking water over the windward side, and *if the waves are higher than your ship's width, ie. the beam measurement,* then they can cause the ship to capsize. There are 3 ultimately "safe" ways to deal with this. One is to turn downwind which will probably be blowing you further away from your destination; the second is to turn directly into the wind (and thus the waves) and "heaving to" which is not something lateen rigs are particularly well suited for, and which will still likely be blowing you away from your destination (nowhere near as fast as turning downwind would, though) and the Third option is to pick one of the "close hauled" tacks, reducing the mainsails to their minimums needed to make headway and to hold course. The added bonus of being close hauled is that your ship should be running up the tallest of waves at about a 45 degree angle, which effectively increases the beam of your ship by using some of the length of the ship to compensate. By analogy, it is a lot like how angled armor can stop an artillery shell which would otherwise penetrate it. In this case, the length of the ship is longer than the maximum wave height; the Ship is the Armor, and the Waves are the Shell. Anyhow, all that to say running close hauled into heavy waves is a viable and normally pretty stable strategy even while sleeping. To ensure that the ship stays that way should only mean that you slightly angle the sail on the stern to keep her turning into the wind and the waves, especially if she tries to turn downwind on the forward sail. o7 and keep up the good work!
To make taking readings with the suncompass simple I keep the clock in my inventory, I just think of it as a wristwatch. By leaving the center inventory slot open, you get a clear view of the compass while also being able to read the time accurately. Though as the previous commenter noted it is indeed a good idea to keep clocks where you spend a lot of your time so you won't miss a reading. Missing one here or there isn't going to be a problem, but when you miss one, and then weather prevents you from getting the next two, then that can be an issue. Happy sailing!
I guess Denlar Scott doesn't know the poop deck is the front of the ship near the bowsprit. It's called that because when you poop the wind carries the smell in front of the ship.
Couple of quick thoughts for you.
Full disclosure, I have been playing Sailwind for a little under 1 week so far, and I am far from expert with it. However, I do have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of sailing so I'm learning a lot by watching this continuing series, particularly about handling the Sanbuq.
So here's a tip or two in general principles which might prove handy to you in the near future! First, there's a reason why storms, high winds, and heavy seas require the mainsails to be reefed and that is because they can do more harm than good. In other words, there's a Maximum "safe" wind speed and if the ship is under full sail in wind which are higher the tendency to heel can only be corrected by relaxing the sheets and then the full sail area will still be causing drag, sliding the boat downwind without necessarily turning her. So as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest you consider reducing the amount of sail to 67-75% at the very least, and probably to between 33-50% while sleeping.
The Second Tip is even more important though. Running with the winds on your Beam in winds which are too heavy will almost certainly cause the ship to start taking water over the windward side, and *if the waves are higher than your ship's width, ie. the beam measurement,* then they can cause the ship to capsize. There are 3 ultimately "safe" ways to deal with this. One is to turn downwind which will probably be blowing you further away from your destination; the second is to turn directly into the wind (and thus the waves) and "heaving to" which is not something lateen rigs are particularly well suited for, and which will still likely be blowing you away from your destination (nowhere near as fast as turning downwind would, though) and the Third option is to pick one of the "close hauled" tacks, reducing the mainsails to their minimums needed to make headway and to hold course. The added bonus of being close hauled is that your ship should be running up the tallest of waves at about a 45 degree angle, which effectively increases the beam of your ship by using some of the length of the ship to compensate. By analogy, it is a lot like how angled armor can stop an artillery shell which would otherwise penetrate it. In this case, the length of the ship is longer than the maximum wave height; the Ship is the Armor, and the Waves are the Shell.
Anyhow, all that to say running close hauled into heavy waves is a viable and normally pretty stable strategy even while sleeping. To ensure that the ship stays that way should only mean that you slightly angle the sail on the stern to keep her turning into the wind and the waves, especially if she tries to turn downwind on the forward sail.
o7 and keep up the good work!
To make taking readings with the suncompass simple I keep the clock in my inventory, I just think of it as a wristwatch. By leaving the center inventory slot open, you get a clear view of the compass while also being able to read the time accurately. Though as the previous commenter noted it is indeed a good idea to keep clocks where you spend a lot of your time so you won't miss a reading. Missing one here or there isn't going to be a problem, but when you miss one, and then weather prevents you from getting the next two, then that can be an issue. Happy sailing!
..and a hand width of water under your keel!
P.s. Don't forget the rum!
Fair winds and following seas my friend
I guess Denlar Scott doesn't know the poop deck is the front of the ship near the bowsprit. It's called that because when you poop the wind carries the smell in front of the ship.
Damn, I am famous now :D