As if often goes when you develop something, the first results is not perfect. Then you make improvements and extensions to the first project. But since the structure was not optimal to begin with, you run into limitations. That's why the development of the third iteration has started from scratch. This was in march 2020.
The ambitions were high and it soon became an enormous project. I have worked on it full time and more when possible. But it is more than worth it. The new simulator looks and feels wonderful and it has truly become a sailing simulator.
Upgrading to Sailaway III will not be mandatory. Sailaway II will continue to exist for sailors who are nostalgic or whose computer isn't up for the requirements of Sailaway III.
In october 2023 an alpha version will be released. It will be available for download for everyone with a Sailaway II Pro license. It is meant for testing and for getting a glimpse of what is coming.
After that initial introduction there will be a series of more serious alpha versions. Each time a different section of the game will be opened up. Only sailors with a Sailaway II Pro license will have access to those alpha versions.
The alpha versions are meant for testing and for content creation. Because a virtual sailing world is more than a nice application, it requires boats, ports, clubs, tutorials, translations, events and much more.
When sufficient content is available, the development is finished and when the testing is done, the game will be released. This is targeted for summer 2024. But in the meantime, don't forget that you can still enjoy Sailaway II.
You can follow the progress on this Trello board
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22. Clouds, website
21. Cape Wrath
20. First meters
19. Forces
18. Sailing UI
17. A typical day
16. Controls
15. Tracing the hull shape
14. Boat specs and struggles
13. Materials and textures
12. Adding hardware in the boat designer
11. Trim lines work!
10. Trim lines starting to work
9. 2D Trim line behaviour
8. Deck hardware logic 2
7. Deck hardware logic
6. Deck hardware
5. Sail aerodynamics
4. Visualizing airflow
3. Intelligent sails
2. About Sailaway III
1. About me