NauticEd, the world leader in on-the-water and online sailing training, today announced a partnership with MarineVerse, an Australian-based pioneer of virtual reality (VR) sailing simulation, to jointly offer the first-ever virtual reality sailing course incorporating VR gaming with sailing training techniques and programs.
The initial VR sailing course, “Self Mastery,” was co-developed by the two companies and features sailing training that balances authenticity and entertainment in a fully immersive, virtual sailing experience.
The training puts players at the helm of a sailing yacht and helps them learn to trim the sails, manage boat speed, and navigate. The boat reacts to wind conditions and every decision made by the players, giving them instant feedback on how their actions impact boat behavior. Other more complex modules like docking and maneuvering within the marina, night sailing, and heavy weather are also in production for future accessibility.
“How do you make sailing less intimidating and open to more diverse types of sailors? How do sailors keep learning and continue to practice what they have already learned when they can’t access the water? The answer is VR, and we believe it will be revolutionary for sailing education,” said Grant Headifen, founder and global director of education for NauticEd. “As experienced sailors have known for thousands of years, competence requires theory knowledge, practical skills, and lots of experience. 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.”
Greg Dziemidowicz, founder of MarineVerse, is equally excited about the partnership. “Sailing has always been about community for me,” said Dziemidowicz. “With NauticEd we will make sailing instruction more affordable and accessible while inspiring, educating and entertaining a fast-growing community of sailors.”
The virtual reality sailing course featuring the “Self Mastery” module is now accessible via the NauticEd website at https://www.nauticed.org/ or via the MarineVerse Cup app on Meta Quest at https://tinyurl.com/4v929x3f.
