The Analog Sailing Simulator

Menno Ulrich

Concept

The Analog Sailing Simulator is designed as a teaching aid for sailing instructors, when complex skills are introduced they can use this to demonstrate and have students practice the new skill in a simplified, repeatable, and controlled manner on land.

Prototype

This half scale prototype was made to test the rotation and mounting of a Optimist on the simulator. This is also the simplest form of the simulator with the incorporation of artificial wind for indoor sailing and heel control for more advanced sailing currently in progress.

The boat the half scale prototype is built off of is an Optimist, a dinghy sailboat specifically designed for 7-15 year old sailors. This range is important as new young sailors need the most assistance when learning to sail.

As a sailing instructor and designer I want to create tools to help grow the sailing community in a more accessible way. This simulator is a step in that direction wherein we can teach the skills of sailing in a compact footprint without the need of water and wind in a controlled, repeatable, and simplified manner to many different ages and abilities so that new sailors can more easily get the “feel” of sailing.

That moment of body, boat and environment connection is my draw to this amazing sport and lifestyle that I would like to pass onto others.