Blake Sea

Mainland can sometimes be wild west living, but that isn't always a bad thing. I like my little mainland spots,an am even in the midst of building a new place int eh suburbs of Shermerville.

An ya, the Blake Sea makes that whole side of the map a whole lot more appealing, IMO. May we see someting as nice come up on the opposite side, say, around where Bay City's west edge is...

There is a show on TV every now and then called "Extreme Homes" and I have never really decided if the show reminds me of mainland SL or if mainland SL reminds me of the show.

I love Fairchang Isles and pop in every now and then to look around but I would never live there. The same goes for Nautiilus, I flew all over it last night and all of the homes are beautiful but with only a handful of exceptions, they have no "soul". For me, in RL or SL, a house that is a cookie cutter clone of it's neighbors, no matter how nicely decorated is blah. Someone taking and renovating an old lighthouse, or an old church or building a home up above the trees or hanging out over the edge of a cliff is a home with a "soul" and you can get a clear feel of the owners even before you meet them. The same goes for SL, a stunning tree house on a little 512 lot, surrounded by garbage homes, a quirky UFO tucked away in a corner somewhere. Homes that you can tell the owner really poured their heart and soul into and sweated the details. I had that same feeling looking at some of the islands in the area SE of the Blake Sea as I was sailing around last night. Not the islands with a million boats and a helicopter pad, but a few of the islands that made me wish I could anchor my boat, hop out and explore.

Notice of 1/26/2009 from SL Sailing Association

"I know that everyone is anxious for us to announce the Blake Sea Security issues and assign folks the tools they need to hold regattas in the Blake Sea in terms of security. I would LOVE to give that info out and get people assigned. But we are waiting to hear from LL on final issues in that regard. Just as soon as I can. I can only pass along at this time JP Linden's word of the week: "patience"."

I have been watching this thread and it seems some are or think they are more equal than others. I just hope LL stands by their words this time. Where will the area be for people that like to battle in sailing ships i.e. pirates? Maybe this is why Blake Sea Security issues are a problem with some in the USS. If they have 130 sims why do they need control over the Blake Sea as well which I understand is a FREE area for all to use and I would think free to use at anytime.

You must have missed the part where it was a cooperative venture between Linden Lab and the USS.

Kwai I do not think you need to be overly concerned. First off the Lindens are going to do what is in their best interest and the interest of the citizens of Second Life. I sent a notecard to Jack Linden and among the concerns mentioned in it was the same concern you expressed which is the Blake Sea becoming more of an amenity for the Starboard Yacht Club, and the residents and merchants of the USS than for all residents of Second Life. Jack Linden responded and understands this would not benefit the Lindens efforts to provide us all with a great resource.

As far as the comment about you missing the part where the Blake Sea is a joint venture between Linden Labs and the USS do not feel so bad. MarkTwain apparently missed that as well when he published in one of his notecards that the aviation rules of the USS applied to all of the Blake Sea. When I and a few others contacted Linden Labs that was corrected within hours. I have no problem with rules imposed by the Lindens on public mainland. The Lindens are very much aware that it does not serve their interest to let The Blake Sea be considered more of an amenity for USS residents than for the residents of SL as a whole.

In my opinion the Blake Sea is is an idea the Lindens hope will benefit all of Second Life. It is only the first of a number of projects they want to do with various groups. The partnering of the USS with Linden Labs to promote sailng in the Blake Sea can be viewed as more of a bail out for the USS, (no pun intended) than a joint venture. I am sure we all recall the protests by the USS that the raising of prices for OS sims would devastate them.

I think the Blake Sea is a great asset to all of us. I have no real concern that the USS or its residents will be allowed to lord over people. My concern now is if the USS will be allowed to profit commercially in a way Linden Labs has not afforded any other estates. And one last thought. Everything I read leads me to believe that the Lindens are very interested in upgrading mainland to be much more desirable. After all they can make much more money on a mainland sim then an estate sim.

There are posts here and on slsailng.com strength my opinion about the focus on mainland by the Lindens. Those posts state that the USS will be working with Linden Labs to make actual enhancements to the grid to promote sailing throughout all of Second Life. If this is indeed the case and Linden Labs continues to enhance mainland and sailing grid wide estates like the USS will no longer remain the hub of much of anything except themed residential homestead sims. If this happens then Open Seas, Open Air and Open Land will become a reality for all across the entire grid. For now those terms seem to be primarily slogans.

Hmm. Is Barbarossa part of the Blake Sea, or technically part of Nautilus? Either way, whenever I plan on playing in the Blake, I typically rez my vehicle in Barbarossa.

Today, I noticed something new on the sea floor there...



What's inside, I wonder...?

That's where I rez my boat too. I will have to look and see

Maybe that is where they keep the drain plug to let the water out?

Barbarossa is part of Nautilus, but does indeed serve as the gateway for the Blake Sea.

Yep Barbarossa is one of the spots I use too. I made me a vehicle along the lines of the Jetson's car, sans the cool sound that I have been exploring above and below the waves with. I have a water depth meter attached to my hud now to find likely spots. The only complaint I can think of about this wonderful gift LL gave us, is even though a nice job was done on the terraforming of the sea floor, it is just too shallow. It would be great if the average was more towards the 20 meter range for subs with some nice 30+ meter underwater canyons thrown in.

Yes some are more equal than others, that's the way the cookie crumbles. USS have had a huge boost.

Subs are a great idea too and what about powerboats and jetskis? There are a lot of hours in a week. Surely an area as large as the Blake Sea could handle a lot more activity than Starboard Yacht Club's races and regattas.

I am sure there are many people established in all these areas that Linden Labs could ask to schedule events in the Blake Sea for other water based activites.

Is the Nantucket Yacht Club, which borders Blake to the north, part of USS? I noticed a few of these folks out playing yesterday.

Dakota the person to ask about NYC would be Jane Fosset I believe as she is on the Steering Committee. It is part of the USS to the best of my knowledge. Jane also has a great website slsailing.com

I've noticed a few goodies here and there, and wonder if anyone has noticed others.

For one, I've spotted a lot of items, especially in Half Hitch are free to copy.

There is a "slop chest" in Half Hitch with some goodies, including ground textures, and the "Rare Linden Bird" in Windlass gives you all those great gulls.

A free sailboat is in Barbarossa.

Any others?

Theres a Linden sword in the cave at Windlass.

Oh yes forgot about the sparkly sword!

Something strange and unclassifiable on the sea floor in Cannonade.

Something...similarly unclassifiable in Atlantic.