Sailing the Tetra from Seawolf Marine

I'm trying to sort out my new Tetra 35 and would like to hear from anyone who has sailed one a bit in SL.

My RL experience includes a lot of time with Catalina 34's, 30's 27's, 25's and the odd 22. I've also sailed an Express 34, Sabre 32, Hunter 32 Vision and several Nonsuch's, mostly in SF Bay. I raced several years in the IB24 class, so I know what slow competition is! I grew up sailing a Sabot and later, Lido 14's as an adult.

In Sl, I have a Tako 3.3 and that is fun! it's also MUCH faster than the Tetra, which given hull length, suprises me.

Given all this, the Tetra seems a little sluggish to me. I'm sailing in 8-10 knts around the Key West island sims and can't seem to find the sweet spot. I'm luckly to get 3.2-3.5 upwind and I saw 4 downwind (with the chute) yesterday. Close hauled or reaching, it's still a little dissapointing.

The detail of the boat is awesome (the outbord engine-style prop notwithstanding), so I am just wondering what other people's experience has been.

Futher, any comments on the Wildwind boat of the same size? My partner loves the stern rail Princess seats!

Steve

Yup, the Tetra *is* a bit slower than most other SL sailboats. My understanding (from reading stuff its creator wrote) is that its speed was chosen to make it more realistic than other SL sailboats. Note that SL vehicles aren't true simulations of their RL counterparts - the speed is just one of many parameters that the builder can tweak while scripting them. So it's often somewhat arbitrary, and not necessarily related to hull length or shape in any way.

That being said, I have a Tetra and I adore it! It's just so beautifully made, with all the little details that really reward close examination. It's a joy to sail, and if it's not quite as fast as many other SL sailboats, it's just as fast as every other Tetra.

Nimbus,

Thanks for the note. I guess my idea is that a boat *should* handle sort of like a boat it's size IRl...So I was thinking the Tetra would be like a Catalina 34....

I have not tried to sail in stronger winds..maybe that's where I need to focus..SF Bay is a place we don't need "tall Rigs" and we all learn to reef or break stuff early on...

Steve

I've used the Tetra 35 (v1.2) a lot and I prefer it to similar sized craft such as the WildWind Sc35. I've sailed from Duzzclown in Corsica all the way down to Nautilus Harbour in Salerio pretty much all the way under sail. I do prefer the racing version (Race Lite) over the coloured standard versions even though they are more detailed.



(That's a Tetra 35 Racing Lite off Nautilus Harbour)

Are you using Linden winds or practice winds ? With practice winds you can choose pretty much any wind speed you want. One of my favourite parts of the Duzzclown - Salerio journey is the eight sim stretch between Rhubarb and Mathis. You can really open up there and go for it big time. Though I should say there are quite a lot of sims where you can't adjust the boats' settings or even use the Huds (who knows why..probably Mr Linden).

All in all I think this is one of the best boats you'll ever sail in Second Life, I've never raced the boat so I can't say how it fairs against others head to head, but in practice mode in the right sim I've had no problems getting her to fly. There is one annoying thing I've discovered, if I've got a friend on board they can use mouse mode and they have a perfect view of the boat and everything else, me, I just see the mast and sail but no boat.

Seeing as eveyone likes pics here's another...


This would be me off Moose Beach (that's a little West of Bay City for those not so hot at SL geography)


Astrid

Hi Astrid!

Great pics!!!

I did go out this afternoon and set the practice wind to 12 knts and had a LOT more fun! I need to try out that route you mention, sounds like a great sail......

I am curious about two things-

What is it about the "lite" version that you like so much? Does the boat sale or handle any different?

Why do you prefer the Tetra to the Sc35? I've only sailed the Tetra but am very curious about the Sc35...

Steve

I don't think the lite version sails any different, in fact I'm guessing it's exactly the same. As far as I can see the difference is the lite version is missing the life jackets at the stern railing (I'm sure there are loads of other details missing to make it lighter prim-wise) and the cabin door doesn't open (I think)..I don't think there's any handling differences though, I'd be very surpised if there was.

The Sc35 is a great looking boat, it sits there in the harbour looking wonderful. Unfortunately when I bought it I bought the Tetra 35 at the same time. So I took each for a sail and sort of fell in love with the Tetra..the Sc35 ended up eye candy for the harbour. The Sc35 is probably a very good boat (maybe even better than the Tetra) it's just when I think about going sailing (quite a lot) I think Tetra..at the end of the day the Tetra was in the right place at the right time.

Hey you know maybe I should take the Sc35 for a proper trial..I'll get back to you on the results..Tetra 35 v WildWind Sc35

Should be interesting..Astrid

Kool!

Now THAT is a sail I'd like to be on!

I IM'd Cory, the maker of the Sc35, but have not heard back. I am really curious how you find the boat and look forward to your impressions!