Olympians endorse VSail Simulators
by John Mooney on 15 Aug 2008
VSail-Simulators have many applications from Learn to Sail to High Performance. Olympic sailors have praised VSail simulators in the lead up to the 2008 Olympics. Four Olympians have this to say about VSail-Trainers.
Ben Ainslie - United Kingdom - Finn Class
I have had a go on the VSail -Simulator a couple of times and have been impressed by the machines reaction to kinetic movements and the associated effort that requires from the sailor.
I think the simulator would be a great help to sailors from Northern Europe who struggle to sail all year around or, in a venue like China, where you have days on end of little wind and need to keep up your hiking fitness.
I guess what I’m saying is that it is a lot more fun than a hiking bench. As a tool for introducing school children to sailing I also think it has a purpose in that- it is a lot easier to take the simulator to the kids than take the kids to the water.
At Virtual Sailing we take that as a YES
Sarah Blanck - Australia - Laser Radial Class
Sarah used her VSail training for fitness, sailing techniques and tactics. Virtual sailing were able to look closely at some hiking strap issues and leg loadings (Tibialis Anterior) in hiking and also some differing hand transfer methods in conjunction with effective hiking and accurate steering out of tacks. Sarah was keen to have a final close up look at herself sailing before heading to China. She even dressed in her sailing gear including wetsuit, booties and lifejacket to ensure a realistic re-production on the VSail-Trainer. 'I like to lose myself on the simulator like I am sailing out on the water and I find dressing in my sailing gear helps that' says Sarah. 'I treat a VSail-Trainer session as seriously as any on water sailing that I do' she added
Monica Azon - Spain -Yngling Class (Helm)
Monica is two times World Champion Yngling Class, and when she is not on the race course winning medals she is on the VSail-Trainer. Monica actually owns her own VSail-Trainer and uses it in her expanding coaching business. Owning your own Vsail-Trainer-Now thats endorsement.
Krystal Weir -Australia-Yngling Class (Helm)
Krystal has been a great Test Pilot for Virtual Sailing. Her feedback has been of great benefit to our programmers in the development days. 'She was a real workhorse' says coach John Mooney. We were looking for limits for hiking tests and other programs and Krystal was always there to lend a hand. The experience didn't hurt her sailing any joked John. We used the VSail-Trainer Laser when she won the World Championship. we were able to identify the fastest tracks downwind. It was invaluable information.
http://www.virtualsailing.com.au/
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