¶ Introduction
Arrrgg Matey! We've commandeered a lot of rum and pony-cargo that has be smuggled into Tall Tails via Port Littlepaws.. but don't get caught!
This Regatta will be a nice pirate or summer themed trip where you can play GTFO at the same time. And since we're pirates.. you better be smuggling! The route will take us through a few docks where you can unload and load cargo all that will be smuggled into Port Littlepaws.
If you have never sailed at all before, don't worry since it is very easy and similar to any other kind of mainland travel. Also, if you don't own a boat or ship, don't fret! Other captains should have some empty seats available on their boats, and if you wish to captain a vessel yourself, there are some links that will provide some free boats and purchase recommendations further down this page, but some of those might not be gtfo enabled.
This trip should take about an hour and a half going at a comfortable speed and stopping to manage your cargo too. IT isn't a race! And you're on the open water, you can leave the path and come back to it easily! No road! Take it nice and easy and feel free to stray alittle if something catches your eye.
¶ When Is It Happening?
Date: 30th of July, 2022
Time: Noon SLT
The event is scheduled for July 30th, Noon SLT. Tall Tails prime time so most people can have a chance to enjoy the cruise and the explore the destination!
I'll kindly ask captains to be familiar with their vessel and gtfo loading before hand and to come over to the starting port a bit earlier so we can get to rezzing and distributing boats into a few regions to get the lag as low as possible.
¶ Route
The route Cruisette and USB Notecard will be available as the date approaches.
¶ Start - N+K Shipyards
We'll be starting at the N+K Shipyards marked in the green square for the rez zone and gtfo loading zone. We then head up North from here and cross into the Dire Straits. Once you have rezzed, please load your passengers and load your gtfo quickly too. Then move north to the adjacent sims of Rivadulla and Ziyad which are marked in Orange so others can use the docks too.
¶ 2 -First Stop: Cheerport AP
Once arriving here, please pull your boat off to one side at any of the docks or boat slips on the sim to unload. Other boats might be using the dock, and other regatta boats will be arriving too, so park carefully please! =3. Some sailboats which are equipped with motors might want to swap to those for easier parking.
Moor and unload your gtfo cargo. If you got caught smuggling, report it to the Group Chat =3.. Then load a new smuggling job for Smuggler's Outpost, NOT SMUGGLER'S BAYOU , and cast off when ready.
¶ 3 -Second Stop: Smuggler's Outpost
Same deal as before, except with less dock space. You're smugglers after all.. sometimes don't have a proper dock. Find a place close to shore where you can park and unload.
Moor and unload your gtfo cargo. If you got caught smuggling, report it to the Group Chat =3.. Then load a new smuggling job for Port LittlePaws and cast off when ready.
¶ 4- Third Stop: Port Littlepaws
Last designation to gather after the cruise. Hopefully you managed to smuggle successfully! Port Littlepaws is a small port, you can be anywhere on the sim to deliver. So small boats can carefully find a parking spot inside the actual port or along the outer stone wall. Larger boats might need to wait in the harbor for space.
Moor and unload your cargo. Then either de-rez your boat or edit it out of the way so other sailors can come up to the dock. Again, if the hud catches you smuggling, report it.
¶ GTFO
This route will involve GTFO Ports to deliver and load cargo from! Those locations are listed in the route tab. GTFO stands for Get The Fright Out and is for using vehicles to drive to hub to hub to deliver for game money. Basically you sit on your vehicle with your hud and tell it where you are wanting to go, then get paid for it. You can carefully use it to find new places to deliver too aswell!
For this regatta that is pirate themed.. I HIGHELY encourage you to smuggle just for the risk and fun. If you get caught, oh well hehe. It happens. Small ships will have to pay a little fine, big ships have bigger fines, but those earn bigger rewards too per run. If you get caught, I encourage you to tell it in group chat too during the regatta!
The Full GTFO Hud costs L$699 and can be found here.
The GTFO Hud has a trial version that costs 1L$ and basic transporting will work for this event.
How do I Know if my vehicle is GTFO Enabled? Great question! Most boats that come with GTFO Enabled will mention it on their marketplace page, inworld at the store, or on their instructions notecard. You can also check this link to see if your vehicle is registered as a GTFO vehicle. You can still join us on the regatta without GTFO game or a GTFO vehicle! See Messenger bag below.
- NOTE 1: You have to own the FULL gtfo hud and have a level of at least 5 to smuggle. If you don't meet those requirements, just load normally.
- NOTE 2: Some vehicles have a high “OVERHEAD” fee the game charges you while you're attempting to load. Dogcarts don't have any overhead fee, but large vehicles normally do have some amount it charges you for loading and unloading. If you don't yet have enough G$ (gtfo-currency) to afford the boat's overhead fee, it won't allow you to use that boat yet. You could load with a Messenger Bag however.
- NOTE 3: This route only allows for SMALL or MEDIUM sized Watercraft or the wearable Messenger bag. Port Littlepaws is LITTLE and the channel to get there is also narrow. Large Watercraft would clog the channel and there would be another Suez Canal Evergreen event. You can check your vehicle gtfo size here if you're unsure.
- NOTE 4: Some boats will only allow the OWNER to load cargo. These will not allow passengers to load cargo. Some boats do allow passengers to load cargo to ‘double up’ and both benefit from vehicle's size from the run. This really seems to depend on the boat.. I haven't found a rhyme or reason to why some boats allow passenger loading and some dont! Passengers will have to use the Messenger Bag if they want to load.
GTFO Messenger Bags are Wearable. The cargo is on your person and however you get it to your destination is your business. it's your Carry-On basically. Messenger Bags will allow you to use a vehicle that isn't gtfo-enabled, and it will allow passengers to load when the ship doesn't sync with them
Wearable GTFO Messenger Bag can be found here inworld for free! Click the yellow box on the floor and pay it 0 L$ , then unbox what it gives you. It comes default set for vehicle hubs, but it does have instructions for changing it to road, air, space, or whatever.
To change the messenger bag to water vehicles, replace the notecard inside of the bag's continents with a new notecard named GTFO!MSGBAGMGTFO
The end result should look like this
¶ Navigation
Wind settings for sailboats can be whatever you like honestly, but if you are looking for a recommendation, I would suggest starting with the wind from the South (180 degrees) and then after passing Ahab's Haunt switch the wind to coming from the North (0 degrees) .
Windspeed would be something comfortable to have your sailboat moving at about 10 knots.
¶ Sailing Course HUDs
To help with navigating, I will be providing the usual HUD that is given out for the Pony Caravans some of you might be familiar with, that is the Cruissette.
However another similar HUD did go through an update of its free version and now uses RLV to automatically change the map beacon. It's an option some like.
Here is the link to the free Ultimate Sailor Buddy Basic 1.4.
Simply drop the ‘Regatta USB-Notecard’ into your USB HUD contents, then click on ‘Load’ and select the Regatta. Thats it, your USB is ready to start now!
The Cruissette HUD and the USB-Notecard both will be passed out by event organizers on the day the Regatta is held.
¶ Sailing Tips
- Always have minimap open and zoomed out so you can see well around you. Unlike traveling on the road, other sailors can come from anywhere around you and you can spot them much faster using the minimap.
- Turn your view distance up to see farther. We recommend sailing using view distance of 200, but 100 and 150 work just as well. Ocean sims tend to be more empty than mainland sims, so a larger view distance on the ocean shouldn't strain your computer too badly.
- Avoid simcrossing at corners as much as possible. Since you can sail your boat wherever you like on the water, this can make turning or adjusting your course through a sim corner easier than traveling on the road.
- Be aware of other boats and avatars. Everyone out here is kinda doing their own thing, their own way. Some people like to moor where ever and relax. Some people are racing or having their own regatta. Some people/bots are afk underwater for who knows what reason. The golden rule however is; if you see another moving ship, give plenty of space to pass. If you see a parked ship, stay just outside of general chat range unless you know the occupants.
- Plan ahead, especially if your ship is larger than a simple sailing yacht. Not only do big boats take time to speed up and slow down, but some turns can be very challenging in larger ships.
You may need to start turning much earlier than in a small boat. Also remember that some larger sailships turn slower with all sails raised - reduce sail/use your engine (if your ship has one) if a particularly challenging turn comes up.
¶ Life Jacket!
Being a water event, health and safety requires that we have to at least inform you that lifejackets exist. Wearing one is up to you however!
Some can be found on the marketplace, but we would encourage making sure you are getting a functional one if you pick one up. Though, if you feel like you're a confident swimmer, you could simply use a swimming HUD instead! (These can help prevent you from sinking like a rock if you fall off the boat)
A free lifejacket can be purchased here.
A free swimming HUD will be available on the day from the organizers.
¶ Boats!
So, you need a boat huh? Well SecondLife has a lot of options! Take a look below for some ideas!
How do I Know if my vehicle is GTFO Enabled? Check here!
¶ Freebies
Boats can be expensive! Luckily we have a selection of free boats avaliable for those taking to the sea for the first time!
¶ Hornless Vikings Workshop
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/81180
The Emergency Response Boat is an excellent little free craft. Grab the hot air balloon too!.. or the Houseboat! FREE!
¶ Michie Marine
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/22448
Much more variety of boats, but with varying quality. The Hydrospeeder K-10 is excellent for undersea exploring if you are so inclined.
¶ AleyMart
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/161413
The stuff is old but still works well... give them a look sometime! Perhaps you would like to follow the group using the power of your arms alone? If so the Working Rowboat is for you!
¶
Stuff
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Shields-Class-sailboat-V2/7352166
Sailboat Axelle loved and learned to sail ong. The Motor+Sail version is buggy, but the Sail-only works great!
¶ Big Brands
If you are willing to spend some Lindens, SecondLife has some very complex but amazing sailing boats. Take a look at these, perhaps something will catch your eye!
¶ Bandit / The Mesh Shop (TMS)
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/120514
In-World: Dutch Harbor
Bandit/TMS are the standard for quality boats in SecondLife. They provide an excellent sailing/boating experience. Plenty of relaxing and cuddle positions on the boats. Some can be found online but even more are in-world only. You can demo any ship they have at the inworld store too for 10 minutes. Many of these come with GTFO installed.
¶ BBX
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/63972
In-World: Sunny Bay
BBX do some amazing modern and sleek ship designs. With a mixture of sail and mototboats they have many many options. Demos are available inworld from a rezzer on their private sim. The price is high, but you certainly get what you pay for. Not many of these are GTFO Enabled.
¶ Ultramesh
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/168151
In-World: Newport Bay
This brand doesn't have too many boats, but their vehicles are excellent. Less cuddle animations than TMS but the vehicles cross sims smoothly and can be heavily modified. Demos are available in-world too for a time limit. These are GTFO compatible, you will have to install the scripts yourself tho. Ask me (Alexis!) for help if you need it!
¶ N+K Shipyard
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/178635
In-World: N+K Shipyards
Maybe not something to have use this regatta.. but brand we still wished to show. I (Alexis) LOVES their ships but they are not beginner vessels or for people who just want to cuddle on a boat. They are the only square-rigged sailboat/ship brand in SL and create some of the biggest ships aswell. These ships demand that you practice with them to sail them correctly. Demos are available inworld from a rezzer, accept the folder it gives you and wear all of the contents to control the vehicle. All of these come GTFO enabled with the specific command to toggle it on. While at the helm position, type “ /1 gtfo on ” to enable those scripts.
¶ CABS
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/9558
In-world (For Viewing only! The rezzer is broken for actually demoing)
These are older boats, but very sturdy. They can carry 1 or 2 passengers, but not may options. Many of these are more of ‘working’ or ‘utility’ vessels instead of cuddle or cruising boats. Their inworld rezzer is broken, but basically all of their boats handle exactly the same, I (Alexis) have a few of these if you want to try demo'ing them!
¶ Credits
-Cookie (kayle.littlepaws): HUGE Thank you to Cookie for letting us use her port! <3
-Molly Lacroix (magentamolly): Molly green-lit my little event and helped schedule, probably more too!
-Axelle Beorn (axelle01): for being green.
-Ponies in the photo: m4zi (erika.dianthus) , Demure Nightshade (jennanekogirl) , Ginger Morningstar (jessicamorningstar) , Kitkat (sayrn)