How to sail

Steering

Use the left and right arrow keys (or A and D), or slide the tiller pad. The tiller swings the opposite way, just as on a real boat. Steering needs water flowing past the rudder: a stopped boat barely turns, and a boat drifting backward steers in reverse.

Sails

The up and down arrow keys trim and ease the mainsail; W and S work the jib. Or slide the Main and Jib controls. Ease a sheet until the front of the sail starts to flutter (that is luffing), then trim in just until it stops. Ribbons streaming smoothly off the sail mean good trim.

Wind

No boat can sail straight into the wind. The red wedge in the boat view is the no-go zone. To get upwind, zigzag: sail close-hauled on one side, then tack through the wind to the other. Gusts show as dark ripples sweeping across the water toward you. Ease the sheets when one hits.

Reading the water

Deep blue is safe. Pale turquoise is shallow sand. Brown patches are coral heads, so stay off them. Long pale streaks are sandbars.

The cays

Every cay is hiding something. Sail right up onto its beach to land and look around, then push off. Explore them all to finish the voyage.

The two views

Left: your boat and sails from above, with the wind blowing across. Right: the chart, turning with your boat; tap it to zoom in or out. Drag anywhere on the scene to look around.