I’ve tried to test in game, but I can’t really tell the difference.
Is it faster to zig zag across the wind rather than sailing directly into it?
Does Tacking Work?
@fatherdibbs i expect you will get a few different answers to this, I am pretty sure it does make a difference but have been told ingame that it doesn’t or that it does. My personal ‘fix’ was if the island i am going to is say to the NE and directly into the wind i will head N until in line with the island and then finally head E towards it, certainly quicker than heading into wind but ultimately not tacking or zig-zagging.
I often tack my way across the map when i am sailing solo with goodies onboard, i don't want to appear in someones spyglass for too long out on an open stretch of water and present myself as a target. The only time i will sail straight into the wind is when i need to go and make a cuppa or something..
I think that’s just as good (long sail in one direction then long sail perpendicular).
I only get to try zigzagging when playing solo.
When I try and tack - the whole crew starts telling me I’m not heading to the island. When I try to explain they don’t understand and tell me just head to the island :)
@fatherdibbs lol i have had exactly this happen, i am fairly confident i remember seeing a video detailing the benefits of tacking somewhere. Also i don’t think Rare would have added the “tack the ship to catch the wind” if it did nothing.
@a-trusty-mango said in Does Tacking Work?:
@fatherdibbs Yes tacking does work. But it does take a considerable amount of effort though to zig zag back and forth in the game. Some people might like doing that. But I have found that in the game when the sails go full billow while you zig zag can make you go horribly of course.
I, on the other hand, just turn the sail into the direction the wind is blowing. Set my rudder and look at my phone while I glance up every now then. Either way, you will get to your destination lol.
A good reason why some onboard games wouldn’t go amiss :)
@solidsnakemig
That is actually tacking. Tacking doesn't mean that you gotta zig zag every 10 minutes :)I've found it to work, especially when trying to catch up with sloops in a galleon.
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