The game interface

The homepage

1. Your account

You can see your username in the top left corner of the screen. Click on it to access your profile. If you have a Guest account, as is the case on the screenshot above, the game will ask you to register an account. 

The VSR bar indicates your current VSR level. The progress bar gives you a preview of the efforts required to reach the next level. For additional information about how many points need, simply click the VSR bar.

2. Your credits

This number is how many credits you currently have. There are many ways to spend credits on Virtual Regatta, such as navigation tools and equipment for your boat.

Clicking this button allows you to purchase more credits, and to subscribe to a VIP account.

3. The races

The central section shows all ongoing and upcoming races. If you cannot find a given race, it means it is not available yet, or it is closed.

On the screenshot above, for instance, you can see that the Volvo Ocean Race is ongoing. You can also see in how much time the RORC Transatlantic Race will start.

You can join a race even if it has already started.

Click the (i) button to see additional information about a given race. For instance, you will see the number of competitors, the distance to cover and the estimated duration of the race.

The 2/11 number you can see on the Volvo Ocean Race visual means this race has several legs. In that example, it means the 2nd leg is the active one, and the full race is comprised of 11 legs.

The small VSR rectangle you can see on each race visual indicates its VSR value.

4. Tutorial

This button launches a tutorial that explains the basics of sailing and the Virtual Regatta interface.

5. The News

This button redirects to game-related news.

6. Upcoming races

You will find upcoming races here. Check this section often to learn about future events!

7. Your track record

You can see your race history here: all the races you entered, your performance in each of them, and how many points you earned.

8. The search bar

Use this field to look for another player's boat. Just type their name to find them.

9. The chat section

From here you can access your private and team chats.

10. The teams

Use this to access your own team, and to check the other teams that exist in the game.

11.Followed players

From this space, you can manage the players you follow and who follow you.

12. The Connection button

You will see this button if you are not logged in. Click it if you already have an account you want to use. Alternatively, you can also click it to create a new account.

 13. The Settings menu

From here you can access the game settings. You can adjust the display quality, as well as in-game sound effects and music. 

You can also change the game language from that menu. You can choose between English, French, and Spanish.

The race interface

1. Your name

Click your name to center the map on your boat.

2. Ranking

Your ranking in the active race. If you click your ranking, you can access additional rankings for your friends, your country, your region, your city, and your yacht club, provided however that you added the relevant information to your account profile. Updating this information will not instantly update the relevant rankings. 

3. The 3D View

The 3D view allows you to view your boat in 3D as if you were sailing for real. However, this mode does not display landmasses or the real distance between you and your competitors. You can't change course or switch sails either.

4. Your active sail

Click this button to display the speed granted by all the sails (sails that are not available to you are grayed out), and switch to a better sail if needed.

5. The Express routing

The Express routing allows you to choose a spot on the map, then automatically calculate the fastest route to that point using the heading programmer. 

6. Your boat

Center the map on your boat.

7. Your heading

This shows your current heading.

8. The compass

Use the compass to change your boat heading. Click the arrows or move the indicator around to change your heading instantly. This indicator can have different colors depending on the wind angle to your boat, and the sail you are currently using.

When you set a new heading, the game will ask you to confirm that choice or to cancel it. Your new heading will only be taken into account if you confirm it.

9. Auto TWA

This feature allows you to keep the wind angle you currently have. Click the padlock icon to enable or disable this feature.

10. Information about your boat

These numbers are, from left to right:

• The wind speed around your boat
• The speed of your boat

11. The search bar

You can find any boat on the map simply by typing their name here.

12. The radar

This feature is enabled by the VIP membership. Use it to display the boats that are the closest to you. If you don't have an active VIP membership, this button is greyed out. Click it to open a page where you can activate your VIP membership.

13. Social features

These two buttons allow you to chat with other players and to manage the list of players you follow.

14. The Expert menu

This menu gives you access to advanced navigation tools:

• Heading programmer
• Waypoints
• The anemometer - use it to display the speed and angle of the wind at a given location on the map, as well as your distance to that location. You can use this feature in conjunction with the weather forecast: what you see then is the expected weather conditions at that location at the selected time.

The color of the buttons in that menu can change:

• A white button means the option can be activated
• A blue button means the option is active
• A grey button means the option is currently disabled, because another active options prevents it to be used

15. The weather forecast

Scroll up and down to display the weather forecast. 

Switch this menu to Off if you want to disable that option.

16. The boat filter

This menu allows you to change how your competitors are shown. You have several options available:

• Show other competitors (this option will display several boats around you, as well as the leaders in the race. You can't display every boat in the race as their number is simply too high). 
• Show the players you follow
• Show your boat only
• Show the names of the boats on screen
• Center your screen on your own boat

17. The main menu

This menu allows you to check your credits and your ranking in the active race. 

The Settings menu allows you to change the display language, the graphics quality, and the sound settings. 

The Partner Code option allows you to enter a partner code if you have one.

18. The navigation logbook

This menu shows the last interactions with your boats, such as your heading and sail changes. You can also see the time when your position will be refreshed. 

Refreshing your position means that the position of your boat as you see it on your screen will be refreshed using data sent from the game server.

The map selector

If you have a VIP account, this button appears on your interface. Use it to choose the map background you prefer.

If you do not see this button, you can access it by subscribing to a VIP account. You will also have access to many other perks!