Sailing techniques.

[STINGRAY]

If you have a hard time finding your way back to your island, I reccomend these things.

1. The "NEVER LOOK BACK" technique. This technique works by putting your player crosshair on the island you want to adventure too, and do NOT take it off of that island. Don't worry about finding your sense of direction behind you, when you beach the life raft it will be on the same path as it was when you left, so all you do it go straight back and you will return home.

2. The "Sunshine" technique. This method takes a bit more time, but is a very good technique if mastered. The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west so make sure you remember that. By using the setting sun you will be able to go back to your island. How it works is when the sun rises over your island that's when you would set-sail. You would do your venturing around until the sun JUST starts to go down, you need to be quick about this and safe because you will be sailing in the dark for just a minute, but you will be close enough to see your island that you will not lose it.

3. The "fire-pit" technique. This technique requires multiple fire pits and is one of my all time favourite methods. Before setting sail you want to light your fires, and make sure they are fully stocked of wood or palm before leaving. The fire's in this game do tend to stay lit for quiet some time. By leaving lit fires on each side of your island, whenever you get close to your home but are un-sure if you are lost or not, you will see the orange sand, (orange coming from the flame.)

4. The "be a ♥♥♥♥♥ and don't leave your island method." This method doesn't really work because you'll die.

- These are just a few ways I have managed to survive for so long and constantly leaving my island, I hope it really helps you guys out and if you people ever need anymore tips, help or suggestions, feel free to post something, add me.. or just ask.

[Old Ned]

Nice, I like it, just a couple of pointers on top, the "Never look back" , bare in mind that sucks if you get hit/dragged by a shark. I've also landed the raft in the fog and gone back not knowing exactly which way I was facing when I exited. A good addition in to mark your straight line by walking straight off the raft and dropping your paddle to mark your line, it's more precise.

The sunrise is great, tricky to master and somewhat unreliable, I actually think it's easier using the moonrise/fall, I have almost concluded the stars line up the same each night, and there are sort of constellations, lining those up with the moon and your island can give you accurate triangulation, only fallback is it's dark lol

As for the firepit, I 100% agree, but I've found they don't show very far off, I've actually been really fortunate in finding 5 lanterns this playthru, and I find they give off light further away than the fires... it would be nice if light travelled further too, a firepit like that would be seen for at least a couple miles at night and smoke bay day, depending on weather.

Option 4 would get very boring very quickly lol

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by Old Ned:

Nice, I like it, just a couple of pointers on top, the "Never look back" , bare in mind that sucks if you get hit/dragged by a shark. I've also landed the raft in the fog and gone back not knowing exactly which way I was facing when I exited. A good addition in to mark your straight line by walking straight off the raft and dropping your paddle to mark your line, it's more precise.

The sunrise is great, tricky to master and somewhat unreliable, I actually think it's easier using the moonrise/fall, I have almost concluded the stars line up the same each night, and there are sort of constellations, lining those up with the moon and your island can give you accurate triangulation, only fallback is it's dark lol

As for the firepit, I 100% agree, but I've found they don't show very far off, I've actually been really fortunate in finding 5 lanterns this playthru, and I find they give off light further away than the fires... it would be nice if light travelled further too, a firepit like that would be seen for at least a couple miles at night and smoke bay day, depending on weather.

Option 4 would get very boring very quickly lol

The only time a shark will bump you or drag you is you literally stop and sit in the middle of the water. By you constantly moving straight he can't bump you of course. How I know? I've spent many days jousting with tiger sharks.

[Sistermatic™]

5. Compass.

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

5. Compass.

Because using a compass works without a map right.

[Sistermatic™]

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

5. Compass.

Because using a compass works without a map right.

Yes. Perfectly.

[Old Ned]

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Originally posted by Old Ned:

The only time a shark will bump you or drag you is you literally stop and sit in the middle of the water. By you constantly moving straight he can't bump you of course. How I know? I've spent many days jousting with tiger sharks.

Ok, I hate to burst your bubble but I was giving you an example of something that has happened to me, sharks will grab you and drag you down and bite and bump you whatever you are doing, you can avoid them but that means shifting your view.

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Because using a compass works without a map right.

Yes. Perfectly.

Mk, you go out into the wilderness, somewhere you don't know where you are and just use a compass trying to find something. It won't work. I can't heard north and then when i want to go home pull out my compass and head south in the opposite compass bearing. It wouldn't happen, you'd throw yourself at every single island in that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ direction. I've tried the compass method on this game, it's ♥♥♥♥.

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by Old Ned:

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Ok, I hate to burst your bubble but I was giving you an example of something that has happened to me, sharks will grab you and drag you down and bite and bump you whatever you are doing, you can avoid them but that means shifting your view.

Not once have the sharks bit me and tried to drag me down. You aren't bursting any bubble, I've been alive for almost 120 days now so, I am doing something right.

[Old Ned]

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

5. Compass.

Because using a compass works without a map right.

Of course. Why on earth would you think you couldn't? The compass can guide you through any weather/visibility.
You take your bearing before you leave, stick to it, reverse it to return. Using a compass means you can easily hit 4 or 5 islands in one run and easily retrace your steps. Hard to fail with a compass.

[Old Ned]

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

Yes. Perfectly.

Mk, you go out into the wilderness, somewhere you don't know where you are and just use a compass trying to find something. It won't work. I can't heard north and then when i want to go home pull out my compass and head south in the opposite compass bearing. It wouldn't happen, you'd throw yourself at every single island in that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ direction. I've tried the compass method on this game, it's ♥♥♥♥.

This isn't the wilderness, this is the ocean. All you need is a compass, IRL tidal factors come into play and things like triangulation are needed, but if you know how you could navigate any island chain with nothing more than a compass.

If you can't use it , it's because you don't know how.

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by Old Ned:

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Mk, you go out into the wilderness, somewhere you don't know where you are and just use a compass trying to find something. It won't work. I can't heard north and then when i want to go home pull out my compass and head south in the opposite compass bearing. It wouldn't happen, you'd throw yourself at every single island in that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ direction. I've tried the compass method on this game, it's ♥♥♥♥.

This isn't the wilderness, this is the ocean. All you need is a compass, IRL tidal factors come into play and things like triangulation are needed, but if you know how you could navigate any island chain with nothing more than a compass.

If you can't use it , it's because you don't know how.

Who taught you how to take YOUR compas bearing without knowing your location on a map. Was it Jesus himself?

[Sistermatic™]

Originally posted by 2Spooky:

Originally posted by SisterMatic:

Yes. Perfectly.

Mk, you go out into the wilderness, somewhere you don't know where you are and just use a compass trying to find something. It won't work. I can't heard north and then when i want to go home pull out my compass and head south in the opposite compass bearing. It wouldn't happen, you'd throw yourself at every single island in that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ direction. I've tried the compass method on this game, it's ♥♥♥♥.

Every qualified mariner on earth can effectively travel using nothing but a compass and a watch. They're STILL taught how to do this. All surveyed sea-going vessels and aircraft must have a compass fitted. Even recreational boats travelling more than 3km offshore (in South Australia anyway) must have a compass.

On land, the trick is using a landmark. You get your bearing on the landmark. In SD it's exactly the same. The island is your landmark.

Try this.
Start at home. Line up dot with destination island, get your bearing. Jump in raft and head there.

Half way, jump out, swim around, do some cartwheels and enjoy a whale. Do this until it's fogged in.

Now get back in your raft, move around until dot is in the middle of screen and your bearing matches. Start paddling. Next stop. Your island. Trust me.

EDIT: Calculate your back bearing, jump in raft, do same and voila, you're home.

The irony. I use a compass to make a map. The compass precedes the map, not the other way around.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=385502961

[Ron ︻气デ 一]

I'll read the tips when I get a chance. I need this. I've tried to go to different islands and seem to hit the same 2 I've been to. Don't take your eyes off it? Is hard to impossible for me as just rowing makes you eventually FALL off the raft and it's disorenting clibming back on and everything looks the same. = (

I made it to my old island WAS MY BASE - but built a better base on island 2 (for me)
was collecting goods to take back. Build two rafts but no way to strap them together?

Loaded the yellow raft and put a wood raft on top - put stuff in the yellow raft... all was good till 1/2 way - i fell off - when I came up for air the yellow raft vanished, the wood one with no stuff was left. =(

I'm afraid if I play much more now - I'll be sick of it by teh time it's finished.

[Old Ned]

It's worth noting that in this game scenario you don't really need to pay too much attention to the N, E,S,W. Just the number.
So as SisterMatic said, before you leave, you line up your dot with your target, look at your compass and write down (good idea) the number on the dial. As SM said, as long as you don't stray too far off that line, your original number baring will bring you home every time.
You can extend on that and lets say head to an island at 180 (due south), when you get there you want to check out the island to the right of it, at 260, write it down.... to go home you first reverse the 260 baring, when you get to the first island you reverse the 180 baring and you will be homeward bound.
I've done this through fog and rain with upto 6 islands, writing it down as you go I find really helps, just the numbers.

[STINGRAY]

Originally posted by Ron ︻气デ═一:

I'll read the tips when I get a chance. I need this. I've tried to go to different islands and seem to hit the same 2 I've been to. Don't take your eyes off it? Is hard to impossible for me as just rowing makes you eventually FALL off the raft and it's disorenting clibming back on and everything looks the same. = (

I made it to my old island WAS MY BASE - but built a better base on island 2 (for me)
was collecting goods to take back. Build two rafts but no way to strap them together?

Loaded the yellow raft and put a wood raft on top - put stuff in the yellow raft... all was good till 1/2 way - i fell off - when I came up for air the yellow raft vanished, the wood one with no stuff was left. =(

I'm afraid if I play much more now - I'll be sick of it by teh time it's finished.

Man, that really sucks. It sounds like to me you are still having that horrible boat disappearing bug. It use to happen to me. But for the past few days I haven't had this bug happening to me so it is quiet easy to keep my eyes on the island I want to go. You will see these people trying to badger me about being wrong and that the compass is the best way, I highly reccomend not using the compass. It has screwed me, and a couple of my friends over.