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Virtual Spectator Features

by garth — last modified 2003-02-07 11:47

What's new with the computer software that offers live coverage of the races online?

Virtual Spectator has introduced some new features to "hot up" its service for the Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup. "We met with syndicate representatives, Bruno Troublé representing Louis Vuitton, journalists in the Media Center and read hundreds of emails from our subscribers," said Chief Executive, Greg Young "With Virtual Spectator being the only way to watch all the races live and in 3D it's important we get it right."

The new features include:

  • An audible gunshot to announce the pre-start/start/finish and a bell sound for mark roundings.
  • Ability to "jump back" and review events such as mark roundings during a LIVE race.
  • A timing panel including elapsed leg times as well as distance and time to the next mark.
  • An instrumentation panel that includes compass headings showing course bearings.
  • Wind speed displayed in the viewer at all times.
  • A display showing what leg the boats are currently on.
  • Transom lines to highlight whether the trailing boat has achieved an overlapped position.
  • Keyboard shortcuts for the more common menu selections to ease use of the product.
  • Animated wind shadows that show "dirty air" from the boats and how this is affecting the other competitor.

    • The new update is free to existing subscribers. Your experience using virtual spectator may vary depending upon what capabilities and speed your computer has. When you start the program there is a page that allows you to match your computer to the level of service it can sustain.

    To sign up for Virtual Spectator and download the software to your computer, go to www.lvcup.com and look for the banner to subscribe on the right-hand side of the home page. The price to subscribe was lowered at during the holidays.