NOTE: this info can also be accessed within the program under the Help menu
Version 2.83 - Jan 7, 2026
Added (optional) sun/camera glare effects
Added new City.obj under Structures folder; can navigate city channels.
Improved water mesh and boat physics and dynamic weather
Sunset/Sunrise is now brighter with nice wispy clouds at horizon
Big code refactoring/optimization helps with low end GPU frame-rates
Fixed shadow problem that would affect very high res screens
Minor bugs fixed (reported and NOT reported)
Version 2.82 - Oct 2, 2025
Added Rounding the Mark to the autopilot when following a course;
- pertinent messages about how to round the mark were added
AI sailboat self-recover from a stalled orientation "backing the sails"
Improved collision avoidance and tacking against the wind
Added low-poly Catamaran OBJ model (4 colors) - no engine!
When following a Route you can now change the target marker at any time
- use Tab "Map" and "Chg target" button
Added Ctrl-H to change heading to any value any time when Autopilot is ON
Added G ("Go" or "Game" mode) to select boats and release all at the same time
- this helps to get a race started (racing rules apply thereafter):
- - sailboats that miss or hit a mark have to do a 360 (tack and gybe)
- - also if you hit another boat who has right-of-way
- - faster tacking ("zigzagging" against the wind)
- - boats can get closer (more aggressive) increasing chance of crash
- - annoying warnings and horns are off
- - you get "points" if you finish a race. They are cumulative.
- - press "G" again to end race
- Added new Cat Race case to APExamples.situ (examples situation)
Added Shift-L for difficulty level (1=easy, 2=medium, 3=hard) default is 2
- EASY(1): your AutoPilot (if on) will do the tacking and gybing
- - also will do the 360 for you if penalty (missed mark)
- - opponent (AI) sailboats will not do wing-on-wing for your advantage
- HARD(3): autopilot and autosail are NOT available: everything manual
Upgraded internal jogamp library to version 2.5
Version 2.81 - Aug 12, 2025
Added more cool structures / models
Added engine smoke
Added Seagulls flock - follow school of fish but occasionally follows boat
Fixed scope to be able to show details on far parts
User can now exit the program by hitting ESC (also menu File/Exit)
User can now enter comments of the current Situation under menu Edit (Alt-C)
Added Remember choice when startup message asks to "Continue where you left?"
Fixed a bug & added message when user finish rotating/translating model
Fixed a "reduced-window" bug when Windows Display scale is not 100%
Fixed other reported (and not reported) less important bugs
Upgraded project from Java 11 to 17 runtime ... just trying to keep up!
Version 2.72 - June 21, 2025
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Sails can now be partially hoisted using the usual J,M,Ctrl-M to lower sails;
- use Shift with J,M, Ctrl-M to hoist (raise)
Added "backing the sails" using Alt-B (to push) and Ctrl-Alt-B (to pull)
Added optional sail covers - some sail boats have them added to the objx file
Sailboat stays now 'creak' when stressed
Added optional wind direction indicator at bottom left corner of the screen
Added effect: when using wind shadows, your sails can "self shadow" when
downwind unless wing-on-wing (automatic when boom near 90 deg)
Current situation status is now automatically saved in a temp file at program
exit which can be restored next time you run the program.
Added checkbox to include/exclude fish and dolphins
Minor changes choppy water rendering and wakes
Reflection/refractions will now include all models, not just boats.
Improved boat collisions but still no damage
The models selector (using the button) allows you to choose multiple models
using Ctrl or Shift click and hit 'Delete'
Minor improvements dynamic weather
Minor improvements Bochica and Vagabond sailboats
v2.6 Bug fixed: black screen if you restarted the program after turning OFF SHADOWS
Fixed lightnings plus other minor but important improvements
Version 2.6 - Oct 15 2024
Added REFRACTION. Turn on with same checkbox as REFLECTION under "Other"
Added WIND SHADOWS - wind is reduced downwind of terrain or sailboats
- Terrain wind shadows affect waves (height)- you can hide from the wind.
Added RANDOM & DYNAMIC WEATHER options (by user request) under "Other"
Added BUBBLES & ALGAE underwater and propeller SPRAY effects - improved spray
Added occasional FISH school and DOLPHINS that you may see in random sectors
Dolphins may occasionally escort your sailboat when in high seas
Improved collision avoidance for AI boats (non-selected boats) - added horns
Improved grounding avoidance and zigzagging for AI boats
You can accelerate the effect of mouse wheel using SHIFT
Reduced water mesh resolution which was unnecessarily high - optimized
Fixed several minor bugs
Version 2.5 - June 22 2024
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Added new sailboats OliveOyl and SailboatIII (many thanks to CGTrader Team for this beautiful boat)
Also added other simple but beautiful structures from CGTrader.com (also freeware)
Added lightCones - which can be rotating(i.e: for lightHouse etc...)
Added caustics to bottom of the sea
Expanded use of "Q" key to help Select models - added "AutoLock" checkbox and highlight model
(see Help/Key Shortcuts in program's menu for details on use of the "Q" key)
Easily move models or cone buoys in a route by SELECTING, point where to move and press Alt-M
Toggle rotating or translate selected model by pressing Ctrl-R or Ctrl_T then use arrow keys
Use Alt-D to duplicate currently select model at cursor 'O' position (window center)
See new Keyboard Shortcuts in the Help menu that greatly enhance user friendliness
Added wind direction indicator to Bochica and BluenoseII at top of mast
Added telescope effect using mouse-wheel with Alt key down
Now you can use the INSERT and DELETE Keys to add models/delete selected model
Terrain is flattened automatically in Structures locations (except for 'docks')
Improved adding structures to terrain by simply using the center pointer (no "+" pointer needed)
Added more user-friendly on-screen messages
Fixed handshake_failure error when checking for latest archipelago's version from the https website
Fixed some flash messages at bottom of screen that were not being displayed
Fixed minor bug in rain/thunder sounds; also reduce volume relative to other ambient sounds
Fixed glitch with boat's anchor point resetting to zero on some situations. No effect on docking.
Fixed minor bug on buoys that were not matching wave heights properly
Improved Editor for ropes (Bezier control points) - ropes on luff when no-boom-sail not hoisted
Improved handling of camera rotations (orbit) around a selected model (with mouse wheel/keyboard)
Improved pulley/ropes modeling when included in the model's XOBJ files
Improved Fog Effects
User can now control water transparency (besides just color);
Improved coral effects and fake diffraction and water effects in general
The "Apply" button is no longer needed for weather changes and was removed
All other noticed bugs were squashed
Version 2.42 - November 27, 2023
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AI boats will now avoid getting grounded - but your selected boat will
Added MIDI files music Player; user can choose any directory in his drive
Fixed weird shallows foam color when not using default water color
Better water reflections and other water simulation improvements including
Choppy and Kelvin Wakes options and improved several minor issues with
lighting and overcast; also better white caps effects in high wind
Fixed shadow effects problems at sunset/sunrise
Fixed anchor glitch when switching boats long distance
Version 2.3 - June 4th, 2023:
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Added coral effect at shallows
Added diffraction effect for sea bottom including shadows
Fixed problem with 'disappearing' marker cones when using routes
Improved hull-water sound effects, and added balance.
Obliterated some minor bugs
Version 2.2 - May 1st, 2023:
----------------------------
Updated project to Java 11 and customized JRE for distribution(smaller)
Added new "Turbulent Clouds" under "Other" tab (dynamic clouds...GPU heavy)
- default is off and choice is saved in Preferences
Added new "OverCast" slider (0..100%) under the "Weather" tab which also
darkens the scenery - saved in Situation - default=0 ; Also Overcast
reduces the intensity of shadows proportionally
User can now change Sky Color in the "Other" tab, to better match
chosen water color - user can always press Reset (to default colors)
This color will be saved in user Preferences.
Added Rain effects under the "Weather" tab and a way to increase gradually
from none to drizzle to a down-pour (this will tax the GPU).
Also added Thunder and Lightning controlled by rain qty and overcast.
Thunder only happens at max rain.
Added new "Show ID's" option to allow user to turn off far away boats IDs
and cone ID's for when added realism is wanted. Saved in Preferences.
Any bugs detected were squashed.
Version 2.1 - Jan 20, 2023:
----------------------------
Bug fix that affects new installations (2.0 throws null error) - upgrades
from previous versions were OK. Also... fixed shaders integer constants
to floating point conversion problem that affects some GPUs
Version 2.0 - Oct 4, 2022:
----------------------------
Updated Keys.txt list with new Keyboard shortcut's and mouse
Improvements in CPU and GPU memory management (textures and polygons)
User can increase the maximum # of trees/terrain if GPU can handle it
When user adds a structure to the terrain, trees are removed as expected
Added option for xobj Ropes/Pulleys - user can turn on/off in "Other" tab
Added way to edit ropes to Model Editor under menu Options under "Other"
Added option Water/Object Reflection - user can turn on/off in "Other" tab
Reflections on/off checkbox is using the older "fake reflections" option
Added Bochica ropes/pulleys/reflectors in xobj
Added BlueNose ropes/pulleys/reflectors in xobj
Added static cubemap reflectors to Marlow.xobj
Reflector parts can use static sky cubemap or dynamic capture (heavy)
Added anchor ropes effect and "hanging" parts option to xobj's
Fixed far-from Origin z-fighting weird effects - improved near clipping
User is reminded once a month the option to send feedback to developer
When in "fly mode" pilot can rotate head independent of fly direction
Removed 'straightening effect' when in "fly mode" - was somewhat annoying
using Ctrl-Alt- and arrow keys or joystick - reset view using Ctrl-Alt-S
Improved Bochica obj surfaces that were causing z-fighting flicker
Fixed Vagabond materials
Improved water "choppy" effects
Prevents wild sails switching when running (wind behind)
User can now more easily move model when runs aground using "Other" tab
User can delete a model while in the Select Model list by hitting DEL key
User can now adjust Water Color preference under the "Options" tab
Added viewing this "Changes.log" to Help menu
Added "Reset Archipelago" to Options menu
Added a few new Structures
All noticed bugs were squashed
Version 1.8 - Feb 2, 2022:
---------------------------
Fixed camera problems when "onBoard" and far away
Added capability for additional sails beyond main,jib and mizzen
Improved AutoPilot/AutoSail
Improved collision avoidance and zig-zagging when autopilot is on
Added Waves crest/spray effect - user can turn on/off in "Other" tab
Added LightHouse obj
Added rotating parts to Marlow and Bochica (radat and propeller)
Added "orbital rotation" to camera when onBoard at a distance
Improved Kelvin Wakes and foam wakes and water in general
Support square sails
Added BlueNose II sailboat model
Support parts that rotate with sails and booms
Better water depth effects and transparency
Added new nodes Tree list for model selection when user press button
Added support for xobj file that contain Archipelago Parameters
UI improvements
Improved Engine Sounds
All noticed bugs were squashed
Version 1.74 - Mar 29, 2021:
----------------------------
Added Choppy water option - user can turn on/off in "Other" tab
Added Kelvin Wakes option - user can turn on/off in "Other" tab
Improved Wakes
Improved shallow water effects and water waves in general
All noticed bugs were squashed
Version 1.73 - Feb 22, 2021:
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1st Release of Archipelago Sailor Simulator
Archipelago - a Sailor Simulator 