A white sailboat from the VelejAÍ simulator sailing on the Guaíba River, with the sun's reflection on the water
New · Live races against friends

Learn to sail right in your browser

A 3D sailing simulator with realistic physics—wind, sails, and rudder. Learn through hands-on experience and compete in live races against friends or bots. Free, no installation required.

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Real Physicswind · sail · rudder
MultiplayerLive Races
In the browserwithout installing
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VelejAÍ is a browser-based sailing simulator that models how a boat behaves in real water.

Unlike an arcade game, here the sail needs to be at the right angle to the wind. If you luff too much on a close-hauled tack, the sail plan and the boat loses fclose-hauled; if you ease off at the right moment, it takes off. The rudder responds to speed, the hull aderna in the gusts, and every maneuver has consequences—just like in a real sailing trip.

It's the fastest way to learn to sail Without getting your feet wet: you can try out point up and get a feel for it, sense how the apparent wind changes as you pick up speed, and practice tacking around buoys before getting on a real boat. And for those who already sail, it’s a way to get your fill of the sea at any time of day.

Everything happens in the browser, on your phone or computer, with no download, no registration required, and no cost. Just open the website and you're already in the water.

How It Works

From the ramp to the finish line in three steps

No experience necessary. You'll learn the basics as you sail.

01

Choose where to drop off

Select a starting point, adjust the wind strength and gusts, and launch into the water. Within seconds, the boat responds to the rudder.

02

Set the sails to the wind

Trim the mainsail and the genoa, looking for the angle that fills the sail. Feel the boat pick up speed — and let the sail warn you when you go too far.

03

Compete in a regatta

Take on the timed start, round the windward mark, and cross the finish line—either alone against bots or live against your friends.

Resources

Real sailing, no fuss

Each system on the boat has been modeled to simulate a realistic sailing experience—and is easy to operate with a touchscreen or mouse.

Wind & Weather

Wind, gusts, and rollovers

A steady, adjustable wind combined with gusts that blow harder and change direction. You can feel every shift in the sail and on the rudder.

Candles

Mestra and Genoa

Tighten and slacken the sheets, reef the mainsail, furl the genoa. Did it flap? The sail flutters and the boat loses fclose-hauled — just like in real life.

Hull & Rudder

The boat responds

The hull heels in gusty winds, the rudder becomes more responsive as speed increases, and speed depends on the boat's angle to the wind.

Regatta

Start, buoys, and finish

Timed start, a windward mark to round, and the finish line. The same course and the same wind for everyone—it all comes down to strategy.

Multiplayer

Regattas via a link

Create the regatta, send the link to the group, and everyone can sail the same course live. Not enough people? Fill out the fleet with bots ranging from beginner to Olympic level.

Nautical chart

Real-life scenario

The water, riverbanks, islands, and buoys in the channel are based on actual nautical charts of the Guaíba River—an open setting where anyone can go sailing.

Competition

Take on a timed regatta

Count down to the start, choose your approach tack, round the windward mark, and cross the finish line. Everyone sails under the same physics and the same wind—the difference lies entirely in reading the wind and strategy.

In the end, the result appears as a link you can use to invite your friends to a rematch.

Compete in a regatta
A regatta with six sailboats near the starting line—the player and five bots, along with a buoy and a committee boat
Six boats at the starting line—same wind, same physics; the difference is strategy.
Live with Friends

Invite the group—and watch from above

Create a regatta, send the link to the group, and everyone can join and sail the same course. You decide the start time; after that, the link closes to new participants.

From the starting gun, the link becomes a top view, live: Those who arrive later can follow the fleet, the standings, and the clock in real time, like a god watching the water.

Organize a regatta with friends
A bird's-eye view of a live regatta, with four boats racing up to the windward mark
Spectator View — the entire fleet and live standings.
Learn to sail

The vocabulary the boat teaches you

You don't need to memorize anything before you start—but these are the concepts you'll get a feel for in practice right from your very first sailing trips.

Windward and leeward
The side from which the wind comes (windward) and the opposite side (leeward). The entire race strategy revolves around gaining the windward position.
Hunting / point up
Sail as close to the wind as possible. This is the most technical leg: it requires a tightly trimmed sail and a keen sense of the gusts.
Empopar
Sailing with the wind at your back, sails set loose. Fast and relaxing—but you have to be careful not to accidentally jibe.
To plan
When the sail flutters because it's too loose or is pointing directly into the wind. On the VelejAÍ, it alerts you right away, and the boat loses fclose-hauled.
Adernar
The heel of the hull when the wind fills the sail. A little is good; too much reduces speed and control.
Apparent wind
The wind you feel is the sum of the actual wind and your own movement. Did you speed up? The wind changes direction—and you readjust the sail.
Articles

Reading to Improve Your Sailing

Guides and articles on simulators, wind, maneuvers, and regattas—for beginners and experienced sailors alike.

Accessible sailing begins before you even reach the dock
September 12, 2026

Accessible sailing begins before you even reach the dock

Accessible sailing: learn about wind, sails, and strategy on the navigation app; practice maneuvers; and compete in regattas without a boat, a club, or high upfront costs.

Read article →
Multiplayer racing game to race with friends
September 10, 2026

Multiplayer racing game to race with friends

Multiplayer browser-based sailing game: adjust your sails, read the wind shifts, and compete in live races with friends—no installation required and no need to own a boat to get started.

Read article →
Variable Wind Test: Adjust Before You Lose It
September 9, 2026

Variable Wind Test: Adjust Before You Lose It

Understand how to handle variable winds while sailing, read gusts and shifts, adjust your sails, and turn every change in the wind into speed and strategy during the regatta.

Read article →
Guide to Sailing Tacks for Gaining Speed
September 8, 2026

Guide to Sailing Tacks for Gaining Speed

A guide to sailing points to help you understand the wind, trim the mainsail and genoa, choose a course, and sail better—from training to regattas, with control over every maneuver.

Read article →
A tactical example involving the windward mark
September 7, 2026

A tactical example involving the windward mark

Check out an example of a windward mark tactic, learn about the layline and how to control your opponents, and choose the right maneuver to gain a few meters in today’s race.

Read article →
Digital Sailing: Learn to Sail Through Play
September 6, 2026

Digital Sailing: Learn to Sail Through Play

Digital sailing brings wind, sails, and maneuvers to life on your device. Learn to sail, trim the sails, and compete without leaving home—at your own pace.

Read article →
View all 43 articles →
Frequently Asked Questions

Before hoisting the sails

Is VelejAÍ free? +
Yes, it's 100% free. No in-game purchases and no ads to get in the way.
Do I need to install or download anything? +
No. The simulator runs right in your browser—just open the website and start sailing, whether on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Does it work on a cell phone? +
Yes. There are touch controls for the helm, the sheets, and the sail area, and the camera follows the boat. It works on Android and iPhone via the browser.
Do I need to know how to sail to play? +
No. You can start from scratch and learn as you go: trimming and easing the sails, point up, luffing, and rounding the buoys in a regatta.
How do I play a regatta with friends? +
You create a race, receive a link, and share it in the group. Everyone joins the same race, and you start the race. Once it begins, whoever opens the link can watch the race live from the sidelines.
What kind of scene is this? +
The water, the banks, and the clubs are based on the actual nautical charts of the Guaíba River in Porto Alegre—but anyone, from anywhere, can sail on it.
Explore

More about VelejAÍ

How to Learn to Sail on Your Own Free Sailing Simulator Best sailing simulator Live Online Regatta Learning to Sail 3D Sailing Game

Ready to hoist the sails?

No registration required, no download needed. Sail on your own to learn, or invite your friends to a regatta.

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