Sailing the boat in Lofoten Catch: speed, map and views

In Lofoten Catch you steer a small fishing boat like a real one: you set the engine speed and turn the wheel, and the boat speeds up and slows down smoothly. The small map always draws a dashed line to where you should go next. This page explains the boat, the map, the camera and the ice.

How fast does the boat go?

The Speed box shows your speed in knots, the speed unit sailors use. One knot is a little under 2 km an hour.

With the keyboard, holding W raises the engine a little at a time, and S lowers it. On a touch screen, the first tap on Ahead gives about two-thirds speed and the second tap gives full speed. With a controller, RT and LT work like a gas pedal: press harder to go faster. The boat never stops at once. It glides, like a real boat on water.

The Cruising propeller from the workshop also makes the boat speed up faster.

How do you turn?

Hold left or right: A/D, ←/→, the ↶/↷ buttons, or the left stick. The boat turns faster when it moves faster. When you stand still it only turns very slowly, so give it a little speed first.

If you run into land, a rock or a pier, the boat simply stops. Nothing breaks. Back off with Backwards, turn, and go again.

Coming in to the landing

When you have fish in the hold and steer towards the fish landing, the boat slows down by itself in the last stretch. That makes it easy to come in gently next to the quay. You don't need to park neatly: as soon as the big button says Tie up and unload, press it and the boat ties up in the right spot by itself. The steps after that are on Selling at the quay.

Reading the small map

The small map in the corner is a chart, a sailor's map. North is always up.

The dashed line chooses the goal for you:

1. If your longline is out in this area, it points to your float.
2. If not, and you have cod aboard, it points to the landing.
3. If your hold is empty, it points to the nearest fishing ground.

The map zooms by itself so your boat and your goal both fit.

Water: sheltered or exposed

The Water box says Sheltered or Exposed. Near the harbour and behind the island the water is calm. Out on open water the waves are bigger and the boat rocks more. The waves are there for the look and feel: they do not slow you down or change your catch.

Changing the camera view

Change view (V, controller Y) switches between two cameras:

• The wide view follows the whole boat on the water, with the islands around it. Use it for sailing.
• The deck view moves in close to the working deck. Use it to watch the crew bring cod aboard.

At the quay the camera moves in by itself to watch the buyer.

You can also look around: drag on the screen, use I/J/K/L, or the right stick. Zoom with the mouse wheel, + and −, pinch, or the D-pad up and down. Hide menus (H) hides all the buttons so you can enjoy the view, and Show menus brings them back.

Ice on the boat

In winter, sea spray freezes on the rails. The Ice on the boat box shows how much, from 0% to 100%. Ice only builds up in Out of the wind, where you start with 80% ice on the boat.

Press Clear ice (E, controller X) to set the crew to work. Clearing stays on until you press it again or change place. It takes about 13% off every second, so 80% ice is gone in about six seconds. Ice is part of the winter scene: it does not slow the boat or change how much you catch. Clearing it is a nice job to do while your line waits.

See also

• Controls: every key and button.
• The four places: where each place starts and what it is like.
• Longline fishing: what to do once you reach the fish.
• Tips for skippers
• Play Lofoten Catch

• About Lofoten Catch
• All game guides